Brooklyn Takes Cover From the Heat

As temperatures across New York City reached 95 degrees on Tuesday, Brooklynites went about their days with one thought in mind – keep the sun away.

At least, as much as possible.

“I’m waiting on September and a whole lot of October,” said a smiling female U.S. postal worker who asked to be identified as Happy. 

Happy was delivering mail on Bergen Street around 11 a.m. Tuesday with seven hours on her shift to go. The National Weather Service’s heat advisory, in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday, urges residents to stay in an air-conditioned room and out of the sun. But for Happy, avoiding the heat isn’t entirely possible.

“I just take my sweet, precious time,” she said, standing in the shade. “I drink a whole lot of water and suck on ice.”

The same is true for Gloria Ellis of Crown Heights, who was pushing a stroller on Bergen around 11:30 a.m. 

“You’ve got to stay inside,” she said after wiping her brow. “That’s the only way – under the air conditioning unit. And you’ve got to get kids under the water to keep them cool.”

For others, however, work becomes a sanctuary from the heat. Alex Testere, who works at the Park Slope cheese shop BKLYN Larder, said he doesn’t like leaving to go home to Lefferts Gardens after his shift.

“It’s really cold in the shop,” he said. “Today is a nice day to be at work.”

Testere acknowledged that his place of employment is ideal in hot weather.

“I’m lucky to work at a place where it’s cool,” he said.

For those who don’t have easy access to air conditioning, the city has opened cooling centers – air-conditioned public community centers, senior centers and public libraries. The RAICES Times Plaza Neighborhood Senior Center on Atlantic Avenue extends its hours during heat advisories and invites locals of all ages to enjoy cold refreshments during the day.

“We have salsa dancing, activities and group discussions,” RAICES program director Rosemary Bland said. “Some people will come in from the neighborhood.”

It looks like New Yorkers will have to continue escaping the heat any way they can – temperatures are expected to hit 90 degrees or higher every day this week.