It is possible that James Franco has out-Franco-ed himself. Adding “street artist” to his absurdly lengthy resume (ever heard of a vacation, bro? Just reading about all the things you do makes me sleepy), Franco has now painted a mural on a Brooklyn building. Gakwer acquired some photos of Franco tagging a Williamsburg wall with the likenesses of himself and his “This Is the End” co-stars Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson on Saturday. Stay tuned for subsequent photos of the mural being graffiti-ed by disgruntled hipsters. We’re not pawns in your game of capitalistic self-promotion masked in art, man. Also, go take a nap.

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A measles outbreak has hit one Brooklyn community and may be spreading, health officials say.

There have been 21 cases of measles reported in Borough Park and one case in Williamsburg this year, according to the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Those infected are between 10 months and 32 years old, DNAinfo.com reports.

The first case was imported from London, according to the health department. Measles is a highly contagious disease and can be deadly. Symptoms include rash, fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat.

The disease can be prevented with a vaccine. The new outbreak may have spread between families who refused vaccinations, according to DNAinfo.com.

This is the fourth time since 2008 that a measles outbreak has hit the ultra-Orthodox community in Borough Park, DNAinfo.com also reported.

All of those who were infected this year have recovered, but officials say there may be more cases because of the large number of people exposed to the disease in the community.

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Ruben Ubiles, the suspect in the burning of 12 mezuzahs in Williamsburg, has been moved from a police facility to a hospital, according to a law enforcement source.

The desecration of the Jewish symbols has also officially been deemed a hate crime, according to the source.

The source said charges filed against Ubiles include 12 counts each of burglary as a hate crime, arson as a hate crime and criminal mischief as a hate crime. He also faces an additional 12 counts of reckless endangerment, arson and criminal mischief.

When Ubiles was arrested at his ex-girlfriend’s home, he had a glass crack pipe in his pocket, cops said.

Ubiles was arrested at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday at his ex-girlfriend’s home. He was charged with violating an open Order of Protection the ex-girlfriend had against him. She told police that he knocked on her door and threw something at it. She said he also threatened to kill her, a law enforcement source said.

The charges filed Thursday are in addition to the Order of Protection violation.

A law enforcement source said he made statements to detectives in which he admitted to committing the incidents.

On Wednesday morning, he wrote a lengthy Facebook post in which he vehemently declared his innocence.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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Ruben Ubiles, the suspect of in the burning of 12 mezuzahs in Williamsburg, appears to have declared his innocence on Facebook.

In an update posted via cell phone, Ubiles wrote, mostly in all-caps, that he has no problem with Jews.

“I’ve worked with them for years, so why create an unnecessary problem for me when I’m on the verge of finally grow [sic] as a person,” the post reads.

However, he also wrote, “When Jews burn wood and garbage on ebery [sic] corner, its [sic] OK to pollute the surroundings,” an apparent complaint about the Jewish community in the neighborhood.

The Facebook post references the surveillance camera footage that the police originally released when requesting the public’s help in tracking down the subject.

“No matter where I go, if I see a camers [sic], its a habbit [sic] of mine to pose (as a joke),” he wrote. “But to burn doors~ not my thing.”

Ubiles insisted that police are judging him based on his criminal record, but pointed out that he’s never been arrested for arson.

“Im [sic] known for getting into fights,” he wrote. “I dont [sic] like fires. Been threw [sic] too many of those to attempt to threaten a community thats [sic] has not violated me.”

A law enforcement source said Ubiles has been arrested 40 times, most recently for assault, but also for stealing a car, trespassing, and possession of a firearm and marijuana, as well as other thefts, robberies and controlled substance possession charges.

He has been in jail 13 times, according to a law enforcement source.

Police also said he is a member of the Latin Kings gang, and joined while incarcerated. They said he is sometimes known by the nickname “Booboo.”

He reportedly has two orders of protection out against him, from two separate women, and lives in South Williamsburg, the same neighborhood where the mezuzahs were burned.

