5 projects Brooklyn leaders want to tackle next

Brooklyn has more residents than every city in the country except New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago – and it might even overtake the Windy City soon, if a recent population spike continues. So it’s no surprise that the borough’s elected officials have a long list of issues they’d like to resolve. We spoke with Borough President Eric Adams, City Council members Jumaane Williams, Laurie Cumbo, Rafael Espinal, Stephen Levin, Mayor de Blasio spokeswoman Melissa Grace and City Council Sanitation Committee Chairman Antonio Reynoso to get the latest updates on five of the biggest projects, policies and proposals they want to tackle next.

Utica Avenue subway extension study

Just like the subway system, the Utica Avenue subway extension study seems to be experiencing signal problems. Read the full report here.

J’Ouvert

Every Labor Day, hundreds of thousands gather in Brooklyn at 4 a.m. to kick off Caribbean Carnival with J’Ouvert, a celebration in which partiers wear masks and body paint and dance in the streets. But revelers have been fatally shot in recent years, and in 2015 a Cuomo aide, Carey Gabay, was shot during a gun battle between rival gangs and died from his wounds. Under pressure, the city worked to increase safety at J’Ouvert. Read the full report here.

Bedford-Union Armory

There’s a war brewing over plans to redevelop the 115-year-old Bedford-Union Armory military facility. Read the full report here.

Legalizing basement apartments

The future of affordable housing may be beneath Brooklyn’s front doors, at least if City Councilman Rafael Espinal has anything to do with it. Read the full report here.

Waste equity bill

Two city councilmen are trying to dethrone North Brooklyn as the king of trash. Read the full report here.