Carroll Park, Tolls, Supermarkets Hopefully, everyone reading is found well on this cold 18th day of December

Hopefully, everyone reading is found well on this cold 18th day of December, a day that will feature our Parks Committee meeting at P.S 58 , starting at 6:30 PM, in order to learn more, and have a say, about what’s next for Carroll Park .…

Hopefully, everyone reading is found well on this cold 18th day of December, a day that will feature our Parks Committee meeting at P.S 58 , starting at 6:30 PM, in order to learn more, and have a say, about what’s next for Carroll Park . Links to more information about our Parks meeting, as well as other things happening tonight and throughout the week, are featured below. But before that, it could be a good idea to read up on 2 items of particular interest in our district.

First, BKCB6 has long supported 2-way tolling on the Verrazzano Bridge. This support, based on a belief backed up by traffic studies , is that it would help reduce traffic, especially truck traffic, and the corresponding congestion coming through our district, on roads such as the eastbound BQE . The reason that two-way tolling would reduce congestion is that, by eliminating an entirely free option, drivers would opt for a route that's based on time and proximity as opposed to price. I mention this because, while there is a lot of news, to say the least, coming out of Washington D.C these days, one particular news item is that the spending bill, which is expected to be approved this week, includes a provision that will split the toll for the Verrazano Bridge . 

If you’re wondering why this change requires an act of Congress, it’s because the Verrazzano Bridge is the only bridge in the country, owing to legislation passed in 1986 , to have its toll structure determined by the federal government. 

Second, the site of Key Food at 120 5th Avenue has been sold yet again . We are, of course, concerned about what this means for an agreement that ensured a supermarket would remain at the location. Early indicators are that the agreement will be honored, but we’ll stay vigilant and do everything possible to ensure that it remains that way. We’ve already spoken with Councilmember Lander about working together on this issue. This is an especially important issue with so many supermarkets closing in recent years , and how hard the community worked to make sure a supermarket would still be there. As we find out more, you’ll find out more.

Also, we are still accepting comments regarding  Public Place/ Gowanus Green  and appreciate everyone who already taken us up on this offer.

Have a great evening, as always, feel free to share  this information   howeve r you’d like, and if you want me to include a community-centric happening in a future update,  please reach out .

This is the web archive of a newsletter originally sent by email to Brooklyn Community Board 6 subscribers on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. The email edition may contain additional event listings and links.