The Historic Events of 2012

This past year has brought the borough some big stories, events that have changed us.

We have participated in a major election, survived a hurricane that brought historic damage to the city and even the grand opening of the Barclays Center.

Today, Patch wants to take the time to reflect on this year and bring you the most historic events of 2012.

Presidential Election 2012 

Standing in crowds outside of schools and libraries, local voters were frustrated and, in some cases, confused but undeterred to participate in the 2012 Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Patch had its reporters in Carroll Gardens report on Election Day’s Confusion, in Park Slope we found Voters Waiting in Long Lines at P.S. 282 and in Prospect Heights it might have been Election Day, but for many residents, providing relief for victims of Superstorm Sandy was the dominant concern. 

Local elections in Queens were also a big deal to borough residents, sending New York City's first Asian-American legislator to Congress.

Superstorm Sandy

On Oct. 29, Superstorm Sandy hit New York City. And with it’s devastating winds, flood waters and power outages, Queens was hit hard.

Here are some of the sights of the storm in ravaged areas.

We saw historic flooding in Red Hook, long lines at gas stations during the shortage, two people died in Ditmas Park after getting hit by a tree and the subways were shut down for days.

On the MTA website, Chairman Joseph Lhota wrote: 

“The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night. Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on our entire transportation system, in every borough and county of the region.”

Barclays Center Opens

On Sept. 28, after nine years of being a construction pit, a site of contention and protest from the community, an inevitable arena drenched in planning from the NYPD and city government and a place of anticipation, Barclays Center opened with rapper and Brooklyn Nets minority owner Jay-Z’s sold-out show.

Although this day signified how the "Battle For Brooklyn" is over, opponents of developer Forest City Ratner fired one last volley prior to Jay-Z's opening night concert.

Space Shuttle Enterprise Flies Over New York City

Back in April, Brooklynites gathered by the hundreds to see the retired space shuttle Enterprise fly over New York City at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

“The American dream of going to space has died,” said Tom Zombek, who is a member of the Metropolitan Wargamers of New York while taking pictures of the shuttle as it flew past. “Today symbolizes that.”