But in his Facebook post, Ubiles insisted he is reformed.

“Those that know me for working and going to a program, should no [sic] better to just second guess me due to history, and not for how much I changed for the better,” he wrote. “I gor ro [sic] my program and inform someone of all my where abouts [sic].”

A law enforcement source reported that cops used facial recognition on the original surveillance footage to identify Ubiles as the suspect in the burning of the mezuzahs. Probable cause was established by witness reports and additional surveillance footage.

An elderly woman reportedly identified Ubiles for the police.

Cops said she told them she knew who burned the mezuzahs, and that the same person had done the same thing in her building a year ago.

She informed cops of his nickname (“Booboo”) and said she saw him yesterday.

She told the police that Ubiles spoke to her, saying “F— you Jews” and “I will rob you.”

She reportedly said he is volatile and “has a problem.”

In a lengthy Facebook post, Ubiles, the suspect in custody for the burning of 12 mezuzahs in Williamsburg, appeared to declare his innocence. (Facebook)

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According to a law enforcement source, the suspect police named in the burning of several mezuzahs in Williamsburg is now in custody and is being interviewed.

35-year-old Ruben Ublies is being held in a police facility where he will be processed, the source said. Charges are pending.

Contrary to some reports, the source clarified that the suspect did not turn himself in. He was picked up by the Hate Crime Task Force at his girlfriend’s home around 10:30 a.m.

The source said it has not yet been determined that the arson is definitively a hate crime; the NYPD will consult with the District Attorney before making that determination.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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Police have identified a suspect in connection with the burning of 12 mezuzahs in Williamsburg.

Cops are searching for Ruben Ublies, 35, after 11 mezuzahs were burned inside 85 Taylor St. on Monday, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and another mezuzah was burned inside 130 Clymer St. on Tuesday.

Ublies was spotted on surveillance video inside 130 Clymer St.

Police are investigating the burnings as a possible hate crime. Mezuzahs are pieces of parchment that contain verses from the Torah and are usually hung on the doorposts of Jewish homes.

The suspect is described as 5-foot-9 and weighing about 130-160 lbs. He was last seen wearing a grey shirt with white stripes, a purple doo-rag and a black Yankees jacket.

Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crimestoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.

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Get pumped, Brooklyn music lovers: the lineup for Brooklyn’s Northside Festival has been announced.

The festival will go from June 13 to June 20 and feature 350 bands and over 40 films.

This year’s festival will kick off with an Entrepreneurship and Technology Expo (NExT) on June 13 and 14.

A free outdoor public innovation expo will take place in McCarren Park and will be open to the public free of charge, and then an entrepreneurship conference will be held at Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn Brewery, and the Wythe Hotel.

Speakers will include Charles Adler, the co-founder of Kickstarter, and Jason Goodman, the CEO and co-founder of 3rd Ward, among many others.

Word is also out about a mysterious demonstration that festival sponsor Jameson will be conducting, but specifics are hazy so far. It will involve the man responsible for Jameson Black Barrel’s flame-charred barrels, a fifth-generation Master Cooper named Ger uckley, flying in from Middleton Distillery in Ireland.

Two free, ticketed outdoor shows in McCarren Park on June 15 and 16 have been announced. The June 15 headliner will be The Walkmen. June 16′s main act is yet to be named.

Other musical acts appearing at the festival are Mac DeMarco, Black Flag, Har Mar Superstar, Lambchop, Lower, Lushlife, The Luyas, White Fence, Ava Luna, Chelsea Wolfe, Dead Stars, Destruction Unit, Kisses, The Karma Exchange, Rush Midnight, Swans, Twin Sister, The Veda Rays, The Void Union, Intronaut, Jonathan Toubin, Crazy Pills, Iceage, Drunken Rampage, The Courtesy Tier, The Casualties, and WHY? among many, many others.

Northside Film released its screening lineup, which includes a documentary about Le Tigre called “Who Took the Bomp? Le Tigre on Tour.” Kerthy Fix and Kathleen Hanna will be onsite for a Q&A after the screening.

