COMMUNITY BOARD SIX
ECONOMIC/WATERFRONT/COMM. DEV. & HOUSING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 17, 2011
ATTENDANCE:
PRESENT:
B. ATKINS N. BERK-RAUCH P. BLAKE
L. BUFFINGTON P. CARSON N. COX
M. DEPALMA A. FORNECKER J. FRANCIS R. LUFTGLASS D. REISS D. SCOTTO M. SILVERMAN L. SONES L. TOLKOFF
EXCUSED:
R. BASHNER G. O’CONNELL
ABSENT:
C. DAVIS E. FELDER
GUESTS:
E. DEMETRIOU R. PEDERSEN A. NIXON D. MEADE A. MARTIN M. RACIOPPO
G. FIALA
MINUTES
Rick Luftglass, Committee co-chair opened the meeting and introduced the other co-chairs who were present. He asked everyone to go around the room and introduce themselves.
He outlined specifics about this committee.
1. The committee meets on the 3rd Monday of each month.
2. He urged members to look at the CB6 website to confirm meetings.
3. He welcomed topics to discuss and urged members to contact chairs.
4. Location of meetings are tied to area of topics when possible.
5. The committee follows Robert’s Rules of Order but committee is amenable and opinions with respect is valued.
A motion was made by Noel Berk-Rauch to approve the minutes of the last meeting. The motion was seconded. All approved with 2 abstentions.
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the South Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation on the programs and services that are offered by the organization to support the industrial and manufacturing businesses in the Gowanus, Red Hook and Sunset Park communities.
David Meade, Executive Director of the South Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation made the presentation along with Elizabeth Demetriou.
SBIDC is funded by a variety of sources (but it is not a BID) with city IBZ funds as the majority source.
• Procurement Axis Youth Employment is a new program with private funding, to provide unemployed youth with jobs with local companies. Six companies have come forward with jobs, so far. • Retention of businesses in this area is key and a current challenge. Loss to New Jersey is where many businesses are going.
Lou Sones asked if there is any plan to downzone protected IBZ zone to residential to increase density. (South Brooklyn is one of 16 IBZ’s in NYC.)
Are service businesses included in their incentives? No – while they refer businesses to accountants, etc. but they are not part of their core mission.
• Red Hook/Van Brunt Improvement Program that has spent $500,000 on street scape improvements including tree pits and guards, garbage cans and store fronts – attributed to reduction in vacancy rate from 30% to 10% along the 8 blocks.
Rick Luftglass asked about what the outcome on numbers of jobs promised and delivered by Phoenix Beverage, IKEA, Cruise Terminal and Fairway?
Liz and Dave said the larger employers are not part of their focus but Phoenix Beverage is. Dave said he would get numbers on Phoenix for the committee.
Noel Berk-Rauch asked about the Sunset Park auto facility that was promised to bring 1000 jobs to the area. David said that nothing has happened with this.
Lou Sones asked about specifics on local hires for jobs and said it would be a great service to the Community Board to focus on this and report it as follow up. Dave said that they placed 110 people in local businesses last year.
Noel Berk-Rauch asked what the job profile is in their IBZ? Dave said he would get back to the committee on the specifics.
Norman Cox asked about trends they see and what their plans are? Dave said space is a problem – lack of it.
He also asked what steps they take to identify issues and advocate? Liz spoke about doing a survey with Congresswoman Velazquez’s office on bus usage.
Anne Fornecker asked about competitiveness with other zones and Liz said they work collaboratively with other IBZ’s sharing information
Pauline Blake asked what their priorities are? Dave said their focus is jobs, helping businesses hire. Liz spoke about a job fair advertised through the public housing.
Ben Atkins suggested we have a jobs focus to subsequent meetings, inviting the large businesses as well as the small. Noel suggested we should understand if the jobs are living wage.
Judi Francis suggested the committee ask the presenters to include statistics on percentage of part time workers, percentage of minimum wage, etc.
Ben Atkins suggested we circulate a questionnaire and use the December meeting for this.
Rick Luftglass asked about questions we have as a committee.
Pauline Blake asked about the status on affordable housing.
David Reiss asked for clarification and Pauline suggested having Brad Lander come to present report.
Judi Francis asked for a report on the status of stalled buildings.
Ben Atkins suggested the NYCHA chair meet with us.
Lou Sones asked about foreclosure rates and Ben said it was lower here than other areas.
George Fiala of the Red Hook Revue was asked to report on the status of American Stevedoring leaving the area.
Norman Cox asked that we have the elected come and present to us on the status of ASI. Rick suggested we ask Congressman Nadler to present and include Councilmen Levin and Lander.
There being no further business to come before the committee, Lou Sones made a motion to
adjourn.
The minutes were submitted by Judi Francis.