Local news is fading.
Neighborhood reporting is nearly gone.
As thousands of local news outlets have disappeared over the past 20 years, Greenpointers has remained a constant since 2007 — covering Greenpoint and Williamsburg with the kind of close, ground-level attention that only comes from people who actually live and work here.
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Local Journalism Is Community Infrastructure
Local journalism isn’t just about staying informed — it’s how communities stay aware, connected, and able to respond.
The earliest signs of change don’t show up in national headlines. They appear in community board agendas, liquor license applications, new construction permits, and small businesses quietly opening or closing. Hyperlocal journalism catches those signals early — before they become bigger problems or irreversible changes.
When that kind of coverage exists, people can engage. They can ask questions, show up, and shape what happens next.
But when it disappears, those signals go unnoticed. Decisions happen without scrutiny. Changes unfold without context. Communities are left reacting after the fact.
At the same time, trust in national media has declined. News from the top down can feel distant and polarized — disconnected from the realities of daily life.
Hyperlocal journalism works in the opposite direction. It’s built from the ground up, rooted in place, and accountable to the people who live here.
Meanwhile, more of our information is consumed through social media — spaces designed to keep people scrolling, not connecting. Conversations flatten. People talk past each other. A shared sense of place begins to erode.
We believe community news should do the opposite. It should bring people closer — to the neighborhood, and to each other. Not just online, but in real life.
“I’ve lived in Greenpoint since 2006, and Greenpointers has always been part of my media diet. Over the years, I’ve watched it evolve into a true hub for the full spectrum of neighborhood news. It’s consistently been my most trusted way to follow local issues, from development and zoning conversations to town hall meetings that directly impact small business owners like myself.”
— Maresa P.A note from Julia
When I bought Greenpointers in 2014, I was looking for a creative outlet — a way to connect more deeply with my neighborhood and community. I had no idea what I was stepping into.
Over the years, the work has been shaped by moments that demanded more from us — and we responded.
When DNAinfo and Gothamist went dark overnight in 2017, the fragility of local news became impossible to ignore. I took on a consulting job to fund our first full-time Managing Editor — because I didn’t want to let that kind of coverage disappear here, too.
When Emily Gallagher challenged longtime Assembly Member Joe Lentol — who had held the seat for 47 years — I realized how little accessible, local information existed about the candidates. We made a commitment to cover elections all the way down the ballot, give equal space to each candidate, and refuse political advertising.
When the pandemic paused everything, we became a resource for essential information — where to get tested, how to help neighbors — and a place to highlight small moments of joy, like the musician singing from his balcony.
Greenpointers has grown through these turning points, guided by a single principle: How can we make things better for our community — and help neighbors connect with one another?
At the end of 2023, I faced a health crisis that forced me to step back and think about the future of Greenpointers. It made me realize how important it is to build something that doesn’t depend on just one person.
I want Greenpointers to continue serving this community for years to come — long after I’m no longer the one running it.
If you believe in that kind of local journalism, your support helps make it possible.
— Julia
Stories we told
The Newtown Creek Superfund site
From mapping underground toxins in North Brooklyn to reporting on the long, ongoing cleanup of the Newtown Creek Superfund site and the Meeker Avenue Plume, we cover environmental issues that directly impact the health of our community — holding developers and agencies accountable.
Waterfront rezoning & affordable housing
From community board agendas to neighborhood activism, we follow the rezoning fights that shape access to open space and affordable housing — holding attention on decisions that will define this community.
The businesses that define us
When longtime anchors close — the corner stores, old-school Polish restaurants, artists’ studios — we tell their stories before they’re gone. And when new businesses open, we go beyond the launch — introducing the people behind them and the role they play in the neighborhood.
The voices behind the neighborhood
The community organizers, musicians, artists, volunteers, and longtime residents who have witnessed waves of change across these streets. Their voices deserve to be part of the record.
Be a founding supporter
We’re building a reader membership program — and we want you to be part of it from day one. Founding members will get early access, recognition on the site, and our deepest thanks. Leave your email and we’ll reach out the moment it’s ready.
Give what you can
Our membership program is coming soon. In the meantime, if you’d like to support Greenpointers, Venmo is the fastest way to do it. Every contribution helps fund local reporting — from community board coverage to stories on the ground.
No Venmo? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll work something out.
Greenpointers is a for-profit independent media company. Contributions are not tax-deductible.
Other ways to support
Spread the word
Share our stories. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Tell a neighbor. Word-of-mouth is the single best thing you can do for a small local outlet like ours.
Business membership
If you run a local business, we’re building a community membership program that puts you in front of engaged North Brooklyn readers while supporting independent journalism. Sign up to hear about early options.
Send us tips
If something is happening in the neighborhood and you think we should know, reach out to [email protected]. Good journalism depends on people who know things speaking up.
Write for us
Have a story, opinion, or memory to share? Interest