Early bird badges can be purchased for $65 through April 30.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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Following an apparent hate crime against the Jewish community on Williamsburg, city officials came out in full force to denounce the perpetrator and call for justice.

The crime, the burning of 11 mezuzahs on doorways in the NYCHA Taylor-Wythe Houses, occurred on Monday, which was Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz pointed out that Brooklyn is home to more Holocaust survivors than anywhere else in the world, and has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.

“Yesterday should have been a time for reflection and recollection of the millions of lives lost, but instead we are reminded of the very kind of hatred that led to the Holocaust,” Markowitz said.

Markowitz suggested that the perpetrators be forced to visit the Kleinman Family Holocaust Education Center in Borough Park or the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

The Anti-Defamation League also released a statement on the desecration of the mezuzahs.

“This is a blatant act of anti-Semitism with a clear attempt to instill fear and intimidate victims in their homes,” asserted Etzion Neuer, ADL Acting New York Regional Director.

Community member Gary Schlesinger noted that several Holocaust survivors live in the building, and that mezuzahs are not only religious objects, but symbols of protection and safety, making the burning that much more of an act of aggression and intimidation.

Schlesinger also complained of trouble with the New York City Housing Authority, the agency responsible for the Taylor-Wythe Houses.

“There has been a major influx of drug dealers and shooting in the last couple of years and we have constantly asked NYCHA to comply with… [Housing and Urban Development] rules and regulations to evict these criminals, and they have basically shut their eyes,” Schlesinger said.

He also said that NYCHA has not maintained safety in the building, noting that they have their only safety officers separate from the NYPD.

“Cameras put in by federal dollars weren’t working, why?” he added. “That’s really terrible.”

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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UPDATE: According to eyewitnesses and law enforcement, mezuzahs were found burned at another Williamsburg building located at 130 Clymer Street.

Early reports indicate burned mezuzahs found at 128 Clymer but police were unable to confirm those reports.

Police were unable to provide a count of how many mezuzahs were burned at 130 Clymer.

According to cops, the building is also managed by the New York City Housing Authority. The first building affected, 85 Taylor, was as well.

Rachel Hoffman, a mother of seven who lives at 130 Clymer, expressed dismay at the desecration of the mezuzahs.

“It shows a disregard for our beliefs, to come in and destroy something sacred to us,” Hoffman said. “It’s a very low thing to do. I just don’t understand.”

“My children will be getting home soon,” she added. “I’m very concerned.”

Additional reporting by Emily Johnson.

Metro’s original story is below.

Cops may have caught a possible suspect on surveillance camera in the investigation into the burning of 11 mezuzahs in Williamsburg on Monday, according to a law enforcement source.

Mezuzahs are religious objects placed on the doorways of Jewish homes, which is why the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime.

“The mezuzah is a symbol of protection,” explained community member Gary Schlesinger. “It’s not only a religious symbol, it’s something we feel is protecting our safety.”

Schlesinger also noted that the burning occurred on Holocaust Remembrance Day, and said there are quite a few Holocaust survivors in the building.

“It’s really an insult to those people,” he added.

Police reported that on Monday afternoon around 4 p.m., a resident at 85 Taylor Street, one of the NYCHA Taylor-Wythe Houses and a building predominantly inhabited by Satmar Hasidic Jews, noticed a mezuzah on fire outside an apartment on the 8th floor.

The resident reported his observation to a member of the Shomrim, the Jewish safety force in Williamsburg, who notified local NYPD.

The Hate Crimes Tast Force was dispatched to the building, where they were informed at 11 mezuzahs on seven different floors were burned.

The Arson/Explosion Unit and NYFD fire marshals reportedly determined that no accelerant was used in setting the fires.

On the fourth floor, police found a charred piece of cardboard, and on the sixth floor they discovered a burnt wooden match.

There are 14 cameras inside the building, and surveillance video showed one suspicious individual, according to a law enforcement source.

