Brooklyn Rockers Z02 headlined the evening at Webster Hall in NYC last night and they brought the house down! Special guests Dee Snyder from Twisted Sister, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thai of Guns and Roses, along with Dave Sabo of Skid Row, and Steve Augeri of Journey took the stage at the "Edge Rock" ball, as part of the Rock Asylum Foundation's dedication to creating opportunities for elementary age students to engage in learning the Common Core Standards through original music, both recorded and live. These songs are being written to target issues, both academic and social, that are often challenging for students in high-risk areas.

 Interactive concerts are donated to schools, inspiring and inviting students to participate in learning these educational songs. It is their mission to create a catalogue of music for schools that will motivate young people to achieve academic and personal success and to become creative, confident, well-rounded adults.

Carlo Scisurra, former Chief of Staff to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was honored this evening as the New President & Ceo of the Brooklyn Chamber Of Comerce.

Over 500 people filled this beautiful room inside the Brooklyn Museum for coctails . Many of whom were in politics, some were members of the Chamber, and best of all, Carlo's mom was in attendance! Speeches were made from Marty Markowitz, Carlo's former boss, and Mayor Bloomberg, who wished Carlo the best of luck at his new position. Carlo then addressed the crowd with a ton of energy and said:

"We are so lucky to be here right now, the world is looking at us" 

We supported Carlo when he was running for Borough President because he knows Brooklyn. And nothing  has really changed. He is still part of our borough. He may be from Bensonhurst but he understands what needs to be done in East New York as well as Bay Ridge. The key to his success is his understanding of all of the different cultures here and how he can assist them with whatever their needs are within the borough and beyond. We wish Mr. Scisurra the best of luck as he begins this new direction in life. 

In the summer of 1978, Samantha Bonti is fifteen years old and navigating a dangerous relationship with an older boyfriend who’s devastatingly good looking—and an aspiring mobster. Half-Jewish, half-Italian, and hesitantly edging toward pure Brooklyn, Samantha lives in Bensonhurst with her mother Joan, a cynic shackled with addictions, and with Grandma Ruth, Samantha’s loudest and most opinionated source of encouragement. As flawed as they are, they are family. But when a girl wants something more, when tradition is a terrifying roadblock to the independent woman she wants to become, it’s time to break free and find one’s own way. Told from the adult perspective, this is a powerful story of leaving the past to history and the future to fate—as Samantha makes a move to restore hope where there was none, and reach for her dream of a new life as a writer in an inspiring promise of paradise called Manhattan.

Suzanne is the author of two feature film screenplays, which are based on her novels. Brooklyn Story, a young woman’s coming of age tale (Simon&Schuster Jan 2011). She has also penned other screenplays, such as A Simple Road and Gary Granite. Suzanne has also produced for the New York and London stages Roman Nights, about screen legend Anna Magnani and playwright Tennessee Williams. Suzanne has produced two documentaries; Indonesia, A Personal Journey and HEAR THEM ROAR, shot entirely at the Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Citra, Florida. Narrated by Lorraine Bracco. This documentary was the foundation that inspired her children’s book Sammy & Sue™ Go Green Too!, (Beaufort Books Apr 2009) an eco-friendly, environmentally educational book of this mother/daughter explorer team, geared for 5 yrs and older.

Currently, she is working on the sequel to Brooklyn Story (Over the Bridge) and is a contributing editor to DowntownMagazine 

As the Editor of BrooklynGossip.com, I sometimes get perks and this is one of them.  

This is the first of many interviews I will be doing with people who came from Brooklyn and became famous.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down and getting personal with Angela “Big Ang” Raiola, of the VH1 hit series MOB WIVES and let me tell you this……It was a blast!   

I arrived at her home at around 1:00 p.m. and was greeted at the front door by Big Ang  and Louie, her Pomeranian who is named after  Mr. Vuitton. We walked up the zebra carpeted stairs into the dining room where “The Girls” were sitting at a table full of Italian specialties that I swore off years ago! You know, the Italian Bread, Mozzarella, Dry Sausage, Prosciutto etc. Needless to say, I had flashbacks of when I was 215 pounds and my daughter would laugh at me, point to my stomach and say…”Dad is that a belly Shirt?”   All joking aside, the spread was great and it was plenty. I even had Foie Gras and crackers. They really Hooked me up!

