There's another hyper-local gallery in Bay Ridge. Underland Gallery, a brainchild of Hannah Salyer, Ester Kwon and Maxim Elrod, opened softly in October 2021, just before the COVID Omicron wave. Shaded by trees and with a mysterious cat-headed-sea-serpent adorning the gas lamp outside, Underland is a strange chimera of performance space, art galler…

CW // Alcohol Use The Democratic party has problems that stretch all the way down to its roots. But reformers and activists have been trying to bring democracy to its namesake party. Join us as we chat about how party politics works at the hyper-local scale with local District Leader candidate Mark Hanna, who is running in Assembly District 64 in n…

On today's episode, we sit down with local author and journalist Jessie Singer about her new book "There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster - Who Profits and Who Pays The Price". Jessie's groundbreaking book has received national attention. It explores how, and why, we seem to dismiss preventable deaths and injuries as "accide…

Today we're checking in with State Senator Andrew Gounardes. Now into his second term (and seeking a third), Senator Gounardes has been part of a revolutionary period in Albany. The State Senate, under Republican control for nearly a century, has transformed into an uncharacteristic flurry of activity. New bills have been passed left and right. Gou…

We're back for a new year! To kick things off, we're delving into the history of racing dragons in Bay Ridge... fictionally, at least. Our guest is local author Katharine Dow, author of the short story The Brooklyn Dragon Racing Club, set right here in Bay Ridge. We'll chat with Katharine about the story and its influences. Katherine will discuss h…

We've got a new contributor to the podcast! Meet Ember, perhaps one of the biggest fans of Bay Ridge ever. Together, we're going to update our old podcast episode called "Welcome To Bay Ridge", intended for new (and new-at-heart) residents. Get our recommendations on where to eat! Learn what "The Hole" is! Find out what restaurant has the most attr…

Over 120 former Bay Ridge residents are homeless and in city-run shelters at any given time. And how many shelter beds do we have in our neighborhood to help them? Zero. Instead, we send our former neighbors away to other communities to be sheltered and cared for. It is fairly clear that Bay Ridge is not doing its fair share. In this episode, we're…

For years, spiritual spaces have been key to progressive organizing in Bay Ridge. In today's episode, we say goodbye to Reverend Robert Emerick of the Bay Ridge United Methodist Church. Bob is being forcibly retired after seventeen years in our community. We decided to sit down with Bob and reflect on how he and his congregation have let their spir…

For the past year, Bay Ridge has struggled with the pandemic. We've lost loved ones, and there has been grief both public and private. But early in 2020, politicians began to push their own narratives. At a moment when we all should have been talking about staying safe and healthy, conservative politicians fought back against masking, lockdowns, an…

Join us as we sit down with NY11 candidate Brittany Ramos DeBarros. We'll explore the dangers of partisanship and how military contractors and war profiteering have left troops tokenized, demoralized, and without basic services. To counter these forces, we'll explore how our district can engage with a Just Transition framework and invest in demilit…

Our long-awaited episode digging into Nicole Malliotakis's legislative history... such that it is. We'll go over her voting record before digging into a very unusual bill that leads us on a journey back to the 1970s. We'll unravel a web of land-grabs, NIMBYism, political backstabbing, racism, and legal maneuvers to keep Staten Island segregated. An…

We are joined by Bay Ridge resident and former NYPD officer Mike DeCillis to discuss how we can meaningfully reform a broken police force, and transition it into a police service that keeps us safe without violating our civil rights. From training to culture, we'll explore key flaws that Mike has witnessed firsthand, and figure out how to reform *o…

Whether it is giving some money, to volunteering, to simply going out and enjoying what the neighborhood has to offer, there are many ways to give back this holiday season. Here are a few of them. --- Check out the show notes for background info and bonus material Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more news and analysis!…

The school year has been a total mess. So lets figure out how we can do better, and what we should have done different. In today's episode, we're joined by our Senior Education Correspondent Erik Shell. We'll dig into why we should have kept school closed during the pandemic, and how poor leadership and systemic inequality led to a botched hybrid-l…

An episode over two years in the making! Join Dan and our guest John Hagan, a local social studies teacher, as we analyze our local racist monuments. Yes, Bay Ridge is host to multiple Confederate monuments. How did they get here? Why are they still up? And why should we tear them down? Find out! We'll expose a never-before-discovered history invol…

It's seems like longer, but it's been four years since the 2016 elections. And now more than ever, our vote matters in the upcoming election. But frustratingly, it seems like things are getting in the way of an easy, simple election day. From Postal Service shenanigans to COVID-19, never before has our electoral process been more fraught. So today …

Join us for a walking tour… of the future! On today’s episode, co-host and transit nerd Dan will bring us on a walking tour of Bay Ridge and Sunset Park in an alternate future where The Triboro has been built... a proposed passenger rail line running along the old train tracks north of Bay Ridge. But it's not just about a rail line. We'll explore m…