Police described the individual as a dark-skinned male, approximately 30 years old. He reportedly got in the elevator in the lobby around 3:30 p.m. carrying a Razor scooter.

Cops said he appeared to light a match while in the elevator, and got off the elevator two minutes later. He left the building twenty minutes later using a stairwell.

Police canvassed five other buildings of the development but found no other burned mezuzahs. The investigation is still underway.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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The NYPD is investigating a possible hate crime in Williamsburg, according to a law enforcement source.

Approximately 11 mezuzahs appear to have been intentionally burned outside of Jewish doorways.

Mezuzahs are pieces of Torah parchment, usually contained in some sort of decorative casing. They are affixed to the entryways of Jewish homes according to Jewish custom.

The burnt mezuzahs coincide with Holocaust Remembrance Day, which began Sunday at sundown.

The source did not know the extent of the damage. The residences are at the Taylor-Wythe Houses, a New York City Housing Authority complex in Brooklyn.

An NYPD spokesperson said the incident is being investigated as property damage at a residential location for now, and the determination of bias or hate crime will come at a later time.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio condemned the burning and called on the public to go to the police with any information on the incident.

“Nothing but hatred can explained why someone would burn mezuzahs on Yom Hashoah, the day we remember the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust,” De Blasio said. “This is a sickening act of prejudice that strikes at the very core of who we are as a city.”

“Make no mistake: we will find those responsible,” he added.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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25-year-old video editor Anthony DiMieri had written a sitcom about 20-something guys living in NYC back in 2010, but when “Girls” premiered, the idea for a parody colliding two stereotyped sub-cultures just clicked.

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  Watch the trailer for ‘Bros,’ a parody of HBO’s ‘Girls’

“When I saw ‘Girls,’ I thought, ‘Holy crap – this is really close to what I was doing,’” DiMieri told Metro. “It’s taking some humor and boiling things down to more sketch comedy. Humor in a web series is different than humor on TV. You have to make people laugh right off the bat.”

Thus, “Bros” was born.

He did a casting call in December, pulled a lot of favors for the low-budget production, and put it on on YouTube earlier this week. “Bros” follows a main character who gets cut off by his parents (sound familiar?) after his post-college life is filled with picking up chicks and playing “Call of Duty.” His soul-searching is brought to halt when one of his fellow bros reveals the secrets of picking up hipster girls. Observing their friend’s outfit — a sparkly t-shirt, a purple winter cap and cut-off shorts — the main character and his bros are at first bewildered that this look could ever attract women.

“You look like you skinned a mermaid,” a bro exclaims. “And you took her skin, and fashioned it into a crude shirt.”

“You haven’t been over there. It’s different,” the bro-turned-hipster responds of Williamsburg.

“You don’t even have lenses in your glasses,” another bro rebuts, still in utter shock.

But it is the bro-turned-hipster who gets the last laugh when he returns to the apartment that night with a flannel-wearing hottie. From there, DiMieri’s cast embarks on a transformation as they strive to infiltrate Williamsburg and entice female hipsters with mentions of gin distilleries and “obscure” music. Sure, they run into bumps along the way, like being denied a Long Island Iced Tea from the bartender because it is a “stupid drink.” Moments like that are reflections of DiMieri’s real-life memories from his time in a Williamsburg apartment he shared with three girls.

“The stuff I was writing about, I sort of based on real-life experience,” he said. “I definitely lived a similar lifestyle with the Pickleback shots and PBR. There is some truth to the stereotypes, but we really went over the top and made it cartoonish.”

DiMieri has gotten a lot of feedback about “Bros” but, predictably, some criticism, too, about poking fun at “Girls.”

“My favorite YouTube comment so far is something like, ‘You guys are a**holes for ruining such a good thing,’” he said. “They think I am attacking the show, but I am not trying do that.”

And the people behind the show itself have already taken notice of “Bros.” The official Twitter account for “Girls” started following DiMieri.

