New York Hyperlocal

Extremely Popular BushwickBK Blog Suddenly Stops Publishing

Avi — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:39:57 +0000

One of the best hyperlocal blogs in the city has stopped publishing, at least for the time being, for reasons that are not entirely clear. Last week, BushwickBK, which has more than 2,000 facebook followers and an extremely active and loyal readership, posted this on the site under the headline “Goodbye, for Now”.

Dear Neighbors:

For many reasons, it’s not working out. It takes too much money and time to do this, so BushwickBK is shutting down for some period of time, and possibly forever. Turns out, sadly, we were never in the pockets of The Developers ™ or anyone else. The site and all its resources will stay up, and we will probably run occasional pieces. The Twitter feed (@bushwickbk) will probably continue to update as well.

To those who encouraged us along the way even if you disagreed with us, thank you so much.

To those who shit on us at every step no matter what we did, fuck you, cocksuckers.

Love, Jeremy

The site has lots of ads, and had recently undergone an extensive redesign. I’ll update as I learn more.

Great Hyperlocal Journalism: Weiner Hits Home, or How to Localize a National Story

Avi — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:25:08 +0000

The press has been on a feeding frenzy over the scandal involving now former Congressman Anthony Weiner and his decision to sext pictures of himself to random women. It’s a story with national implications, but it also impacts tens of thousands of Weiner’s constituents who are now left without a congressman. That story isn’t as sexy, and it’s not going to get anywhere near the same press that Weiner’s pictures of his (ahem!) got.

Luckily, Sheepshead Bites has done some tremendous work writing about the implications for local residents. The site, one of the best in the hyperlocal biz, looks at some of the damage from the fallout, and gives residents the lowdown on the political implications. For instance, Rudy Giuliani is already pushing one candidate from Queens to get in the race, but his appointment poses some problems for Sheepshead Bay:

“District 9, which Weiner covered, would have representation from a 25-year-old Queens resident, whose sole connections to Brooklyn were teaching religion at Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge after graduating with a degree in political science from St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights,” writes Erica Sherman in “Who Will Fight For Sheepshead Bay Now That Weiner’s Gone?”

It’s worth checking out the site’s comprehensive Weiner coverage here, and taking notes as to how a local site can help residents understand a national scandal.

Thumbnail via Sheepshead Bites.

Great Hyperlocal Journalism: A Walk Through Olde Park Slope

Avi — Mon, 16 May 2011 22:20:44 +0000

Thumbnail of one of Hamill's boyhood homes via Here's Park Slope

Here’s Park Slope editor Dan Myers took readers on a jaunt through the old neighborhood recently, following in the footsteps of legendary New York writer Pete Hamill.

Hamill recently published an autobiography, “A Drinking Life.” Myers brings Hamill’s world alive, even though the streets have changed considerably from when the writer grew up in the neighborhood in the 1940′s and 1950′s. He uses excerpts from the book, and finds old pictures, comparing them to the present-day neighborhood.

Back in the day, gangs like the South Brooklyn Boys and the Tigers used to rule the Park Slope streets. I love how old-timey gangs sound so cute.

“Pete Hamill’s Park Slope is at once familiar and yet completely changed. The vast majority of the buildings he mentions (including many more not described here) still exist, but the storefronts have been transformed so many times over the years that it’s next to impossible to record their entire history,” Myers writes.

Very nicely done. Hamill should take the guy out for a meal.

Great Hyperlocal Journalism: BK Southie and the IS 278 Fire

Avi — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:12:33 +0000

I’m going to try a new format for the best hyperlocal journalism of the week posts, in order to focus more closely on one story each week and explain what makes it great. For the week of April 4, I’m choosing “311 is a Joke: City Hotline Useless After Marine Park Fire” by BK Southie, a hyperlocal site that covers a bunch of communities in South Brooklyn. I’m a big fan of BK Southie, because it’s got a strong and pretty consistent voice, even though it’s written by more than one person. The design is simple but attractive — the website’s flag (below) reminds me of the lettering on a baseball jersey.

The story about the Marine Park fire hits on the city’s failure to provide good communication after a fire at a local public school. After the fire at Marine Park IS 278 led to an evacuation and damage to the roof, people had no idea where to go for school the next day. Some parents and teachers who BK Southie’s Arturo Tedesco interviewed were apparently told to go to a different school even though IS 278 was open the day after the fire. Anyway, the piece included some strong reporting and snappy writing:

“To many though, New York City’s 311 system is the telephone equivalent of the ‘walk buttons’ placed on traffic signal poles at crosswalks; a placebo that isn’t wired to do anything except provide an illusion of control.”

Tedesco also posted on concerns about asbestos contamination at the school. And Sheepshead Bites put together some good reporting on the fire too.

We raise a glass to you BK Southie! Keep up the good work.

Great Hyperlocal Journalism: Tales of Crime and Real Estate

Avi — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:27:04 +0000

Photo by Avi

From the constant changes in Lower East Side real estate to increasing crime in parts of Brooklyn, last week was another busy one for New York’s hyperlocal bloggers. Check out some great reporting below:Bronze Beauties: Harlem’s Historical Public Art (Uptown Flavor)

Violent Crime Is On The Rise In Sheepshead Bay, Deadliest Year In A Decade (Sheepshead Bites)

Horse Trade Theater Group launches campaign to buy 94 St. Mark’s Place (E.V. Grieve)

Three Dead in Putnam Blaze Started by Child (BushwickBK)

A Comeback for Jeffrey’s Meats? (The Lo-Down)

Great Hyperlocal Journalism: Cops, ‘Copters and Robbers

Avi — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 02:01:11 +0000

Photo of full moon on March 19 by asterix611 via flickr.

