Oscar Fock

Contributor at Freelance

Freelance journalist in New York. Adjunct professor at Long Island University. opinions are my own.

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Articles

Trump administration tariff announcements cause varying impacts on sustainable building product industries, but uncertainty everywhere

1 week ago | archpaper.com | Oscar Fock |Kristine Klein

Since the Trump administration rolled out its first rounds of tariffs in March, sudden announcements and equally quick rollbacks have created an unpredictable market for manufacturers and vendors of sustainable building products like lumber and aluminum. “For supply chain logistics, the quick announcements and quick rollouts are a stress factor for anyone involved in the chain,” said Rick Arrington, production planner at Texas-based custom lumber mill Delta Millworks.
Red Hook Star-Revue

1 week ago | star-revue.com | Oscar Fock

EDC claims only housing can pay for “the port of the future.” There are other options. Later in April, the Brooklyn Marine Terminal task force is set to vote on a vision plan for the massive redevelopment of New York’s last working waterfront.
Opposition mounting against EDC’s plan for BMT

2 weeks ago | star-revue.com | Oscar Fock

Everyone is outraged with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) right now. Seriously — everyone. The community (except for a fringe group advocating for more housing). Members of Teamsters Local 814. Maritime experts. Community groups. City councilmembers. State assemblymembers. The Brooklyn Borough President. The Public Advocate. The Comptroller. Even a sitting Congressperson who no longer represent the district due to redistricting. And who can blame them.
Undersized lobsters seized at Brooklyn market, by Oscar Fock

1 month ago | star-revue.com | Oscar Fock

It was a bitterly cold winter morning (probably) on Jan. 27 when New York State Environmental Conservation Officers Bieber and Keegan, fresh out of basic school (the Department of Environmental Conservation’s six-month-long training program for its specialized police officers) visited Star Market at 1778 86th St. in Brooklyn for a seafood inspection.
BMT redevelopment update: March, by Oscar Fock

1 month ago | star-revue.com | Oscar Fock

As most in the neighborhood are aware by now, the Brooklyn Marine Terminal is being redeveloped. Since our latest story in the February Star-Revue, nothing has happened that has changed the course of the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC), which leads the project on behalf of the city.
International issues invade local politics, by Oscar Fock

1 month ago | star-revue.com | Oscar Fock

2025 is election year in New York City. Focus of most New Yorkers is, of course, on the mayoral race which is poised to be an interesting one, following Mayor Eric Adams’s string of mishaps, alleged criminal activities and flirting with Donald Trump, likely selling out many New Yorkers in his so far successful search for legal relief in the DOJ case against him. But aside from the probable unseating of the city’s top official, all 51 seats on the city council are also on the ballot.
Charas returning to its neighbors, someday

2 months ago | villagestar-revue.com | Oscar Fock

After decades of fighting, the former PS 64 building — which for some time, following the closing of the school, housed the CHARAS/El Bohio Cultural and Community Center — on 605 East 9th St. will be restored and turned back into a building for the community. The building was sold in January 2024 to an anonymous philanthropy, widely believed to be local hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick, through the entity 605 East 9th Community Holdings. On Jan.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

Jan 11, 2025 | star-revue.com | Oscar Fock

In December, The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), began the second phase of construction of Gowanus’s two Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) tanks after pausing work since August.
A Swedish Christmas Eve, by Oscar Fock

Jan 9, 2025 | star-revue.com | Oscar Fock

In our last issue, I wrote about how we (many of us, at least) celebrate Christmas in Sweden. I went through it all, from Dec. 1 and Swedish Public Service’s advent calendar TV show, through the celebration of St. Lucy and bingo on the night before Christmas Eve, to the sales on Boxing Day. And while these are all key parts of the Swedish Christmas, nothing beats Dec. 24, Christmas Eve.
The attack of the Chinese mitten crabs, by Oscar Fock

Dec 16, 2024 | star-revue.com | Oscar Fock

On Sept. 15, a driver in Brooklyn was stopped by the New York Police Department after running a red light. In an unexpected turn of events, the officers found 29 Chinese mitten crabs, a crustacean considered one of the world’s most invasive species (it’s number 34 on the Global Invasive Species Database), while searching the vehicle. Environmental Conservation Police Officers were called to the scene and issued a ticket to the crab smuggler.