Brooklyn Community Board 6 Full Board Meeting – January 14, 2026
I. Adoption of Minutes Minutes from the December 10, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously.
II. Chairperson’s Report Chairperson Eric McClure thanked David Briggs for chairing the December 10th meeting in his absence and introduced Mike for the District Manager's report.
III. District Manager’s Report District Manager Mike Racioppo announced the following upcoming meetings: ● Human Services & Environmental Sustainability – Tuesday, January 20th, 6:30 pm @ Principles GI Coffee House ● Transportation, Parks & Public Infrastructure – Wednesday, January 21st, 6:30 pm @ MS 51/350 5th Avenue ● Land Use, Landmarks & Housing – Thursday, January 22nd, 6:30 pm on Zoom ● Business Affairs & Licenses – Monday, January 26th, 6:30 pm @ Location TBD [NOTE: This meeting will be a mental health workshop geared towards youth] ● Full Board – Wednesday February 11th, 6:30 pm @ Van Alen Institute
Mike noted that the Transportation, Parks & Public Infrastructure Committee meeting would review the 5th Avenue BID’s proposed redesign of 5th Avenue.
Mike highlighted Michael Freedman’s website (crashcountnyc.com/community-board/306), which features crash statistics from NYPD for Community District 6.
Mike noted that February 14th is the deadline for registering to vote in the 2026 Congressional primary and that Community Board applications are due February 6th.
Mike invited people to the Atlantic Yards Redevelopment public workshop on January 22nd at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom (information at esd.ny.gov/atlantic-yards-redevelopment-project-public-workshops)
Mike also invited people to a screening of the film Gowanus Current on January 17th at the Museum of the City of New York.
Mike noted that new Community District profiles are now available and published on our website.
Finally, Mike provided an update on the BMT Development Corporation, noting that RFEI applications have been received and, as a member of the Corporation, he would be reviewing them at EDC’s offices in the week of January 19th. This information will be added to the BMT
folder on the front page of the CB6 website when available.
IV. Committee Reports
A. Landmarks, Land Use & Housing
46 Nelson Street David Briggs presented a ULURP application for 46 Nelson St., featuring 96 units (10 studios, 56 1-bedrooms, 18 2-bedrooms, and 12 3-bedrooms), with 25% affordable units at 80% AMI. The Landmarks, Land Use & Housing Committee asked the developer (456 Nelson LLC) to reduce the number of studios and add additional 2- and 3-bedrooms for families.
David presented a Motion to Approve the application by 46 Nelson LLC for a zoning map amendment from M1-1 to M1-2A/R7A (MX-5) and M1-1 to M1-2A/R6A (MX-5), along with a zoning text amendment to map MIH (Appendix F) to facilitate the development of the new 125 SF 7-story plus cellar mixed-use residential and commercial building containing 108 dwelling units at the site, with the following conditions:
1. Applicant agrees that building will be constructed as currently designed 2. Reduce the number of studios and add more 2- and 3-bedrooms.
Board Member Daniel Kummer expressed concern that the massing of the building was not contextual with the neighborhood. 46 Nelson LLC offered to shift bulk to center of the building within the R7A envelope they're seeking. Daniel added a friendly amendment to the first condition in the motion above: "except as necessary to incorporate setbacks or other shifts of bulk in order to reduce massing of the building."
The board discussed whether setbacks would reduce the number of units in the building, and Daniel and David explained that the building could go higher, or the developer could reduce the total number of units. David explained that the developer’s unit mix was based on a marketing study conducted.
David Briggs abstained for cause; all others approved the motion with the friendly amendment above.