“That was a big deal because it was like, ‘Ok, the people at HBO are watching this,’” DiMieri said. “I think Lena Dunham and I could probably collaborate and write a really hilarious episode, maybe about bringing the girls to a frat party.”

DiMieri, who rejects labels but admitted he is likely part-bro, part-hipster, would like to continue making episodes in the web series, but said it is all based on cost and whether he can find a way to fund the production. Most of the people involved for in the first episode worked for free, including the cast members. He is considering launching a Kickstarter campaign.

Follow Cassandra Garrison on Twitter at @CassieAtMetro

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Julio Acevedo, the man charged with vehicular manslaughter in the hit-and-run deaths of a young Orthodox couple and their baby, pleaded not guilty on Thursday, according to the NY Daily News.

Acevedo was initially charged with leaving the scene of a crime and criminal negligent homicide, but a few days ago the Brooklyn District Attorney announced vehicular manslaughter charges as well.

The addition of the three manslaughter counts increased his potential jail time to 15 years; in light of his prior criminal record, however, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Defense attorney Kathleen Julian implied that the added charges were a result of pressure from the Orthodox community.

“We’re disappointed with the upgraded charges,” Julian said. “Like similar cases in recent events, I hope it’s not motivated by public pressure.”

The Daily News said Julian was speaking of the exoneration of David Ranta, found guilty in 1990 of killing Chasidic rabbi Chaskel Werzberger. Ranta is being released from prison today. At the time of his arrest, there was a good deal of pressure from Orthodox groups, according to the News.

“It’s the same community,” Julian noted. “There was public pressure and now that case is falling apart.”

In Acevedo’s case, the DA’s office said they have eyewitnesses who saw Acevedo driving recklessly, more than double the speed limit, and then surveying the damage post-impact before fleeing.

Acevedo is due back in court May 31. A DWI case against him from two weeks prior to the crash has been included in the new case.

When he was arraigned for the DWI, the judge released him without bail and did not take away his license, even though a suspension was mandated by law, the News said.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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Williamsburg residents can rest easy about potential parking problems during filming for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.”

Alarmed that production was possible around the Marcy Avenue Armory during the Passover holiday, Councilman Stephen Levin had asked Spider-Man producers to change their plans.

Levin said he was concerned that the filming would create parking issues of “biblical proportions” as residents were unable to move their cars ahead of time because of Passover restrictions on driving.

Levin said Columbia Pictures agreed to load their equipment March 22 after sundown and only require half a block of parking.

Trailers and large trucks will park instead in a parking lot, he said.

“We expressed the importance for Spider-Man to pass over filming during Passover, and they have answered our call,” Levin said.

The movie will be the biggest film shot in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last week.

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Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes has increased the charges against Julio Acevedo, the alleged driver in the March 3 hit-and-run that killed a young Orthodox couple and their baby, adding manslaughter in the second degree.

Acevedo spent several days telling news outlets he was going to turn himself in, before he was arrested by police officers in a Pennsylvania parking lot on March 7.

He was indicted on March 12 after police charged him with leaving the scene of an accident, criminally negligent homicide, and vehicular manslaughter.

Prosecutors did not file the vehicular manslaughter charges until today’s indictment.

If convicted, Acevedo could face up to life in prison.

According to the DA’s investigation, Acevedo was driving almost 70 miles-per-hour down Kent Avenue in Williamsburg on March 3, more than twice the speed limit.

When his car struck the livery taxi carrying the Glaubers, who were on their way to a hospital check-up related to the pregnancy, witnesses reportedly saw him get out, observe the damage and run.

The impact sent pregnant Raizy Glauber flying out of the car. She was found underneath a tractor trailer nearby. Doctors were able to deliver her baby three months premature by c-section, but the baby died the next day.

The witnesses were firefighters and a civilian driver, all of whom apparently saw Acevedo speeding and “passing cars recklessly” moments before the impact. The witnesses reported hearing Acevedo’s car accelerate and seeing it increase its speed.

Acevedo has previously served time in jail on manslaughter charges, and was charged with a DWI last month, though the court reportedly did not suspend his license, according to a report from NY1.

