Food Carts have evolved into kitchens on wheels that operate on the sidewalks — using grills fueled by gas and propane tanks with illuminated signage. These are stationary businesses with as many as three employees per shift — operating 20 hours per day. They employ a full-time manager and wear uniform polo shirts. This is a well-organized business that takes space on public sidewalks using the amenities, sidewalk cleaning services, and street furniture paid for by assessments levied to protect property and business owners. Comments (1).

Williamsburg’s Orthodox Jewish community railed against a plan to install a billboard in the neighborhood that questions the Jewish faith in both English and Hebrew. Hasidic leaders called the billboard inappropriate and cheered when a landlord stopped the sign from going up on his building — forcing it to be moved to Greenpoint. The atheist group behind the controversial advertisement claims the billboard wasn’t meant to be an insult to anyone, but instead was intended to remind atheists living in Williamsburg that others share their views. We asked two leaders embroiled in this fight to give us their thoughts: Comment.