B. Business Affairs & License
520 Henry Street Mandi Spishak-Thomas presented this application at the site of the current Bar Bruno, which is passing from one owner to another. One community member came forward in favor of this license during the committee meeting. A motion from the board to approve an on-premises liquor license passed unanimously. 424 Van Brunt Street Mandi presented this application from the cocktail bar Pony's NYC (no outdoor space). The site is currently a yoga studio. A motion from the board to approve an on-premises liquor license
passed unanimously. 291 Nevins Street Mandi presented this application next to the existing bar Liar Liar, currently the site of Tuned bike shop. The bar would be called Hidden Rivers BK, and would feature weekly rotating brewery spotlights. Katie Bishop expressed opposition to the proposal and explained that the landlord (who is proposing the new bar) is not renewing the bike shop’s lease due to the success of the neighboring bar Liar Liar. Tong Galaxy asked the board if we could consider that factor in this vote. Mike explained that there are better mechanisms to influence this type of action by a landlord. He explained that the Community Board is essentially a function of the State Liquor Authority, that it is unlikely that SLA would act on a recommendation to deny the license, and that denying this application would not compel the landlord to renew the lease of the bike shop. He noted that Board Member Brandon West is working with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher on commercial rent control legislation, which could be impactful in cases like this. Daniel Kummer suggested considering how the bar owners behave towards the community when the license comes before the Community Board for renewal? Daniel and Jules Block noted that the Community Board’s role was to create a relationship with future businesses. Jules noted that the landlord is at least putting a small business into its own space, as opposed to setting rent so high that a small business could not afford. A motion from the board to approve an on-premises liquor license passed, with Katie Bishop voting against the motion and Pauline Blake, Alan Mukamal, and Tony Melone abstaining. 56 5th Avenue Mandi presented this new wing bar from the owners of Uncle Barry’s. Pauline asked about the occupancy of the proposed bar and Mike confirmed that it would have 15 tables with a maximum occupancy of 74 people. A motion from the board to approve an on-premises liquor license passed unanimously minus one no vote from Pauline. Finally, Mandi noted that a representative of the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) would join the Business Affairs & Licenses meeting on January 26th.
V. New / Other Business Updates from Elected Officials and their representatives: ● Assemblymember Carroll: AM Carroll announced that the state legislative session started last week and noted that Governor Hochul delivered her State of the State address on January 13th. He expressed support for several proposals included in the speech, such as delivering free child care for two-year-olds in New York City (known as “2-Care”) and extending the Second Avenue Subway across 125th Street. AM Carroll also praised Governor Hochul for signing his bill to create a dyslexia and dysgraphia center for the State of New York. He also called for legislation to provide counsel to immigrants. He noted that the state budget will be voted on around April 1st and said that he is looking to hear from constituents about how he can most effectively use tax dollars to promote a progressive agenda. Finally, he shared that the MTA Mobile Sales Bus (formerly known as the “Metrocard Bus”) will be at his office at 416 7th Avenue on January 29th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
● Councilmember Hanif: CM Hanif opened by acknowledging the tragic shooting of Renee Nicole Goode by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis. She announced that the City Council would be holding its first meetings of the year this week and noted that she is still awaiting her committee assignments. She reviewed progressive legislation that she would like to advance in the new term, including the NYC Trust Act, which would create a private right of action when agencies collaborate with ICE. The bill received a hearing, but did not pass in the last session. She also cited the Ban the Scan Bill, which has received renewed interest since the revelation that Wegmans is using biometric scanning technology in its stores. Her bill would prohibit the use of this technology in housing and businesses. She is also advancing another bill to share information about fertility care options. CM Hanif is excited to advance bike safety in her district as well, and is collaborating with Good Neighbors of Park Slope on a forthcoming traffic safety PSA. She is also promoting a bill that would require Citibike and other micromobility providers to post traffic laws. The Councilmember expressed approval of the appointment of Professor James DeFillippis (Board Member, Columbia Street Waterfront Association) to the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Development Corporation, as she believes that the Columbia Street