🌱 Unemployment Insurance Fraud + Housing Lottery

Good morning, Brooklyn! Diane Witek here, let's get this Friday started off right. Here's everything happening today in town.

First, today's weather:

Windy. High: 59, low: 25.

Here are the top stories in Brooklyn today:

1. Eleven members and associates of the Brooklyn-based Woo Gang were charged with multi-million-dollar scheme to obtain millions of dollars in unemployment insurance benefits funded, in whole or in part, by COVID-19 pandemic assistance programs. "As alleged, the defendants conspired to steal millions of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment assistance and then brazenly flaunted the proceeds of their crimes on social media,” stated United States Attorney Peace. (Department of Justice)
2. Williamsburg has a rollicking Cantonese American restaurant that takes pasta into a hemisphere of its own. "Here, at Bonnie's, cacio e pepe means fat and firm bucatini, truckloads of pecorino and Parm, showers of black and white pepper, and a generous dose doufuru, a Chinese fermented bean paste whose funk nearly puts the dish in the category of a dry-aged steak. Oh, and the chefs also add MSG," wrote Eater NY. (Eater NY)
3. Brooklyn Heights soars to higher highs with Columbia Care, Inc. one of the biggest and most experienced manufacturers and providers of cannabis products in the U.S. Cannabist Brooklyn provides a varied product assortment of whole and ground flower options, edibles, tinctures, topicals, vapes and a curated selection of hemp CBD products. Cannabist Brooklyn is located at 44 Court St., it is the first four dispensaries in New York to complete the transition to Cannabist, the Company’s new retail experience. (Yahoo Finance)
4. Red Hook's 142 Richards St., a four-story residential building, is now available through the affordable housing lottery. "Designed by OCV Architects and developed by Cheever Development, the structure yields 17 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are six units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $94,115 to $167,570," wrote New York YIMBY. Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than March 7. (New York YIMBY)
5. A 4-year-old Brooklyn boy and his grandmother were poisoned three months apart last year, with both fatally dosed using a tasteless and odorless product once used to kill vermin, police sources said Thursday. The child’s parents were in the middle of a custody battle when little Wilhelm Ducatl fell suddenly ill on May 24, 2021, police sources said. (NY1.com)

From our sponsor:

Today's Brooklyn Daily is brought to you in part by Atlantis Paradise Island, The Bahamas. In honor of Bahamian culture, Atlantis Paradise Island welcomes its guests to join in the Taste of Paradise, a two-week celebration of food and beverage prepared with the freshest seasonal ingredients and an innovative eye taking place from March 2 to March 13.

Today in Brooklyn:

• “Home and Homeless” Tales of the Same City Photographs by Bonita Lei. (10 a.m.)
• Virtual English Conversation Group — Brooklyn Public Library. (10:30 a.m.)
• Chair Yoga: Strengthen Your Body & Breathe. (11 a.m.)
• Virtual French Conversation Group — Brooklyn Public Library. (11 a.m.)
• Technology For All: Individual Sessions. (11 a.m.)
• Grab and Go: Free COVID-19 Rapid Test. (1 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• BrooklynVegan: "#Desaparecidos' killer debut LP 'Read Music/Speak Spanish' is getting a remastered 20th anniversary edition and pressed on colored vinyl for the first time. Pre-order it on transparent blue wax at link in bio." (Instagram)
• BAM: "In Song of the North, an inspirational epic from ancient Persia comes to life through shadow puppetry, projected animation, music, movement, and theater. Adapted from the 'Book of Kings' (Shahnameh), a historical and cultural touchstone." (Instagram) (Website)
• Brooklyn Arts Council: "In partnership with DUMBO, Brooklyn, we are excited to announce we are now accepting proposals for The Six Foot Platform! Deadline to apply is April 1. THE SIX FOOT PLATFORM is an experimental art & performance program." (Facebook) (Website)
• Brooklyn Arts Council: "Brooklyn Arts Council celebrates the contributions of Black artists every day. In this national month of recognition, we would like to introduce five of our Community Arts Grants recipients: Black Girls Sew, Black Revolutionary Theatre." (Facebook)(Website)
• Brooklyn Community Foundation: "In honor of Black Immigrant Advocacy Day of Action and #BlackHistoryMonth, we're amplifying several of our Black-led grantee partner organizations who are forging the way for #BlackImmigrant communities and #BlackFutures." (Facebook) (Website)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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• Lorainelindsay.com — (Visit website)
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Events:

• 💕 OPEN HOUSE! Just Listed Grand Tudor In Beautiful Forest Hills Gardens! 255 Greenway N. (Feb. 20)
• 1ST OPEN HOUSE! Forest Hills Two Family Convenient To All. 68-11 Clyde St. (Feb. 20)
• Seven Acres Montessori Virtual Admissions Event. (Feb. 24)
• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month. (Feb. 28)
• Get A ‘Taste Of Paradise’ During This Exclusive Event At Atlantis. (Feb. 28)
• Freedom Party® NYC Mar 4! (March 4)
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Announcements:

• Behind The Scoreboard — More Than A Cyclist, A Hero! (Details)
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Housing:

• Rent Reduced! (Details)
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Loving the Brooklyn Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

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• Send me a news tip or suggestion at diane.witek@patch.com.

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday off right. I'll see you soon!

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.