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Not everyone is excited that “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ will be the biggest movie filmed yet in New York.

Williamsburg residents are asking the filmmakers to skip shooting in the neighborhood during the upcoming Passover holiday.

Councilman Stephen Levin said on Friday that the production “would be a plague on the streets of South Williamsburg during this sacred holiday.”

The filming would create a parking fiasco of “biblical proportions,” he added.

The mayor’s office cautioned that no permits have been issued yet.

“Every consideration is taken by our office to accommodate residents observing religious holidays,” said Marybeth Ihle, spokeswoman for the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

Julie Kuehndorf, a publicist for the film, added that the studio is working with residents and the mayor’s office to “minimize any impact on the community.”

“We’re doing our best to be good neighbors,” she said.

According to Levin’s office, production would block parking between March 22 and March 27 around the Marcy Avenue Armory, where they are scheduled to film.

Residents will not be able to move their cars ahead of time because of Passover restrictions on driving, Levin said.

“’Spider-Man’ is spinning a web of problems for the community,” Levin said. “With great power there must also come great responsibility — Columbia Pictures should live by the motto that led Spider-Man to use his abilities to fight crime and respect the observance of Passover by moving up their shooting.”

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The new development being built at the site of the old Domino Sugar Factory will be specially constructed to withstand  hurricanes and flooding, Brownstoner reports.

The first line of defense is set to be the buildings’ distance from the coastal line, according to the NY Post, which has been pushed back to 150 feet from the originally-planned 50 feet.

The waterfront area will also be covered largely by parkland and grass, with very little pavement, which is intended to “act as a sponge” in the event of flooding.

Both utilities rooms and building entryways will be elevated: building mechanical equipment will be positioned on the second story of the structures, and the addition of stairways and the pushing of the project uphill will hopefully prevent flooding from seeping — or pouring, as it did during superstorm Sandy — into buildings.

The elimination of cul-de-sacs on the walkways, replaced by pedestrian walkways connecting the street to the waterfront, also aims to remove the potentially for water collection, and allow stormwaters to runoff from the streets into the river.

Brownstoner predicted that these steps could be a model for future waterfront development in the city.

A principal at SHoP Architects, the design firm responsible for the new vision, said, “This project will prove that we can continue to do waterfront development in the city and not have to run from the water.”

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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A suspect in a hit-and-run that left two people and their unborn baby dead has surrendered to police, according to a report.

Julio Acevedo was arrested by cops in Pennsylvania this afternoon, according to the Daily News.

He surrendered to police officers in the parking lot of a store, the newspaper reported.

He was reportedly taken into an SUV with New York plates.

Metro’s original story is below:

Julio Acevedo, the suspect in the Williamsburg hit-and-run this past weekend that resulted in the death of a pregnant woman, her husband, and their baby boy, told the NY Daily News he is ready to turn himself in, the News reports.

Police have said Acevedo is the driver of the vehicle that hit the taxi Nachman and Raizy Glauber were in. Witnesses saw the driver jump out of his car and run away.

Police Commissioner Paul Browne said that Acevedo was driving “at least 60 miles an hour when [he] hit the other vehicle.”

The phone call with the Daily News was reportedly set up by a man Acevedo was once in jail with. Acevedo was imprisoned in 1987 on a manslaughter conviction.

Acevedo reportedly told the News his “heart goes out to” the couple, and said he was unaware they had died until he saw it on the news.

Acevedo also claimed he fled the scene because he was being shot at. A law enforcement source said that there were no reports of “shots fired” in that area that night.

Acevedo received a DWI last month, so was legally prohibited from driving at all, the law enforcement source noted.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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Two Trees Management Company, the developers for the controversial site of the old Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg, released a new plan for the waterfront site today, designed by SHoP Architects.

Two Trees is best known for their development work in DUMBO, and the Domino Sugar Factory site is best known for the degree to which neighborhood residents fought its development. While there are already previously approved plans in place, those plans were, Curbed noted, met with such ire that the new SHoP plans were sought in an effort to ameliorate public sentiment on the project.