I sat at the table with her sister Janine, Owner of Country Mouse, fine children’s wear and gifts on Staten island, daughter Raquel, nieces Jeannie & Roxanne, and little Jen, one of her closest friends. If we had a curse Jar at that table we could have bought a vacation! 

Big Ang is a native of Brooklyn. She grew up in Gravesend, then moved to Dyker Heights.  All of the information about her connection to the Mob is pretty much out there already and I don’t think that I need to reiterate it. She is on MOB WIVES so you know that there is a connection, got it?   The Mob has fascinated people for a hundred years, and this show is proof that it continues to amaze all walks of life. Big Ang’s role on the show is more like “Consigliere” she often is the person the rest of the cast members go to for advice or private counsel. Her popularity on the show is what I think will skyrocket her to a very successful career in anything she wants to do.  And she deserves it.

I wanted to do the interview and ask her questions that BROOKLYN would want to know…Not the questions Mario Lopez from Extra would be asking…

So here is what I got out of Big Ang over lunch:

She shops at Nordstroms,  and when in Staten Island, Just B Boutique. 

Her favorite drink is an Espresso Martini…..

Favorite places to eat are: Ignazios Pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge, Areo in Bay Ridge, and also, Ponte Vecchio. 

Loves Raquel Welch & Armand Assante 

Favorite Movie: To Sir with Love ( sung by LuLu 1967)   

She loves Classic Disco (Beatstock) 

She loves to cook and get this: She can cook a seven course meal and have it ready before the table is half set! I saw 3 inch Peter Luger Porterhouse steaks on that counter!

Her Favorite car is a Jaguar. Absolutely loves them! 

She also loves a 1.5 mill,  4 bedroom home with 3 bathrooms, a pool and a cabana boy! 

Ang once took a homeless guy in a wheelchair to Vincent’s Restaurant in Little Italy and when they would not let him in she told them…”I am paying the Bill” and they allowed him to stay.

Big Ang opened her door up to me and treated me like I was one of the family. She is a wonderful woman who has spent a lifetime in a world that not too many of you would ever be able to handle. I am glad to see that she is being sought after and I also believe that she is going to become “Bigger” than her name implies. By the way, the name does not come from her physical attributes. Ang got that name because of her larger than life personality! 

In ending I decided to ask Big Ang the Billion Dollar Question: 

“Ang, what is your Bra Size?”, Brooklyn Needs to know!”

Ang replied: “If I tell you, I would have to kill you!”

Here is to Success leading to Happiness! God Bless you Big Ang and thank you for being the premiere interview on BrooklynGossip.com!

Have you ever had to make a fast stop at the local grocery store and realized there werent any available parking spots?  Although you circled the block, there was nothing.....So you thought to yourself, "I will just double park real fast, I'm only getting the paper". So you run in the store and as you come out.....Bam! Meter maid getting ready to scan the window sticker and leave you a $115.00 tkt.  You run over and plead your case but no way......That little gadget has already done its job and printed out your summons! You can even be sitting in the car and get a summons.....Unbelievable....Was that such a crime? Especially when parking is limited? We may as well WALK everywhere! That was a very expensive Coffee and Paper! Ouch! 

What is going on here in New York, and especially Brooklyn is criminal! The city needs this revenue and if you look at how the system works, you would think it is run by a Cartel or the Mob!

Here is the order in which the city operates:

First, they send out the little foot soldiers.....We call them meter maids, they like traffic enforcement, whatever...These are the people that are told...Go write tickets and we don't give a damn who, what , when and how...Just Write Write Write!

So the Victim...The person who gets the ticket is usually middle class, has a ton of bills, just makes ends meet and really cant afford to pay that amount of money....

