Morning Reads: Google Engineer Faces Rape Charges, Brooklyn Bridge Flag Mystery, Tokyo Rebel Opens

A Google engineer is accused of raping a woman in his East 12th Street apartment (Daily News).

Who’s responsible for putting up those white flags on the Brooklyn Bridge? (NYT)

The mayor makes appointments to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but backs away from one nominee. He also chose  a new head of the Board of Standards and Appeals (Daily News).

Is developer Gary Barnett’s “poor-door” scheme anti-Jewish? (The Forward)

The City Council may pass legislation cracking down on people responsible for those illegal streetside donation boxes (Post).

Ludlow Street in particular, and the Lower East Side in general, are changing at breakneck speed but that’s not necessarily a bad thing (Complex).

Kim’s is probably closing around the middle of next month (EV Grieve).

Japanese ‘Lolita” cult brand Tokyo Rebel opens its Lower East Side store with a flourish (NYM).

And coming up later: Former Met Council head William Rapfogel will be sentenced today. Stay tuned for details.