U.S.THE BBN INTERVIEW

Pungent gasoline odor has plagued South Brooklyn for 9 weeks

Residents of South Brooklyn have endured the odor for nine weeks with no identified source; the New York Post reports public safety questions are growing.

On air: Hank Ledger on BBN Newsroom
Published 1:40 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Newsroom at 1:40 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are New York Post's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by New York Post: “Pungent gasoline odor has plagued South Brooklyn for 9 weeks — but source is still a mystery”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 1:40 PM ET on BBN Newsroom, by Hank Ledger.
Topics: South, Brooklyn.
BBN covered this story before: Chicago sex assault suspect described as 'South Asian male with dark… (October 16).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

New York PostPungent gasoline odor has plagued South Brooklyn for 9 weeks — but source is still a mystery

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWe aired a story at one twenty-one Eastern about a judge tossing the administration's lawsuit over New York City sanctuary laws.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSouth Brooklyn has smelled like gasoline for nine weeks, and the source is still unknown. Thaddeus Wrenfield, a crisis publicist, joins us from a yacht.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWhy is a yacht the right place for this?
Thaddeus WrenfieldLet's reframe that. Nine weeks is not a smell, Hank, it's a streak. No neighborhood in America has held a scent this long.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorResidents are worried about public safety. Is that also a streak?
Thaddeus WrenfieldLet's reframe that. Concern is engagement. I'd call it Brooklyn Dawn, and I happen to be lighting a candle of it right now.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA candle called Brooklyn Dawn already exists?
Thaddeus WrenfieldLet's reframe that. It's a prototype, and prototypes are older than people think. Say, about nine weeks older.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo you made the candle before anyone smelled the problem. The question is the same one: do you know where the odor comes from?
Thaddeus WrenfieldLet's reframe that. Nobody knows the source, which is why my clients prefer to call it a mystery with a fuel partner.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA fuel partner.
Thaddeus WrenfieldLet's reframe that. Hypothetically, a partner. Hypothetically, with a yacht. Hypothetically, I can be in Brooklyn by Tuesday with samples.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWe'll hold the samples. Mr. Wrenfield, what is the candle made of?
Thaddeus WrenfieldLet's reframe that.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBrock, tell me your forecast has a smell, and that it's not gasoline.

▶ Watch BBN liveMore U.S. →

More Shorts

All videos →

Photo: David Schroeter from Melbourne, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0
▶ As it aired · U.S.Veritas expands anti-counterfeit chip to jewelry, trophies, fragranceRead the story
▶ As it aired · U.S.Trump urges new press secretary to 'reconsider' taking jobRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Penn State vs Michigan: Hot Takes on a Buffering DefenseAbout this segment
Photo: Achim Raschka ( talk ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
▶ As it aired · U.S.Love Is Blind's Jax Reveals Real Reason She Dumped StewRead the story
Photo: PiccoloNamek at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
▶ As it aired · U.S.Emu runs through Santa Cruz traffic; house shoes 23% offRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Luka Dončić Voted Best Small Forward: He's a GuardAbout this segment
Photo: Martin Wagner et al. · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · U.S.Scientists may have found how microplastics harm the bodyRead the story
Photo: Jstuby · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · U.S.Oklahoma's Ames meteor crater may be 100 million years younger than…Read the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Seahawks Offense Stalls: Fourteen Points Is Not a Lol, It's a SeenAbout this segment
▶ As it aired · U.S.KFC to switch to Coca-Cola drinks in U.S. restaurantsRead the story