The below street-level Variety Mart on Montague Street, January 2022. Photo: Mary Frost/Brooklyn Eagle
Weather: Day 82°, Night 74°, Partly Sunny then Chance of Showers
THE LEDE: Good morning. On Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, the difference between a coveted storefront and a discounted one can come down to a few steps.
The Rundown
July 2026 sets record low for homicides in Brooklyn: DA Gonzalez: Homicides in Brooklyn are also down 37% and shooting incidents are down 16%, so far during 2026, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
Montague Street’s unconventional retail setup explained: Street-level spaces hold the highest rents, while garden-level and second-floor storefronts often cost significantly less, reflecting differences in visibility, accessibility and customer flow.
Judge rules New York can’t ban federal agents from wearing face coverings: New York can’t ban federal agents from wearing face coverings or require that they wear visible identification, a federal judge ruled Monday.
St. Nicholas Home, formerly Bay Ridge Hospital, faces demolition: The School Construction Authority says the new school will have 676 seats, with some reserved for District 75 Special Education.
At creative reuse centers, old art supplies get a new life at a fraction of the cost: Brooklyn Creative Reuse is one of hundreds of creative reuse centers across the U.S. and beyond which aim to keep art supplies out of landfills.
2 years after federal raids, an Eric Adams power couple seeks podcast fame: Former Schools Chancellor David Banks and ex-First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright have snagged top New York officials as podcast guests, despite the lingering cloud of Adams-era investigations. (The City Reporter)
Our world in photos: Explosions, smiles, signs and more.
Our World in Photos
ROMANIA — The Romanian Navy detonates underwater explosives during a controlled demolition of submerged rocks to improve water flow to the Cernavodă nuclear power plant amid exceptionally low water levels on the Danube River. Photo: Vadim Ghirda/AP
More Brooklyn News
"Summer of smell at Sunset Park: City creates de facto dump at Brooklyn greenspace" (Gothamist)
"What We Know About Trump’s New Public Charge Rule — Including Common Misconceptions" (City Limits)
"Pete Davidson Steps Out With Sarah Jane Nader in Brooklyn" (E! News)
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Staff Picks
READ: "Magical Mystery Toads: The long, tangled, and mostly wrong history of the psychedelic toad." (Longreads)
EAT: From Carroll Gardens to Greenpoint, here are the 17 best new restaurants in Brooklyn. (Eater)
CARTOON: A trip to the movies. (The New Yorker)
LIVE: "New Downtown Brooklyn mixed-use development secures two high-profile retailers" (Crain’s)
The Wrap
⌛ ON THIS DAY
In 1868, the Eagle reported, "A large meteor burst over the town of Derby, Ct., on Monday evening, but without light. Residents thereabouts noticed a perceptible shaking and jarring of their houses." Click here to see what else happened on this day in history.
📔 IMPRINT
British-French actress Emma Mackey poses for Porter Magazine.
👑 ROYAL WATCH
"Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal 'rupture' caused 'very serious damage' to the monarchy: Author" (Fox News)
🏀 SPORTS
Liberty rise to occasion at Barclays with Hillary Clinton in attendance (Brooklyn Eagle)
“The Brady Bunch” star Maureen McCormick
N.Y. Knicks legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing
Former N.Y. Mets and Yankees first baseman John Olerud
“Cloak & Dagger” star Olivia Holt
“Absolute Power” author David Baldacci
Click here to see a full list of birthdays!
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Brooklyn Today’s editor is Scott Enman. Contact him at [email protected].