The new SHoP plan has less residential space and fewer residential units, more office space, less retail space, fewer parking spaces, vastly more public open space, taller buildings, and an overall 230,256 more gross square feet — and that’s just by the numbers.

The proposal outlines a mixed-use complex that would be active 24/7, and include integrated affordable housing and new tree-lined pedestrian walkways connecting the waterfront to the street, rather than circuits of closed internal walkways.

Two Trees is planning for 500,000 square feet of new office space, hoping to host 3000 to 4000 more permanent jobs. The figure has a historical connection: it would return the site to its peak level of jobs once hosted at the factory: more than 4,000 in the early 20th century, reportedly. The figure declined to 1,500 after World War II and less than 300 in 2001.

It will also include a school, a recreation center, and opportunities for “small, independent retailers.”

Outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to over five acres of park space, including sports fields, lawns, gardens and seating areas, and an “activated” waterfront esplanade with a kayak launch and a floating pool.

And for those who still fret about the loss of neighborhood history, the plan details the preservation of historic factory artifacts, including cranes and syrup tanks, to be incorporated into an elevated “artifact walk” that apparently aims to be the High Line of Williamsburg.

And true to the Williamsburg spirit, the architects boast that their plan will mean fewer cars, more bikes: something all the fixed-gear riders can cheer about.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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Cops have released a photo of a man they say was the driver in the Saturday night hit-and-run that killed an expecting Williamsburg couple.

Police say Julio Acevedo, 44, was the man behind the wheel of the BMW that killed 21-year-old Nachman and Raizy Glauber.

Raizy Glauber was six months pregnant. The couple was reportedly on their way to the hospital for a checkup with an OB/GYN.

Doctors at Bellevue Hospital were able to deliver the couple’s baby boy post-mortem via C-section, but the child died early Monday morning.

Local Williamsburg City Council members are offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the driver or passenger of the vehicle that killed the Glaubers. The suspects fled the scene on foot after the accident, but cops were able to find the vehicle’s owner using the New York state license plate on the car left behind.

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The post Police ID suspect in accident that killed expecting Williamsburg couple appeared first on Metro.us.

City Council members David Greenfield and Stephen Levin are offering a $5,000 reward for information in the search for the driver and passenger from the BMW that slammed into a taxi carrying an expecting couple to the hospital late Saturday night.

21-year-old Raizy Glauber, 6 months pregnant, was thrown from the taxi on impact, landing under a tractor trailer yards away.

Neither she nor her husband, Nachman Glauber, also 21, survived the accident. Doctors at Bellevue Hospital were able to deliver her baby boy post-mortem via C-section, but the baby died early Monday morning.

The driver and passenger from the BMW reportedly jumped out of their car and fled on foot. Police were able to track down the registered owner of the car by its license plate, but still have not found the driver or passenger.

Greenfield and Levin hope the reward will entice people to come forward with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the accident.

“We must do everything we can to help the NYPD track down the individuals who caused this incident and then made the cowardly decision to flee the scene instead of trying to help with victims,” Greenfield said.

“I am confident that the NYPD will find the driver and hold him accountable for his disgusting actions,” Levin added.

Anyone with information is urged to call the NYPD top line at 1-800-577 TIPS or text TIP577 with the information to CRIMES (274637).

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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One person died in a fire at a Brooklyn apartment building early Friday morning.

The fire began around 3 a.m. at 51 Ross St. in Williamsburg, police said. A 78-year-old man was found in his apartment and pronounced dead at the scene.

Two other people suffered minor injuries, Eyewitness News reported. The fire broke out on the 12th Floor and it was confined to one apartment.

There was another deadly fire in the same apartment building last month when an elderly woman died in her apartment. That fire is believed to have been caused by a lit cigarette in the woman’s living room.

The post Man, 78, dies in Brooklyn apartment fire appeared first on Metro.us.