Waterfront District was not previously represented in the effort. Finally, she provided an update on the closure of the Concrete Recycling at the BMT Facility: materials are being removed out and NYCDOT expects to fully exit the site by the week of January 19th. CM Hanif cited this closure as an excellent example of community power pushing for transparency and clean air. ● Councilmember Avilés: The Councilmember announced free tax services in her district office in Sunset Park in partnership with Brooklyn Grow and suggested that interested individuals call her office at (718) 439-9012 to register. She will also be offering mobile office hours at Red Hook Initiative on January 20th and February 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. She expressed support for the rezoning application at 46 Nelson Street, discussed during Landmarks, Land Use & Housing. ● Former Comptroller Lander: Mr. Lander remarked on the Community Board’s work on the Gowanus rezoning, which he described as a genuine community planning process resulting in the construction of affordable housing and affordable artist studios. He promoted his final report as Comptroller, called “Accounting for our Term.” The report summarizes the state of the city's finances as he left office, which he described as strong. He cited strong returns on the city’s pension funds and the preservation of affordable housing through the funds’ purchase of mortgages during the Signature Bank failure. His office audited every city agency and generated 785 recommendations (of which 60% were adopted). He also described a $3 billion liability associated with the city’s Health Insurance Stabilization Fund, announced that the city has more jobs now than before the pandemic, and touted the extraordinary outcomes of the first year of congestion pricing. ● Nathaniel Goodyear (Office of Senator Gounardes). Nathaniel expressed the Senator’s approval of Governor Hochul’s support for childcare in the state budget, and asked for her support for the Senator’s Stop Online Predators Act, which aims to protect children on platforms like Fortnite and Roblox. Nathaniel announced the Senator’s Valentine's
Day card drive and asked that people send cards to the office at 487 Carroll Street to be distributed to seniors of the district. ● Talia Hoch (Office of Assemblymember Simon): Talia noted that Assemblymember Simon is fighting for the RADAR (Reporting of Arrests, Detentions, Actions, and Removals) by Immigration Enforcement Act would would create a dashboard of ICE actions so that they can prosecuted in the future and explained that the Assemblymember would soon be meeting with DOT to talk about ticketing and monitoring oversized trucks on the road. ● Daniel Abramson (Office of Borough President Reynoso): Daniel thanked everyone who is serving and reapplying for Community Boards. He noted that applications are still open and that CB6 gets the most or second most applications in the borough. Encourages anyone to apply, especially if they've applied in the past. Noted that Borough President Reynoso would co-sponsor a MLK Day celebration at BAM on Monday January 19th. ● Krista (Office of Senator Myrie): Krista noted that the Senator would be at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event on January 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch.
VI. Community Session
Alex Gregor: Concerns about Court Street bike lane design. Wants roads to be safe, predictable, and compliant. Bemoans cowboy mentality and non-crashworthy granite blocks for parking enforcement. Crossing guards are concerned. Asked for a notice of deficiency to go into the meeting record.
Dustin Goldman: Organizer of the Bergen Street Bike Bus; experimenting with keeping the bus going through the winter. Info at BikeBus.nyc. The organization has adult marshalls to help kids to navigate Court Street, which is the endpoint of the bike bus.
Ali Boivab. Community Affairs Associate at Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. DCWP wants to make tax prep work easier for community members, which for many is the best way to build wealth and savings. Over 140 free tax prep sites to make tax prep accessible to low and moderate income New Yorkers. Ali is available to present to organizations about tax resources and how to avoid fraud. Contact at aboivab@dcwp.nyc.gov.
Jonathan Romano: Concerns about Court Street bike lane design. Asked for more Community Board discussion on important topics (Eric responded by encouraging community members to attend committee meetings, where more greater discussion on specific topics is possible). Encouraged community members to listen to concerns of the business community on Court Street. Noted that not everyone is mobile enough to bike.
Christina Fleming: Community Engagement Coordinator at NYC Ferry. Announced new ferry routes based on feedback collected by EDC. Noted that the discount program has $1.45 discount tickets for seniors. Contact at christina.fleming@hornblower.com.
Venus Scantlebury: Brooklyn coordinator for Civilian Complaint Review Board. Explained the mission of CCRB and referred community members to nyc.gov/ccrbcomplaint. Youth Advisory Council applications are open for the 2026 cohort (for 10-18 year-old participants).