CB6 January Meeting

Our January board meeting, held Wednesday night at PS 58, had a light agenda, but it's likely to be “the calm before the storm” before winds of 2020 starting blowing in. We were out of there in under an hour, as there was only 1 item on the agenda for approval.

Prior to dealing with the permits and licensing motion, our Board Secretary Karen Broughton, officially, certified the election of our current officers (Chair, 1st Vice-Chair, 2nd Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) for another one-year term. It must be noted that Karen’s attendance is particularly impressive as she made it back in time after being in Albany, where she attended the Governor’s “State of the State” address.

The December 2019 minutes were approved. Chairperson Peter Fleming then gave his report, which included informing those in attendance about the revocation of the liquor license for Woodlands and the resale of the 5th Avenue Key food site. Peter made a point of mentioning that the new owners have indicated they will adhere to the agreement to retain a supermarket at the 120 5th Avenue address. We will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with Councilmember Lander’s office. This is especially important with so many supermarkets closing in recent years, and given how hard the community worked to make sure a supermarket would still serve our community. Peter also let folks know that applications for membership on Brooklyn community boards are open and will remain so until February 14th.

On the subject of board applications, my report got rolling by letting folks know that hard copies of the applications were available at the meeting, as well as online and that with few opening becoming a public member was a terrific alternative option. I then mentioned the Noel Pointer Foundation becoming the new tenants at the Degraw Street Firehouse and discussed our involvement with Warren Street tenants as an example of how CB6 can work to build better relationships between our neighbors and their city government. I mentioned subscribing to our email updates as it's helped create a dialogue and open lines of communication. If something is going on in our community that you’d like to get on the CB6 radar, please let me know. For example, this update is the reason I was planning on attending the Park Slope Civic Council meeting Thursday night at the Old Stone House.

Our Permits and Licenses Committee Chair Rachel Freeman presented their recommendation for approval of a sidewalk café at 72 5th Avenue that we overwhelmingly approved.

Representatives from the offices of Borough President Adams, Congresswoman Clarke, Councilmembers Lander and Levin, State Senators Montgomery and Myrie, Assemblymembers Carroll and Simon each spoke on behalf of their principals.

When we went into community session, there was mention of public safety concerns and drug use around Baltic Street and 4th Avenue/ Gregory Place about and we’ve already reached out to proper authorities.

During New Business, Joe Anne Brown reemphasized the work we’ve been doing at Warren Street and the concerns residents continue to express. Kathy Park Price reminded everyone of the Citizens Squirrel event CB6 is co-sponsoring this upcoming Tuesday, January 14th and 1st Vice-Chair Eric McClure announced that our Transportation /Public Safety committee, with a location & agenda still being ironed out, would be meeting on January 30th which is the 5th Thursday of the month and not the usual 3rd Thursday.

So that, as best I can recall, is the gist of our first General Board Meeting for 2020.

Michael Racioppo

BKCB6 District Manager