A key piece of Carroll Gardens’ history is now preserved at the corner of Court Street and First Place, where a street sign commemorating late local leader Salvatore “Buddy” Scotto now hangs. Scotto, a longtime community activist, died on Sep. 11, 2020 at the age of 91.

“He took on the mafia and lived to tell the tale, that’s a miracle,” said former Mayor Bill de Blasio at a June 29 street renaming ceremony attended by Scotto’s family, friends and city officials. There, Scotto was remembered for playing important roles in the city’s real estate, business, environmental initiatives and politics, especially in Brooklyn, for more than half a century.