Full Board Meeting 10/8/25
8 October 2025/ 6:30 PM / Van Alen + Zoom
ATTENDEES
In Person Eric McClure, Jerry Armer, David Briggs, Marc Torrence, Anna Hippee, Dillon Shen-Cruz, Scott Middleton, Laura Osorio, Katie Muehlenkamp, Aurelia Casey, Katie Bishop, Leroy Branch, Jules Block, Reema Sharma, Daniel Kummer, Mandi Shipshak-Thomas, Ed, Katie Bishop, new guy, Bob Levine, Doug Gordon, Jo Ann Brown, Arif Sunmou, Josh Pacheco, On Zoom Pauline Blake, Peter Fleming, Tiffany Reid Brown, Karyn Broughton, Nick Molinari, Thomas Trocco, Jacqui Painter, John Heyer commenced 6:41
AGENDA
Adoption of Minutes The minutes of the September meeting were adopted All in favor, Daniel K abstains II. Chair Report Ground rules, thanks to Van Alen
Vote on BMT
Shahana stopped by to encourage people to stop by her office on Bond St and about stop the chop measures that can be accomplished on the non-federal level III. DM Report Moved to after committee meetings
Reps:
Sen. Gounardes (Carlos Calzadilla): condemns ICE participation with local law enforcement. Quick update on Court St, office has been in communication with DOT and did a site visit. Support it but noted slow rollout. Regulating AI
AM Carroll (Sean Gurl): 10/16 DEP for flood preparedness event on Marlborough Rd. Mammogram van at his office, call 877.628.9070 for an appointment; lower cost of living DOF meeting
Brooklyn District Attorney Office (Paul Legare): Hispanic Heritage foundation event (10/15), Diwali celebration (10/16)
CM Aviles (Ross Joy): shoutout to Alan for setting up Parks meeting on Red Hook pool, charter amendment proposal pamphlets, tree canopy, office hours with Mexican consulate in case people need help with immigration documents
CM Hanif new staff member Jackie introduced herself: PTA fun run, outdoor exercise equipment at Prospect Park, open spots for legal counsel tomorrow for anyone who needs emergency legal services, bike rack blocking ambulette zone has been removed. On 197 Bond
DM Report:
Beard St Pier Fire: Red Hook Business Alliance organizing charitable donations, find their website on our website
NYC Election dates: in favor of charter revision amendments on the ballot, comprehensive planning cannot happen at the border of a district. Voter guides to be disseminated
Board elections are starting now for officer positions: Chair, Secretary, treasurer, etc.
Upcoming CB6 meetings: TPPI at Litchfield Villa with full agenda (10/15), including low traffic neighborhood concept, Flatbush Ave bus lane, etc. Unsure about virtual options. Human Services and Environmental Sustainability new time (Tues 10/21), noted it’s less charter-specific; Land Use Landmarks 10/23; Business Affairs and Licenses 10/27
BMT: Scoping hearings, Draft Scope of Work
District Needs Statement
IV. Committee Meetings Land Use, Landmarks + Housing 176 Dikeman film facility Conversation on necessity of transparency added to motion otherwise to approve (with quorum)
Vote unanimously to approve
Conversation on 175 3rd St and Powerhouse w/r/t getting Powerhouse’s waterfront to be part of the esplanade B. Human Services and Environmental Sustainability Aurelia introduced herself as new Environmental Chair, discussed new meeting time: third Tuesday of the month C. Business Affairs and Licenses (motions needed, no quorum at committee) Get firsts and seconds from Jerry 144 Union St: unanimously passes 645 Union: unanimously passes 357 Third Avenue: unanimously passed. 322 3rd Ave: unanimously passed 222 Smith St: unanimously passed Outdoor dining resolution: want restaurants to apply for year-round outdoor dining in step with several legislators at the council. Pauline asked about quality of life. Eric answered it is to comply with the current DOT rules and whatever comes through new legislation Daniel wanted to understand the reason for the seasonal ban “in a nutshell.” Eric cited parking, snow, sanitation but was pulling from memory. Participation rate has fallen off a cliff because of the seasonal storage costs. Katie asked about sheds and safe visibility when crossing streets. Eric said we put a premium on street safety so new rules on visibility is
Motion passes (get count from Jerry)
V. Public Session
Bergen Bikers ALliance announcing “Bike Bus” allowing kids to bike together to school MatT Vizzoni, owner of Ace Hardware: has been writing to board, DOT, electeds on new protected bike lane. Thanked Eric for meaningfully engaging. He supports bike lane, dislikes the current design, questions DOT’s claim about 200 business surveyed. Wants everyone to work together to work for a solution led by the community. Wants bike lane in left travel lane and Edward Straca: feels Court St vision zero data isn’t real and he would know because he lives there and is created by a transportation CBO to frighten people. Knows it’s thankless to be on the CB, but wants to make sure more voices than cyclists are heard. Louis Pepi: in favor of bike lane, believes it should be cars on sidewalk side and bikes moved to middle. Worried about cyclists hitting pedestrians bc her granddaughter got side swiped, and noted turns from cars are more blind. Wants bikes with insurance and registration. Friend’s mother Toni broke her hip by a bike. CB needs to do better job in informing people in the community, that we’ll have dead people down Court St from the bike lane. Need don’t block the box on major intersections. Karen Burkheart: resident of Warren St urging board to vote against any increase in density to any buildings that have been approved on 4th Ave. So many buildings in process, worries sewer studies aren’t built to handle enough density, worries about people’s backyards, says we are not Manhattan and are looking too much like it. Says we need low-middle income housing and not any of the new housing and worries it is no longer a “neighborhood place.”
[name]: neighborhood feeling is beginning to change, housing is needed, but is concerned about specific new building being 18 stories, believes it was meant to be 11 stories. 18 stories is for downtown not for a neighborhood with tree-lined streets
Bridget: Wants to know why bike lane is wide enough to fit a car, noted the blue micromobility cars were using them. Said it’s too tight to get out of a car. She said bikes need to follow the rules and wonders not why there is a bike lane but why it is so wide. Atlantic Ave traffic too dense for people to open their doors, questions how people are getting deliveries and noted too much parking is being removed. Said she read in the papers 57 buildings are going up in Gowanus and questions if any local facilities can handle the density Randy Gordon: New CSWD Association president, notes the EIS Scoping session. Voices of the Waterfront is hosting a free webinar on how to participate in scoping sessions. Wanted to know if formal comment will be submitted by CB6, Rebecca confirmed yes, written testimony will be submitted. Reema thinks we need to show greater respect in our space for dialogue. Older members hold a lot knowledge and it could be passed on. Eric noted self reflection is always good, we can always continue to improve. Ended 8pm