We're back from our Coronavirus hiatus with a celebration for our 50th Episode... and the return of a lost co-host! We couldn't think of a more important topic for this occasion than the 2020 Census that's currently underway in Bay Ridge. Join us as we discuss how the pandemic and the federal goverment has thrown the census into disarray, and how l…

Something is happening at the old Victory Memorial hospital site in the 90s... a new Emergency Room! But the hospital itself isn't reopening. Instead, we're getting a satellite ER run by Maimonides. Technically it's known as an "Off-Campus Emergency Department". What does that mean for the community? What kinds of services can we expect? And are th…

Our origin stories for Bay Ridge's activist groups continues! Today we're going to hang out with three founding members of Bay Ridge For Social Justice. One of the older and more progressive groups in the neighborhood, they were formed in 2015 to explicitly counter racism, state and police violence, islamophobia, and homophobia... all while promoti…

Happy New Year! Uh oh... 2020? Already!? There's no doubt, this year is going to be tough. A national election is going to sweep across the district, and local conservative hopefuls are already vying to undo the 2018 Blue Wave. Meanwhile, we're in the midst of a Democratic primary where candidates are shifting position at the top of the polls almos…

Our very first live episode! Join us at the Owl's Head Wine Bar with Henry Stewart as we do a book talk in front of a live "studio" audience! We'll chat about Henry's latest book, "How Bay Ridge Became Bay Ridge", which chronicles the history of the neighborhood from Nyack settlement to rural Dutch farmland to suburban neighborhood. We'll drink som…

Continuing from our last episode, we dig into the latest economic controversy in Bay Ridge: the proposed 3rd Avenue Bay Ridge BID. We already dug into what a BID actually does in our 5th Avenue BID episode in January... but how does a Business Improvement District actually happen in the first place? To find out, we invited members of the new 3rd Av…

The stores are closing! The Avenues are vacant! Or are they? Today, we're talking Storefront Vacancy rates. Join us as co-host Erik interviews our other co-host Dan, who has been walking around the neighborhood since January collecting some hyper-local data about our commercial vacancy rates. We'll learn what can lead us to think that there is a va…

Bay Ridge is known for excellent schools... but how do we define excellence? On today's show education correspondent Erik Shell swings by the studio to talk about school metrics, and how they can help us demand better school policy. We'll look at the data we use to rank local schools, how to redefine the narrative around education, and what we can …

The progressive action group Fight Back Bay Ridge is one of the largest grassroots activist groups operating in the neighborhood. They've distributed yellow bags at the Summer Strolls to highlight climate change and pollution. They'be put on informational town halls. They've protested, they've educated, they've registered voters, they've cleaned up…

Bay Ridge art galleries? Yes, they exist, and they're growing rapidly. Today on the show we are sitting down with local gallery impresarios Jeannine Bardo and Elena Soterakis. Jeannine is the founder of the Stand4 gallery on 78th street, and together they run the BioBAT Art Space a short walk north at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. We'll explore the o…

Half of the cyclist deaths so far this year in New York City have been in Southern Brooklyn. Bay Ridge and it's neighbors have historically lagged behind in cyclist safety improvements, while the rest of the city has seen major investment. But 2019 marks a turning point, as Bay Ridge will see it's first protected bike lane (that isn't inside a park…

2019 is a critical year for every single renter in New York State. The state’s Rent Control laws expire this June, and we have a major opportunity to overhaul and reform our housing laws. Join activists Andrea Shapiro and Genna Goldsobel as we dig into the nine bills that comprise Universal Rent Control, analyze how they will affect Bay Ridge, and …

Erik Shell interviews Yemeni-American organizer Rabyaah Althaibani about how the news media, past and present, has impacted Yemeni immigrants in Bay Ridge. We'll discuss how misinformation has fueled the Muslim Ban and the conflict in Yemen... and how a community is fighting to reclaim that narrative. Be sure to check out our show notes and more at…

Today we sit down with the women who made 2018's South Brooklyn electoral blue wave a reality. Our panel discusses the importance of a ground game in politics, tips for canvassers, and what it's like to manage teams of volunteers and staff during an election year. Be sure to check out our show notes and more at: www.radiofreebayridge.org/bay-ridge-…

Warning: On today's show, we curse a bit and briefly discuss violent traffic crashes and fatalities. It's a serious topic; listener discretion is advised. In our last episode, we promised to bring you a bigger, badder deep-dive into street safety! One of our most requested topics, Dan and Brian will take you on a whirlwind tour of as many street de…

On today's episode, our transit correspondent Brian Hedden will dig into our local politicians' recent reaffirmation of the Vision Zero program, and what we can expect from the DOT in terms of traffic safety improvements in the near future. Be sure to check out our show notes and more at: www.radiofreebayridge.org/bay-ridge-vision-zero Subscribe on…

Bay Ridge is teeming with commercial possibilities, and is home to three major shopping avenues in close proximity. Today we’ll learn what it takes to help them flourish. We sat down with Amanda Zenteno, the Executive Director of the Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID, or Business Improvement District. We’ll cover what a BID does and how it’s organized, and …

