According to NY1, incumbent U.S. Representative Nydia Velazquez easily staved off a well-financed primary challenge by City Councilman Erik Dilan, as well as two lesser known challengers, for the Democratic nomination for the 7th Congressional District seat. The margin of her victory (she got 61% of the vote) must come as a blow to North Brooklyn based Democratic boss Vito Lopez, who backed Dilan.

On the GOP side, the winner of the three way race to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Kirstin Gillibrand is attorney Wendy Long, who describes herself as “a true blue conservative” in the mold of Ronald Reagan. This, no doubt, sets Prom Gal’s heart aflutter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43046

If you’re a registered Democrat (we understand there are a few around here; Brooklyn Heights has not yet had an Alferd Packer; note: though the linked piece spells his name “Alfred” it really was “Alferd”); there’s an important primary election to determine who may represent you in Congress coming up on June 26. The Brooklyn Heights Association gives us these details:

THIS MATTERS. Turn-out will be low because nobody thinks about voting in June! In the U.S.Congressional District which includes Brooklyn Heights, new boundaries and shifting populations have created a contest. Hoping to unseat our incumbent Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez are three challengers: Erik Martin Dilan, George Martinez and Dan O’Connor.

If you will be out of town on June 26, you need to vote now by absentee ballot. Here’s how: 1) Download a pdf version of the absentee ballot application at http://vote.nyc.ny.us/absentee.html and mail it to the Kings County Board of Elections, 345 Adams Street, 4th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, no later than June 18.

2) You can easily go to the Board of Elections Office on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. by walking across Borough Hall Park to 345 Adams Street (directly in line with Remsen Street). Go to the 4th floor and fill out the application. They will give you a ballot and you can vote on the spot.

Some polling sites have changed. Click here to find the current polling site for your address http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps/index.htm. You can also telephone the Voter Phone Bank at 1-866.868.3692 with questions.

Call the BHA office at 718-858-9193 if you need help. Thank you!

And thank you, Judy Stanton and the BHA.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42343

New York Daily News Cruise ships docked in Brooklyn continue to choke Red Hook with their fumes — despite a widely touted deal a year ago that was supposed to solve the problem.

The Port Authority approved $15 million to build a system allowing ships to plug into an electric grid — but costs have shot up another $4.3 million and the agency hasn’t shelled out the extra money, according to local elected officials.

The Daily News story quotes Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and other local elected officials as noting that “[a]sthma rates among Red Hook youth are high”. Red Hook resident Adam Armstrong, author of the blog A View from the Hook, accuses the Port Authority of “twiddling their thumbs.” A Port Authority spokesman says the agency is “evaluating options”.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/6990