Rooftop Films & Open Studios Return
Also: Local elections heat up, pulp fiction classics, wind energy, COVID Memorial, street safety, senior center 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.
Rooftop Films’ 2025 Series Includes Screenings in Sunset Park
INDIEWIRE: Rooftop Films’ 2025 summer lineup includes several screenings at Industry City in Sunset Park. The series will showcase indie features, docs, and shorts, including premieres and Q&As. The series runs through August, and at Brooklyn Grange in Sunset Park “Rooftop Selects: Farm-to-Screen Shorts” will be featured on Thursday, June 5. Humans, animals, Earth—this new program explores our tangled ties through docs, narratives, and experiments on climate, care, and kinship. On Saturday, June 7 at Green-Wood Cemetery, the series presents Cemetery Shorts: It’s hard to face the end of life’s long journey. Linger with us a little while longer, and experience a thoughtful collection of films that surprise, mystify, and stir the soul.
Industry City’s Open Studios Returns May 17
BK READER: Industry City hosts its annual Open Studios event on Saturday, May 17, from 12–6 p.m. Over 80 artists and designers will open their workspaces to the public, including Rusty Zimmerman, Morbid Anatomy, and Tagliente Studio. Highlights include art demos, hands-on workshops, and local food. The event is free and takes place throughout the Industry City campus in Sunset Park.
Mayoral Candidates Outline Plans in Sunset Park
HOODLINE: At a forum hosted by UPROSE in Sunset Park, NYC mayoral candidates discussed plans for public safety, affordable housing, and immigrant rights. Several proposed strengthening tenant protections, expanding mental health services, and making long-term investments in affordable housing. Residents pressed candidates to address Sunset Park’s rising rents, infrastructure needs, and policing strategies with more accountability and inclusion.
Gaza War Becomes a Flashpoint in Council Race
THE INDYPENDENT: The Gaza war has sharply divided candidates in Sunset Park’s City Council race. Incumbent Alexa Avilés, a progressive critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, faces challengers accusing her of divisiveness. The race is drawing outside attention as it reflects larger debates over foreign policy, local activism, and how national issues shape Sunset Park’s political landscape.
Sunset Park Voters Prioritize Affordability and Safety in Mayoral Race
GOTHAMIST: Sunset Park residents and organizers told Gothamist their top concerns in the mayoral election are housing affordability and public safety. Local leaders expressed skepticism of NYPD-led solutions and pushed for deeper investments in health care, education, and housing. Organizers emphasized Sunset Park’s long-standing environmental and economic justice work as a model for citywide policy.
Real Estate Money Pours Into Two Council Races
CRAIN'S NEW YORK: Real estate interests are pouring money into City Council races in Sunset Park and Park Slope, backing challengers to progressive incumbents Alexa Avilés and Shahana Hanif. The funding surge reflects developers’ efforts to sway land use policy in key districts as rezoning and housing pressures mount across Brooklyn.
Another Rally Held at United Senior Center as Rent Hike Threatens Closure
BROOKLYN REPORTER: Dozens rallied again at the United Senior Center of Sunset Park to protest a looming 86% rent hike that could force its closure. The center’s lease expires in June, jeopardizing essential services for hundreds of local seniors. Elected officials are now urging the city to step in before it’s too late.
Park Slope Man Gets 12 Years for Shooting Unarmed Victim: DA
BROOKLYN PAPER: A 56-year-old Park Slope man was sentenced to 12 years for a 2022 shooting in Sunset Park that left a young man critically injured. Prosecutors said the defendant mistook the victim for someone else, then attacked and shot him while he sat in his car.
Dialogue With Three Chords Goes Pulp Fiction
BROADWAYWORLD: The Tom Kane Theatre at Industry City in Sunset Park will host a one-night-only performance inspired by pulp fiction classics. "Dialogue With Three Chords" brings together three gritty, noir-themed plays by Stephen Gracia and live music from St. Sparks, blending raw theatrical energy with literary edge on May 22.
New COVID-19 Memorial at Green-Wood Celebrates Lives and Legacy
BROOKLYN PAPER: A powerful new COVID-19 memorial at Green-Wood Cemetery in Sunset Park honors lives lost in the pandemic. The installation, “A Bridge, a Stitch, a Compass,” stretches 200 feet and includes community artwork and tributes. Developed with artists and neighbors, it’s both a public remembrance and an evolving space for grief and healing.
Food Insecurity Rises Sharply
BROOKLYN EAGLE: New data show that food insecurity has surged in Brooklyn, with neighborhoods like Sunset Park seeing more residents relying on pantries and mutual aid groups. Factors include inflation, pandemic-era benefit rollbacks, and rising rents. Local food banks and organizations say demand has spiked, and many families now face hunger despite being employed.
New C-Town Supermarket to Open
BROOKLYN REPORTER: A new C-Town grocery store is coming to 5801 Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, replacing the now-closed Mega Bakery. The space will be completely renovated and restocked by late summer. Locals welcomed the news after several recent grocery closures left a gap in affordable fresh food options.
Rite Aid Closures Impact Brooklyn Retail Landscape
CURBED: As Rite Aid closes dozens of locations under bankruptcy, Brooklyn—including parts of Sunset Park—may be left with fewer neighborhood pharmacies. The article notes that corporate bankruptcies and vacant storefronts are accelerating retail displacement in outer-borough neighborhoods, creating health care and commercial access gaps in working-class communities like Sunset Park.
Sunset Park Street Safety Plan Paused Until After Mayoral Election
GOTHAMIST: A city plan to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on 7th Avenue and other Sunset Park corridors has been delayed until after the mayoral election. The DOT had proposed lane redesigns and curb improvements. Advocates say pausing the plan is dangerous, given ongoing collisions and pedestrian deaths.
Working Port Defended Amid Redevelopment Pressure
NY DAILY NEWS: In an op-ed, Sunset Park community leaders argue that Brooklyn’s working waterfront—including the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal—should be preserved for jobs, not luxury development. They call for investment in maritime infrastructure and green jobs instead of rezoning. The authors highlight Sunset Park’s long labor history and strategic position as an economic engine.
Trump’s Wind Energy Freeze Could Cost Sunset Park Its Clean Energy Future
CITY LIMITS: President Trump’s pledge to halt offshore wind development could derail Sunset Park’s clean energy transition. The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is a key staging ground for wind turbine assembly and shipping. A shutdown would threaten union jobs, climate goals, and $1 billion in planned investment. Local leaders say Sunset Park’s future as a green port is now at risk.
CALENDAR
Friday, May 16 through Aug. 22: Rooftop Films Summer Series
Saturday, May 17: NYC Family Style Food Festival at Industry City
Tuesday, June 10-11: Bar Convent Brooklyn at Industry City
Ongoing at Green-Wood Cemetery & Industry City