But, you are given the choice to plead NOT GUILTY and schedule a hearing in front of a judge and fight it....But wait a second...The hearing falls on a work day and you cant take off and lose a day's pay and then pay the tkt on top of it! So what can you do if you cant afford the first option? Hearing on Internet? Always loses and if you plead out you save $20..... So no matter what, you have to pay!

Now here is what happens if you Don't and this is where we compare the city to organized crime.

You are 30 day's late paying a $115.00 tkt so u get a notice, its now $175.00. They just added $60 late fee penalty! 

In what COUNTRY is it legal to charge almost 50% in late fees? Oh wait it gets better....Wait 90 days and that summons has now put your vehicle into collection.....This is where the city sends out the Marshal? This is a collector with a GUN and he comes and takes your car! They don't care how or where, they pull it up on the lift, break everything, and pound the car!

Once they have the car...They then add a towing fee, Marshals Fee and a storage fee to the deal.

By the time you get that vehicle, the $115.00 summons you got for that coffee stop u made is now worth $650.00! That is a gain of 500% !!!!! Never mind the damage to the vehicle from the tow truck and who knows what they take?

We all work and  have families here in this community and we are good people. Something has to be done to stop the amount of tkts that are put on a quota for this city. We are not saying that we should be able to break the law and park where we want, but when it is obvious that a car is parked to get something in a store, the courtesy should be made for that business! Especially that they do not have sufficient parking available.....

This goes with all parking Violations. Expired meters...U didn't pay 25 cents so now u owe $40.00?

You blocked a crosswalk by one inch.....$165.00

Gee you couldn't find a spot and it was late so you parked at the pump? $115.00

We need to stop this insanity and start to get together and Fight City hall......Tell us what you think....

Take a look around folks.....Gone are most of the stores that we all grew up with! Today we have been invaded by the Ninety Nine cent store!

The 99 cent store is a a general name for thrift store, but the 99 cents  sign may be a better marketing tool for the eye of the consumer. Using the word thrift may lead those to believe that the merchandise is garbage. But let me assure you, they are the same!

Today I decided to count how many of these stores popped up on 18th avenue in Bensonhurst.

I started on 60th street, and not to my surprise, there was one on that corner! I was heading to 86th street when my count began.....By the time I finished, I had 20 and was in Shock! One on every block? And on some, two, or one across the street from the next!

In the 60's and 70's did we see a bakery on every block or a Pizzeria on every corner?  Absolutely not!

This raises alot of questions in my mind. Like, where did you get the money to open a store on a busy avenue with avg rent being $2500.00 a month, and decide to make it exactly like everyone else. Wouldn't you all think that with that many stores already, nobody will make any money? Especially when they all sell the same exact stuff...Which is garbage! How many of you can afford to open a business like this tomorrow? People can come from across the sea and open a business and stock it? Half of us would get thrown out of the bank if we asked for a loan for a 99 cent store. Go figure?

The thrift store was always good for those things u would never find in the big stores, or for something that is close to home instead of a run to a

 hardware store...Before Home Depot put them out of business!

My personal experience is horrible with these stores.

One day I needed a hammer so I run in, buy a hammer real fast, and when I go to hit the nail....The head of the hammer breaks off. Then, I needed Duct tape. I was like, "Yes" they have it! Come home and go to tape the window...Doesn't stick!

And there are other things I wonder....Like are those little toys and things they sell inspected by anyone? Is the food they sell dated? Is that really Joy dish washing liquid or is it Non Ultra Joy? What does that mean? Another concern...Are the toys made of lead? Do we know any of this? No we don't!

The bottom line here is that we have nothing left from years gone by. No more Mom and Pop stores. No friendly person behind the counter, just a person that laughs at every thing you ask for. "How much is this?" you ask. They reply..."Hahhahaha" One Dolla" I don't see the humor when I am in the store,  but then again, its good for stand up comedy!

Bottom line, as I love to finish with saying.......

Are the people living among us here in Brooklyn so poor that they need so many of these stores to offer such cheap goods? Does it help them? You tell me please!