Welcome to 2019 and happy New Year! While we’re busy nursing our hangovers, we threw together a short episode for you. Chill out with us in our newly renovated studio as we reflect back on 2018! Plus, Rachel will reveal the results of our latest poll! What were your favorite episodes? What were ours? Find out, and get a sneak peek into the episodes…

Our very first audio walking tour! Pop in your earbuds and head down to Owl's Head Park, where we'll join our guide, local historian and Hey Ridge editor Henry Stewart. We'll explore the history of the park and learn more about our neighborhood, it's people, and it's past. Be sure to check out our walking tour map and historic photos of things we d…

Today we're bringing you interviews from Fight Back Bay Ridge's "Art of the Gerrymander" auction and art show. The show was a one-night fundraiser for the grassroots activist group. Rachel spoke throughout the night with local activists, artists, and neighbors about how arts and politics intersect, and to hear more about the issue of the day: our G…

On October 3rd, sixteen-year Republican State Senate incumbent Martin Golden faced off against second-time Democratic challenger Andrew Gounardes at a debate held at the Fort Hamilton Senior Center. Today, our co-host Dan will bring you there... and by popular demand, we will provide analysis and fact-checks between questions! Who prevailed? Who ma…

Last year was the "Summer of Hell"... but how hellish was it? In this brand-new episode, we look Bay Ridge's transit ridership numbers with our local transit correspondent Brian Hedden. Show notes are available at www.radiofreebayridge.org/bay-ridge-transit-2017 Subscribe on iTunes at itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radio-free-bay-ridge/ or wherever yo…

What do we do with a million dollars? That's the question we need to answer as we begin Bay Ridge's first Participatory Budgeting cycle. A people-driven grassroots process, we get to decide as a community how to allocate part of our own tax dollars. Learn what's involved in this mini-episode! Show notes are available at www.radiofreebayridge.org/pa…

Welcome to Bay Ridge! Moving season is over, and we want to welcome our newest neighbors with a brief overview of our little corner of Brooklyn, complete with food, drink and event recommendations from the Radio Free Bay Ridge team, and ways to get plugged into the progressive community in the neighborhood. Show notes are available at www.radiofree…

On today's episode, we'll bring you our recording of the June 6th, 2018 march in solidarity with Pablo Villavicencio Calderon. Pablo, a deliveryman, was arrested trying to deliver pizza to the Fort Hamilton Army Base. A few days after his detainment by ICE, neighbors organized, attended, and spoke at a rally in front of the Fort Hamilton Army Base.…

Today we sit down to chat with Mathylde Frontus, running for New York’s 46th State Assembly District. The district covers the southern portion of Bay Ridge. Mathylde is a nonprofit director, scholar, and organizer who grew up in Coney Island. She has focused her life and studies on Social Services, mental health, community organizing and education.…

Today, Rachel and Dan sit down with Andrew Gounardes to talk about his campaign to win the Democratic nomination for New York's 22nd State Assembly District, which includes Bay Ridge and a huge chunk of Southern Brooklyn. If he wins the primary, he’ll be squaring off against Republican incumbent Martin J Golden, the lone Brooklyn Republican in the …

Today, Rachel and Dan are sitting down and talking with Ross Barkan, who's running for the 22nd New York State Senate District, currently occupied by Republican incumbent Martin J Golden. Ross is a former journalist and was briefly a teacher at Fort Hamilton High School. He's been a longtime political reporter, with an in-depth knowledge of Albany …

Today Radio Free Bay Ridge is sitting down with Ahmed Mansour, a budding documentary filmmaker. We'll explore the story behind his upcoming film "Brooklyn, Inshallah" which covers last years City Council run by Khader El-Yateem, and more importantly, the community that turned out to support him. We also discuss what's next for Ahmed as an artist, a…

Get ready for our biggest episode yet! Five local activists cram into our tiny study to fill in the gaps of our NY11 Congressional Democratic Primary coverage. We heard from the candidates, now it's your turn! We'll cover transit, the environment, women's health issues and family leave, campaign finance, the primary fundraising process, and much mo…

The #MarchForOurLives movement isn't just some nebulous national event. Right here in our neighborhood, local students are organizing and demanding answers from us and our elected officials. Today, we sit down with John Papanier, who helped organize the recent Staten Island Town Hall For Our Lives. We spoke about what it is like to be a part of the…

Bay Ridge is a neighborhood of immigrants. Even when Bay Ridge was not much more than farmland on the Narrows, we have been a landing spot for numerous waves cultures and ethnicities. Bay Ridge doesn't exist in a bubble, so today we are breaking our hyper-local-only format to discuss the international affairs that affect our neighbors. Today, were …

On our final Congressional Contenders interview, we are happy to talk with Radhakrishna Mohan, a civic leader and Executive Board member of the New York State Public Employees Federation. Mohan discussed his lifelong Union background, both in India and Staten Island, and his experience organizing on a state-wide level. We talked about the role Unio…