A low and glowing full moon on March 19 led to a news-packed week and lots of great hyperlocal reporting in neighborhoods throughout the city. Check out our selection below:

Upon the Burning of Our Store (Bed-Stuy Blog)

City Agents Charged with Homicide in Girl’s Death (BushwickBK)

Scientology in Harlem (Uptown Flavor)

Are Tourist Helicopter Operators Breaking Their Deal? (Brooklyn Heights Blog)

Police, Feds Crack Down on Discount Bus Operators (The Lo-Down)

Giant Hole Inside PS 277 Playground (GerritsenBeach.net)

If I missed any great local journalism, I apologize. Have a story you’d like to submit for consideration as one of the best stories of the week? Email me at info at nyhyperlocal dot com.

Good News for Hyperlocal Editors: EveryBlock Gets Better

Avi — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:56:51 +0000

EveryBlock, the nifty neighborhood data provider, has redesigned its website and shifted its focus. In a post on EveryBlock’s blog, founder Adrian Holovaty says that the site will change from a “one-way funnel of information,” to a more collaborative enterprise that’s “about participation more than passive consumption.”

EveryBlock, now a unit of MSNBC.com, has always been a good resource for community-minded people (including hyperlocal editors). It aggregates tons of data that would otherwise take hours to compile, including crime reports, restaurant inspections and real estate listings. But its dry design and minimal apparent oversight made it the kind of place where you stopped by briefly without ever pausing to look around.

The redesign could help make EveryBlock more hospitable. The site looks a lot better now, and it’s more interactive. Basically, people can post comments and ideas on the site more easily now, send messages to their neighbors and “thank” neighbors for their additions, thereby establishing a kind of ranking system based on usefulness and credibility. Holovaty made it clear that he’s not building another social network (Thank God!) and merely wants to create a space where people can find others in their neighborhood with similar concerns.

But isn’t this new spruced-up EveryBlock actually competition for hyperlocal sites, many of which are trying to offer the same kind of community forum? Certainly, EveryBlock could take traffic from hyperlocal sites, particularly if people in the community don’t think they’re getting enough important local information from the sites. But in general, I think the more people have access to community information, the more likely they are to get involved and care about their community — meaning they are probably more likely to read their local websites. Also, EveryBlock drives traffic to local sites — if your site isn’t listed in their news section, get in touch with them. They’re generally happy to oblige.

I’m not sure how MSNBC.com expects to monetize EveryBlock, because its mission really sounds more philanthropic. But that’s their problem. In the meantime, hyperlocal editors can take advantage of EveryBlock’s tools to make their own reporting better.

Great Hyperlocal Journalism: Don’t Mess with the Bronx

Avi — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:00:22 +0000

Maybe it was the slightly warmer weather, but the reporting by New York’s hyperlocal websites seemed extra feisty last week. See why people in the city are mad, happy and sad in this week’s best hyperlocal reporting below:

Bronx Tenants Storm Back, Demand Building Repairs (Bronx News Network)

Starbucks CEO Bashes Park Slope (Fucked in Park Slope)

Just your everyday penthouse combo connected by a stainless steel slide (E.V. Grieve)

The Word On Street: A 44 Road PSA (New York Shitty)

Largest Civic Underground Project in the US Now under Sunnyside (Sunnyside Post)

Sheepshead’s Dirty Doc Sentenced To Six Years (Sheepshead Bites)

Stanford University Will Be Right At Home On Roosevelt Island (Roosevelt Islander)

Great Hyperlocal Journalism: The Bike Wars

Avi — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:10:54 +0000

Bicycling was a hot topic last week, as a lawsuit against the city sparked a debate about bike lanes, and a bicyclist was hit by a car on the Lower East Side. That, and a series of crimes dominated the best hyperlocal reporting of the week. Check it out:

Bushwick Small Biz Worries About Wal-Mart (BushwickBK)

Cyclist Struck by Car at Grand & Chrystie (The Lo-Down)

Bike Wars-The Evil NBBL Strikes Back (Fucked in Park Slope)

Gallery Bar Shuttered by NYPD Friday Night (Bowery Boogie)

Five Daytime Burglaries in Brooklyn Heights in Last Four Days (Brooklyn Heights Blog)

Westboro Baptist Church Cancels Mirrer Yeshiva Protest At Last Moment (Flatbush Scoop)

Great Hyperlocal Journalism: Time to Dredge Sheepshead Bay

Avi — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:01:40 +0000

Last week, politicians railed against all sorts of things, including Planned Parenthood and senior center closings. Luckily, hyperlocal news sites were there to record all of it. Check out the best reporting of the week below:

Mike Grimm attacks Planned Parenthood (Staten Island Dump)

Seward Park Co-op Installs Electric Car Charging Stations (The Lo-Down)

Local Politicians Fight Senior Center Closures (Bronx News Network)

ACTION ALERT: Demand Dredging Of Sheepshead Bay! (Sheepshead Bites)

Police: Seizure causes smash-up at St. Marks Place and Avenue A (E.V. Grieve)