George Speranza

Editor In Chief

BrooklynGossip.com

Imagine driving your children to school at 7:30 a.m. and find yourself behind this vehicle?

 "Mommy, Daddy, what is that?" What do you tell your kids? Um......I don't know? Or do you say:

Kids, that is a mans Balls hanging from the tow hitch of that womans car!

And it's perfectly normal to have to see this today? I don't agree.....

The laws have to start changing around here. I enjoy taking my kid to school and I really don't care to have to see this in front of me. For women that have to wear the pants....Just wear them! Do you have to show the world that you have your mans nuts dragging behind your car? And it's not like your 18...You are in your 40's. Give us a break! 

It is illegal NOT to wear a seatbelt, or to talk and drive, but it's not illegal to have this on your car? 

What's next? Penis hood ornaments? Or headlight Boobs? The world our kids are growing up in is bad enough with the Internet BUT CAN WE PLEASE REGULATE ONE THING?

We all bitch and moan about the amount of tickets we get, the way we get them, and what happens to us if we don't pay them. And to be quite honest, I really have had enough of this.  Yesterday I parked my car at a meter and as I went into the store to get four quarters, I turned around and there was an agent, already writing the ticket. I had the dollar in my hand and I argued my case..I was three steps from the vehicle, and yet, the officer totally disregarded what I said and continued to print me the $35.00 summons.  Folks.... Since when in the world would not paying .25 cents cost you a fine that is adjusted at 14,000 %. Yes....It is FOURTEEN THOUSAND PERCENT! 

We need to start making calls to the officials that we have elected and demand that they serve the people in this community by talking to the mayors office about this insanity. 

People that live in this community are hard working. They buy locally and help support the economy, they pay income tax, sales taxes, home taxes, and tax on just about everything else. This is not fair to anyone. Especially when you have to take a day off from work to fight the summons and not know if you will lose the days pay and wind up paying the tkt too. Most people just pay, because if they dont...The 14000%  can become 50,000 % when they add fines and tow your vehicle. Imagine? For a measly .25 cents? If any private business conducted themselves in this matter, the attorney general would have them in Hot Water! But for the city...Its overlooked!     

In no way am I saying that people should be allowed to break the law and park wherever they want or not put change in the meter. All I am saying is that Enforcement needs to become a little more understanding when it comes to the situation and the summons. They should not act like robots. We all know the reason why they act this way. They are told to write......

Something has to be done here. Its just not fair.

Most people living here are very confused about the Occupy Wall Street movement and just what they stand for. Let me give you my thoughts and after this, I may just drop the subject. I believe that It is getting way too much media attention and I believe the more cameras they see, the bigger they get. Some idiot sitting home getting unemployment will see the news and jump in on the protest the next day. Let me first thank all of the networks for trying to boost ratings! Yet I don't get the message...Do You? Let me try to break it down .....

The OWS movement claims that they are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the corruption of the 1%. They are using the Arab Spring Method tactic to achieve their ends and encourage the use of Nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants. When researching, this is what I read. Does this seem like a peaceful method to you? 

The Arab Spring Method

As of November 2011

, governments have been overthrown in three countries. Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on 14 January following the Tunisian revolution protests. In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarakresigned on 11 February 2011 after 18 days of massive protests, ending his 30-year presidency. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown on 23 August 2011, after the National Transitional Council (NTC) took control of Bab al-Azizia. He was killed on 20 October 2011, in his hometown of Sirte after the NTC took control of the city.

Now lets get down to what they are protesting. 

These people have had it with major Banks, Corporate America, and how they have destroyed our economy and caused the greatest recession in decades. They also believe that the  1% of the richest people in the world are writing the rules of an unfair global economy, and that it is foreclosing on our future.

