BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

State legislators returned to Albany today, and Southern Brooklyn’s pols went with a message: when it comes to casinos, location matters.

Several legislators joined the newly-formed Stop the Coney Island Casino organization on Monday to say that Coney Island is off limits as a casino venue, and that any attempt to change the state constitution to expand gambling will be opposed unless it includes specific locations.

“[The proposed legislation to expand gambling] must include specifically where the casinos are being planned,” said Assemblyman William Colton during the press conference. “Then we will know whether we can support or oppose such legislation. Because if we do not include that in what is going to be passed … we will be leaving the decision of whether Coney Island gets a casino not to the people of Coney Island, and not the people of Brooklyn, but to special interests.”

The press conference at the Kings Bay Y (3495 Nostrand Avenue) was the formal debut of Stop the Coney Island Casino, and featured Assemblymembers Colton and Steven Cymbrowitz, State Senator Eric Adams, Councilman David Greenfield and 45th Assembly District Leader Ari Kagan. The bi-lingual press conference drew Russian-language media outlets and about 40 attendees from Russian-American and Russian-Jewish organizations. The organizations and elected officials said they stand united in opposing a Coney Island casino, claiming it will increase crime rates, depress the community’s economy and obliterate quality of life.

“If you want to see crime go up, if you want to see traffic go up, if you want to see small businesses go out of business, then support the casino,” said Councilman Greenfield. “But if you care about the community, join together with us and stop the Coney Island casino.”

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Mitik, the adorable 236 pound Walrus seen in the video above, is beginning to thrive at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium in Coney Island.

According to the New York Aquarium, Mitik, or Mit as he is more affectionately known, was discovered on the coast of Alaska by fishermen, tragically orphaned. After receiving care for a variety of health problems at the Alaska SeaLife Center, Mit has seemed to bounced back, and was welcomed to his new home in Coney Island, where he receives constant care.

In a report in the New York Times, Mit’s favorite toy is a plastic bucket, he loves swimming in the large pool at the aquarium, and he has finally gotten a taste of his first solid food, surf clams.

“He’s hitting every milestone we’re hoping to see,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, director of the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, to the Times. “He still has some issues with his bladder, but they are trending in the right direction. Behaviorally, he’s doing great and we’re feeling good about his progress.”

The Times, in recognizing Mit’s unlimited level of cuteness, had this to say about what it’s like to be around Mit,

With his curious, playful personality and expressive eyes, it is tempting, aquarium officials say, to think of Mit as a big, slippery toddler. (The giant bottle of formula does not help.) He still needs — and receives — a lot of human contact. “He likes us to be physical, grab his flippers and roll him over,” Ms. Hiatt said. “And he still really loves to snuggle in close.”

Those dying to get a peek of the snuggable baby walrus Mit will have to wait to till next spring when he joins the other walruses at the aquarium, including 17-year-old Kulu and 30-year-old Nuka.

Vincent D'Onofrio and Carin van der Donk. Source: David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons

Bensonhurst native Vincent D’Onofrio of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” fame led his eight-person family to sand sculpting victory in Coney Island this weekend.

They made an elaborate treasure chest with sand skeletons and gold coins, according to NY Magazine.

The event took place between the stretch of beach from West 10th to West 12th streets along the boardwalk.

Judges gave awards in five different categories: Mixed child and adult, child only, adult, group of kids and group of adults.

D’Onofrio and his kids took home the prize in the child and adult mixed group.

“We love pirates!” said Carin van der Donk, former model and D’Onofrio’s wife, according to DNAinfo.

Source: w00kie via Flickr

While we didn’t plan on doing another Coney Island story today, with summer on its way and Coney Island still in a transitional period, there’s simply an above average amount of chatter out there. With so many changes on the horizon, we want to give Bensonhurst Bean’s readers a heads up on what to expect at the beach this summer.

Coney Island developer Joe Sitt – who has become very unpopular with preservationists in recent years – says the suburban mall-like building erected by his firm Thor Equities on the Stillwell Avenue site of an historic structure he had demolished is only temporary, and is just one of many changes (shudder) in store for the People’s Playground. Continue Reading »

Source: emilydickinsonridesabmx via Flickr

Ruby’s Bar and Grill in Coney Island is currently undergoing a full renovation which, thanks to owner Michael Sarrel, will include the use of reclaimed wood from Coney’s world-famous Riegelmann Boardwalk. Continue Reading »

Source: NYPD via DNAinfo

Yesterday the NYPD released a sketch of a man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in Coney Island.

The victim was walking near the intersection of Neptune Avenue and West 30th Street on March 27, at around 9:20 p.m. when she was allegedly attacked, reports DNAinfo.

The unidentified victim was taken to a nearby hospital, presumably Coney Island Hospital.

The suspect is described by police as being between 25 and 32 years old, and between 5-feet-9-inches and 6 feet tall with a medium build. According to the sketch shown above, the suspect appears to be black with a medium complexion.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS, logging on to NYPDCrimeStoppers, or texting their tips to 274637, then enter TIP577.

Source: Nejflo via Flickr

A National Geographic listing of the country’s top ten boardwalks has designated Coney Island’s own Riegelmann Boardwalk as our nation’s number two.

The list crowned Atlantic City, whose own 1870 wooden walkway predates Coney’s by over 50 years, as the reigning Baron of Boardwalks.

Other beaches on the list include Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Ocean City, Maryland; and Venice Beach, California – which came in at numbers 3, 4, and 5 respectively.

There was no word on whether an asterisk* would be added once the Coney Island Plastic/Concretewalk is complete.

Source: holycalamity via Flickr

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, whose pies are beloved by both Brooklynite and tourist alike, is coming south. They’ll soon be opening a second Brooklyn location in Coney Island.

The restaurant, which already has stores across the country, will be moving to a spot directly across Surf Avenue from the entrance to Luna Park, reports NY1.

The renowned eatery, known for its location under the Brooklyn Bridge, has built a reputation with its coal brick oven and long lines of eager pizza eaters.

Bye bye boards. (Source: Khomille via Flickr)

Yesterday the Public Design Commission approved a plan to replace a large section of Coney Island’s iconic wooden boardwalk with a combination of plastic and concrete. Continue Reading »

The long-awaited hearing that will herald a decision by the NYC Design Commission on whether we’ll continue to have a bona fide boardwalk in Coney Island – as opposed to a concrete/plastic walk – is finally upon us.

The meeting will take place at the NYC Design Commission (253 Broadway, Fifth Floor in Manhattan) next Monday, March 12, at 12 p.m.

To tell you more, here’s an e-mail we received this morning from Rob Burtstein, Chairman of the Coney-Brighton Boardwalk Alliance: Continue Reading »