With the local primaries just weeks away, we continue to focus on the candidates in New York's upcoming election. Ofer talks to Cesar Zuniga who is running for City Council in the district that covers Sunset Park and Red Hook, two of Brooklyn's

Elizabeth Adams, Candidate for City Council District 33

May 19th, 2021 14m 47s

Wrapping up a series on the District 33 City Council race, Ofer sits down with Elizabeth Adams, legislative director for the outgoing Council Member, Steve Levin. Elizabeth grew up in a rent stabilized apartment, and affordable housing is cent

April Somboun, Candidate for NYC Council District 33

May 12th, 2021 15m 40s

In the latest installment of our series looking at the race for the City Council District 33 seat, Ofer sits down with April Somboun. The candidate studied international public policy at Columbia and has worked in marketing and communications.

Toba Potosky, Candidate for City Council District 33

May 5th, 2021 16m 30s

Ofer kicks off a short series focusing on the City Council race for the 33rd district, which has a large slate of candidates vying for the seat. We invited some of the top fundraisers to hear their vision for this diverse district covering D

Kathryn Garcia, Candidate for NYC Mayor

Apr 21st, 2021 26m 4s

Host Ofer Cohen sits down with New York City mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia, a Brooklynite with a fascinating story. Garcia got her start in the Bloomberg Administration, but more recently, served as sanitation commissioner and was appointed

Robert Cornegy Jr., City Council District 36

Apr 7th, 2021 28m 32s

City Council Member Robert Cornegy Jr grew up in Bedford Stuyvesant and represents the neighborhood in the City Council's 36th District. In this podcast, Councilman Cornegy lays out his vision for the city, which includes sitting down with rea

Ray McGuire, Candidate for NYC Mayor

Mar 24th, 2021 29m 58s

HeyBK is back at a time when Brooklyn, along with the rest of NYC, is trying to rebuild all that was lost during the pandemic. This season, Ofer Cohen talks to leaders and political candidates about their vision as the city reopens and rebuilds

Susan Donoghue, Prospect Park

Mar 15th, 2020 26m 1s

In this episode, Ofer sits down with Sue Donoghue, President of the Prospect Park Alliance and the park administrator. At the nonprofit, Sue works closely with the City to help raise 11 million dollars annually and over 50 million dollars in c

Steve Hindy, Brooklyn Brewery

Feb 23rd, 2020 30m 2s

Ofer sits down with Steve Hindy, co-founder and co-chairman of Brooklyn Brewery, one of the largest craft beer makers in the United States. Steve and his neighbor founded the company in 1988 following a dream to bring brewing back to Brooklyn.

Jill Eisenhard, Red Hook Initiative

Feb 2nd, 2020 24m 35s

In the first episode of the new year, Ofer Cohen sits down with Jill Eisenhard, the Founder and Executive Director of the Red Hook Initiative (RHI). Jill has recently announced that she’s stepping down from the non-profit that she founded in Re

Brad Lander, New York City Council, District 39

Dec 15th, 2019 27m 55s

Ofer Cohen sits down with New York City Councilmember Brad Lander. Brad’s district spans established neighborhoods including Park Slope and, the once mainly industrial area, Gowanus which is now on the verge of redevelopment. In their conversat

Carlo Scissura, New York Building Congress (S3E3)

Nov 24th, 2019 24m 11s

In this episode, Ofer speaks with Carlo Scissura, President & CEO of the New York Building Congress. Carlo was recently appointed Chair of the NYC Mayor’s committee in charge of evaluating the plan to fix the crumbling BQE. He has been a key pl

Jonathan Schnapp, Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club

Nov 3rd, 2019 24m 24s

Ofer meets with Jonathan Schnapp, founder of the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club in Gowanus. In 2011, Jonathan and his partner Ashley took a spontaneous trip to the Mirror Lake Shuffleboard Club in Florida and returned home inspired to bring the

Ben Schneider & St John Frizell, Gage & Tollner

Oct 13th, 2019 23m 40s

Ofer sits down with two of the Brooklyn restaurateurs breathing new life into the historic restaurant, Gage & Tollner. The restaurant first opened in Downtown Brooklyn in 1879 and shut its doors in 2004. The 125-year-old Brooklyn institution wa

Chad Dickerson, Etsy

May 26th, 2019 23m 31s

In this episode of HeyBK, Ofer sits down with Chad Dickerson, the former CEO of Etsy, a multibillion-dollar online marketplace for handcrafted goods based in DUMBO. Chad left Silicon Valley for the young startup in 2008 and led the company - th

Dick Zigun, Coney Island USA

May 5th, 2019 23m 11s

On this episode of HeyBK, we journey to South Brooklyn to one of the most famous places in the world – Coney Island. Ofer Cohen speaks with Dick Zigun, the “unelected mayor” of Coney Island, a playwright, a circus fanatic, and the creator and l

Susan Feldman, St. Ann's Warehouse

Apr 7th, 2019 23m 38s

In this episode of HeyBK, Ofer sits down with Susan Feldman, the Artistic Director of St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The program’s trajectory is closely linked with Brooklyn’s resurgence. St. Ann’s relationship with Brooklyn as a

Jared Della Valle & AJ Pires, Alloy Development

Mar 3rd, 2019 22m 31s

HeyBK host Ofer Cohen speaks with Jared Della Valle & AJ Pires, the founders of Alloy, LLC, a DUMBO-based development and architecture firm. Jared and AJ explain how meeting through a mutual friend turned into a life-long friendship, successful

Andrew Kimball, Industry City

Feb 3rd, 2019 18m 48s

On this episode of HeyBK, Ofer speaks with Andrew Kimball, the CEO of Industry City. Since taking over in 2013, Andrew and his partners transformed the largest industrial complex in NYC into a renowned creativity and innovation hub. Andrew give

Jed Walentas, Two Trees Management

Dec 23rd, 2018 19m 28s

On Season 2, Episode 5, Ofer sits down with Jed Walentas, the real estate developer behind the transformation of DUMBO, one of the most desirable neighborhoods in New York City. In the mid-90’s, Jed became involved in his family business, Two T

Karen Auster, Auster Agency

Dec 9th, 2018 14m 37s

In this episode, Ofer sits down with Karen Auster, a key force behind the new Brooklyn experience. During the past two decades, Karen’s Dumbo-based marketing firm, Auster Agency, has helped launch some of Brooklyn’s most exciting projects, incl

Eran Chen, ODA Architecture

Nov 18th, 2018 20m 21s

Eran Chen, Founder of ODA Architecture, speaks with Ofer Cohen about his humble beginnings in Israel to becoming one of NYC’s most renowned architects with an expanding international clientele. Beginning his career designing McDonald’s restaura

Dave Maundrell, Citi Habitats

Nov 1st, 2018 16m 55s

Born and bred Brooklynite, Dave Maundrell, chats with Ofer Cohen about growing up in Williamsburg and witnessing, first-hand, the changes throughout Brooklyn over the last two decades. Dave has great respect for the history of the neighborhood.

Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President

Oct 18th, 2018 17m 4s

Ofer Cohen talks to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams about his concerns, goals and vision for the ever-changing communities throughout Brooklyn. A born and bred Brooklynite, Eric Adams started his career as a police officer, serving 22 yea

Doug Steiner, Steiner Studios

Jul 11th, 2018 16m 18s

Jersey-born real estate developer turned fully-immersed Brooklynite, Doug Steiner, meets with Ofer Cohen to share his story about developing Brooklyn, and the creation of Steiner Studios, the largest movie studio outside of Hollywood. The state