You can ask me personally if I agree with them, and I will say that I do in a way. I strongly believe that the Banking industry is the biggest sham ever created. And when did our economy start heading straight to the toilet? When Banks decided they would merge with Brokerage firms, that's when! A bank is the only place where you give them your money, they give you 1%, and then turn around and give you a credit card and charge you 15% with good credit, 25% with bad credit. Now, this has been going on since the beginning of time and most of us have dealings with these crooked institutions and pay no mind to what I just mentioned about % rates. Our Government allows this to go on, and we, the people are the fools. As for the Wall Street brokerage firms? Don't be misguided, they are really Banks Re: J.P. Morgan/Chase. As for Corporate America and the biggest scam of all, called The Stock Market, they are all controlled by the banks! The banks underwrite IPO'S and they hold the biggest positions in the companies that make up the DJIA.  Am I an expert when it comes to this? Not really but street wise people can figure this out. And these protesters have it figured out also. Think about this every time you call customer service and get a person in Honduras or India  on the other line that can not understand a word of English? Corporate America sold us out, they jobs went somewhere else, yet they want us to buy from them? It is frustrating! But the President made everyone like him by extending Unemployment. That will get the lazy folks vote right?  Back to the point. We all have frustrations and we are not fools. The main problem is, how do we make a change?

We need a change, and it has been a long time coming. But I do not agree with  a bunch of Hipsters or other Art loving transplants hopping on a bandwagon just because that is what they do. No matter what the cause. And that is what this movement here consists of. So the message is being laughed at by most of us. The argument they have to change things belongs on Capitol Hill, not Zucotti Park! The place where these people are marching right now is considered sacred to me. They do not belong there! Let them re organize and go march to Albany! Let them go to elected officials offices and demand a change...Not run up and down the streets and fight with the N.Y.P.D.and wind up arrested.  This is not the 1960's and we are not living the Woodstock life and all eating acid.....The flower child tactic will not work!

Nobody listens to a lunatic. We lose respect for people when they yell at us. We tune them out and wish they would go away fast. That is what we are seeing here. And these people are really aggravating the other people who work.   It's getting cold and they will be marching inside malls soon, just in time for Holiday Shopping! 

Scissura, 41, is a lifelong Brooklyn resident, born and raised in Bensonhurst and currently living in Dyker Heights. He is a graduate of Pace University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, in Political Science, as well as a Juris Doctor. Scissura attended Our Lady of Guadalupe School and Xaverian High School. 

Prior to joining the Borough President as Counsel, Scissura was an attorney in full-time private practice, and worked in both the New York State Assembly and Senate. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Public Library and Brooklyn Information & Culture (BRIC). In addition, Scissura is the Second Vice President of the Federation of Italian-American Organizations, where he is helping to spearhead the development of a new Italian Cultural and Community Center, and is the Master of Ceremonies for the Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade.

In 1999, Scissura was elected to Community School Board 20, and five years later was appointed by Borough President Markowitz to serve on the Community Education Council for District 20, where he served as President and Chairman of the Legislative Committee. He was also a long time member of Community Board 11 and served as the Chair of the Law Committee.

Here is what you will be getting from BrooklynGossip.com

A  daily place to visit to see everything that is happening in our Borough. All of the best places to dine, shop, visit and enjoy. We are not looking to cut coupons when it comes to quality. What we will do is bring you to places that you never knew existed and deals you would have never known about. We thought this out carefully and understand that people want to be entertained yet informed, and we have that mix  just right.  

We will leave all of the bad news for the newspapers while we send you all of the best that this borough has to offer!  

Nitelife: The best clubs, Bars, and lounges. Age appropriate with nice crowd. We will have your photos up...so tag away!

Food: Best restaurants for every day of the week, including almost every food type. There are so many here...Its a challenge! 

Fashion: Everyone wants to look great and up to date! We will have you wearing the hottest styles and report on every sale in the borough!

Events: There are so many things to do in this borough but how do you find out on a daily basis which ones are the best? We will bring them right to you! 

Brooklyn Yesterday: We like to have people share pictures and moments of our borough in the past, just so we can see how far along we have come. From the Brooklyn Dodgers to John Travolta walking down 86th street, we will go digging.....

Advertisers take notice......We are going to be everywhere, so if we come see you listen carefully. We want to help you get noticed without getting a lump on the head doing it! 

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