Radio Free Bay Ridge

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Our long-awaited episode digging into Nicole Malliotakis's legislative history... such that it is. We'll go over her voting record before digging …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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, …

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 …

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 …

Something is happening at the old Victory Memorial hospital site in the 90s... a new Emergency Room!

But the hospital itself isn't reopening. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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... …

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 …

Bay Ridge is known for excellent schools... but how do we define excellence?

On today's show education correspondent Erik Shell swings by the …

The progressive action group Fight Back Bay Ridge is one of the largest grassroots activist groups operating in the neighborhood. They've distributed …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

On today's episode, our transit correspondent Brian Hedden will dig into our local politicians' recent reaffirmation of the Vision Zero program, and …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

On October 3rd, sixteen-year Republican State Senate incumbent Martin Golden faced off against second-time Democratic challenger Andrew Gounardes at …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The #MarchForOurLives movement isn't just some nebulous national event. Right here in our neighborhood, local students are organizing and demanding …

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 …

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 …

Today we are pleased to welcome Omar Vaid to our seventh Congressional Contenders episode. Omar spoke with us about the centrality of Unions to his campaign, as well as his core message of protectionism for American …

Swinging by the studio today is Max Rose on our sixth Congressional Contenders episode. Max spoke with us about the centrality of public safety to a …

Today we welcome Paul Sperling to the fifth episode of our Congressional Contenders series. We sat with Paul to discuss his plans for improved rail …

In part four of our Congressional Contenders series, we sit down with Zach Emig, an MIT engineering graduate and bond trader who announced his candidacy all the way back in May of last year. We'll discuss Zach's long …

A few months ago, Poly Prep reached out to us to ask if we would be interested in recording a new, public event series called Context: Conversations …

UPDATE: Mike DeCillis has sadly dropped out of the race as of 2/26/18. In part three of our Congressional Contenders series, we sit down with Mike …

For progressives and activists in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and beyond, our local Community Board is an often overlooked vestige of community empowerment that is crying out for more engagement. In our wonkiest episode …

Join us in celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by listening in to the sounds and speeches of the 3rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. March in Bay Ridge, focusing on fighting back against Racism, …

In part two of our Congressional Contenders series, we sit down and chat with Michael DeVito Jr., a Non-Profit Director, mediator, and former Marine Staff Sergeant. We'll discuss what it's like helping at-risk youth on …

Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights have some of the worst overcrowding conditions in the city. How can we, as citizens, advocate and expedite a brand new …

Major Boyd Melson, US Army Reserves, kicks off our first in a series of interviews with the Democratic challengers for Staten Island and South Brooklyn's Congressional seat in 2018. We'll discuss stem-cell research, …

Today we look at how Bay Ridge Nativism affects the neighborhood discourse (and thus, our politics). We'll interview former and current Bay Ridge …

Today we bring you the uncut recording of one of Dan Donovan's "Coffee with your Congressman" events, held at David Boody Jr. High School in …

We sit down to discuss the last few City Council debates for District 43. Rachel is joined in the studio by Kayla Santosuosso, former AAANY Deputy Director and Campaign Manager for the Khader El-Yateem campaign, and …

Welcome back to another Special Episode of Radio Free Bay Ridge. Today, we bring you the uncut audio from October 24th at the Arab American Association of Bay Ridge's City Council debate between Democratic candidate …

Special Episode! While we work on our next episode on Nativism, we bring you the raw and unedited recording of this past Tuesdays District 43 City Council Debate between John Quaglione, Justin Brannan, and Bob Capano, …

In our first episode, Rachel and Dan briefly discuss the Mayoral race and local City Council races, before going into a deeper discussion on …