REVIVING SANCTUARY

Also: Car-free for Earth Day, Luigi Mangione held in Sunset Park, Liberty leaves for Greenpoint, IBX, opera, more cherry blossoms, Rooftop summer series announced and more!

There is no dedicated news coverage of Sunset Park — but Sunset Park makes news. This FREE weekly(ish) digest curates and summarizes all the headlines from all the news sources that touch our neighborhood, which is one of the most vibrant in Brooklyn.

In this issue

• Churches Revive Sanctuary Protections

• 5th Avenue to Go Car-Free for Earth Day

• Sunset Park Bears Brunt of Delivery Truck Pollution

• Luigi Mangione Held in Sunset Park

• Wind Energy Hub Rises on Sunset Park Waterfront

• NYCEDC Chief Touts Sunset Park as “Crown Jewel”

• Industry City Used as Model in YIMBY Push

• NY Liberty Leaves Sunset Park Training Site

• Interborough Express Could Link Sunset Park to Queens

• Hochul Pushes IBX Forward Amid Budget Talks

• MTA Opens Prayer Room at Sunset Park Depot

• Green-Wood Cemetery Offers Stunning Cherry Blossoms

• Green-Wood Launches Spring Cultural Season

• Rooftop Series Coming to Sunset Park

• Regina Opera Gala Comes to Sunset Park

Churches Revive Sanctuary Protections

THE GUARDIAN: As deportation raids return, churches are reviving their sanctuary work. Pastor Juan Carlos Ruiz and volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods, including Sunset Park, to providing legal help and offere refuge. The efforts echo Sunset Park’s long legacy as a place of immigrant protection, even under mounting federal pressure. “We are responsible for our own silence,” Ruiz said. If you do not stand up against injustice, he added, “we will be complicit in a system that is undermining all of us.”

5th Avenue to Go Car-Free for Earth Day

SUNSET PARK BID: On April 26, 5th Avenue (from 40th to 50th Streets) in Sunset Park will transform into a pedestrian zone. The annual Earth Day festival will feature cultural performances, green education booths, kids' activities, and local vendors. Organized by the BID and NYC DOT, the event aims to promote sustainability and celebrate the neighborhood’s environmental resilience and diversity.

Sunset Park Bears Brunt of Delivery Truck Pollution

INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS: Sunset Park has become a hotspot for last-mile warehouses powering NYC’s online shopping boom. These facilities draw fleets of diesel trucks that pollute the air and endanger community health. Environmental justice group UPROSE is calling for strict regulations and electrification to protect the largely immigrant neighborhood, where asthma rates and air quality concerns continue to rise.

Luigi Mangione Held in Sunset Park

BROOKLYN EAGLE: Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, charged with murdering a health care CEO in Manhattan. Mangione is detained at Sunset Park’s Metropolitan Detention Center. The case brings national attention to the facility and reignites debate over capital punishment.

Wind Energy Hub Rises on Sunset Park Waterfront

NEW YORK YIMBY: Construction continues at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park, where crews are building staging areas for offshore wind turbines. The $861 million project will power 500,000 homes through the Empire Wind initiative. Officials say Sunset Park will become a national leader in green industry and clean energy logistics.

NYCEDC Chief Touts Sunset Park as “Crown Jewel”

COMMERCIAL OBSERVER: NYCEDC head Melissa Román Burch highlights Sunset Park’s redevelopment as the city’s most important economic investment. Projects like the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, Brooklyn Army Terminal, and Made in NY Campus are bringing jobs in clean energy, manufacturing, and media to the area—making Sunset Park a centerpiece of NYC’s post-COVID economy.

Industry City Used as Model in YIMBY Push

CRAIN’S NEW YORK: A Crain’s op-ed calls for a “Yes In My Backyard” mindset and uses Industry City in Sunset Park as a model. Though its expansion was blocked in 2020, the complex now thrives with shops and job creation. The author argues that rejecting development prevents solutions to NYC’s housing and job crises.

New York Liberty Leaves Sunset Park Training Site

YAHOO SPORTS: The WNBA’s New York Liberty announced plans to relocate their training facility from Industry City in Sunset Park to an $80 million center in Greenpoint. The move reflects the team’s rapid growth—and signals the end of a significant chapter in Sunset Park’s quiet role as a home for pro sports training.

Interborough Express Could Link Sunset Park to Queens

CRAIN’S NEW YORK: The MTA’s Interborough Express (IBX) is a proposed light-rail route that would connect Sunset Park to Jackson Heights. By repurposing freight lines, the IBX could dramatically reduce commute times across the outer boroughs. Planners say it would link 17 subway lines without entering Manhattan, improving access for Sunset Park residents.

Hochul Pushes IBX Forward Amid Budget Talks

QUEENS CHRONICLE: Governor Hochul says the IBX project is “full steam ahead,” despite budget uncertainties. The proposed rail line would connect underserved areas including Sunset Park. The MTA is holding public meetings across Brooklyn and Queens as it finalizes alignments and impact studies. Residents are cautiously hopeful the long-awaited line will be built.

MTA Opens Prayer Room at Sunset Park Depot

GOTHAMIST: Muslim bus drivers at the Jackie Gleason Depot in Sunset Park now have a dedicated prayer room for daily worship and Ramadan observance. Workers say the change marks a cultural shift after years of advocacy. Transit unions and religious leaders say the depot’s prayer space is a model for faith inclusion citywide.

Green-Wood Cemetery Offers Stunning Cherry Blossoms

6SQFT: Green-Wood Cemetery in Sunset Park is one of NYC’s top spots for cherry blossoms. Its 172 trees bloom each April, turning the historic grounds into a pink-and-white oasis. Locals seeking a tranquil spring stroll or a quiet place to reflect often find Green-Wood the perfect backdrop.

Green-Wood Launches Spring Cultural Season

BROADWAY WORLD: This spring, Green-Wood Cemetery launches concerts, historical tours, art installations, and a Memorial Day tribute. The lineup includes free and ticketed events designed to invite Sunset Park residents into the space as both a resting ground and cultural venue. Organizers say it’s about community, memory, and creativity.

Rooftop Series Coming to Sunset Park

DJ LIFE MAGAZINE: Sunset Park’s rooftop at 14B 53rd Street will host 14 electronic music events from May through summer. Produced by Teksupport, the lineup features major DJs and underground artists. The series aims to make Sunset Park a nightlife destination while celebrating Brooklyn’s dance culture and industrial charm.

Regina Opera Gala Comes to Sunset Park

PATCH: On April 6, the Regina Opera celebrates its 55th anniversary with a gala concert at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sunset Park. The concert features highlights from classic operas and showcases the neighborhood’s rich cultural history and commitment to arts accessibility for all.

CALENDAR

• Tuesday, April 22: Open Houses for Interborough Express in Borough Park

• Saturday, April 26: Go Car-Free for Earth Day

• Ongoing at Green-Wood Cemetery & Industry City