The OCTOBER 2013
Red Hook StarªRevue SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FREE
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Councilmember-elect Carlos Menchaca, newly appointed NYCHA boardmember Bea Byrd, Councilmember Brad Lander and State Senator Velmanette Montgomery standing together at the EPA’s press conference announcing their Record of Decision at the Gowanus Canal.
EPA SAYS NO SLUDGE IN RED HOOK
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compiled by George Fiala
he EPA’s press event announcing their Record of Decision (ROD) their plan for cleaning the Gowanus, was held on a sunny morning, the last day of September. With the notable exception of anyone associated with the Gowanus GBX, a diverse group of community leaders, politicians and members of the Gowanus CAG, as well as a healthy press contingent, were there to applaud this move to the next phase of the clean-up. The EPA proposal to build a landfill out of some of the dredged canal bottom became a contentious issue that divided Red Hook. This would have created ten acres of new land for the GBX. It would be advantageous for them, but many thought it dangerous to place once-toxic materials in a flood prone area. The GBX, which includes the Grain Terminal, is close to the Red Hook ballfields and also the Red Hook Houses. The proposed plan was contingent on community approval. The EPA held a series of meetings in Red Hook to gauge reaction, and they also asked people to write them with their opinion. This comment period ended April 27th. The EPA’s ROD, as well as ancillary reports and all of the written responses have been posted on the EPA website. There is an amazing amount of material in these reports. The Star-Revue was touched by the passion of the personal letters included, and are pleased to share excerpts from them. All of these are directed to either the EPA or members of the Gowanus team, including Natalie Loney, Christos Tsiamis and Walter Mugdan.
CDF is a great idea! I was at the meeting last night as for me I would love to see Mr Quadrozzi place with this equipment to purify the slush coming from the Gowanus canal. Unfortunate a lot of people from Redhook is not into the technology of today. It would be a shame that this station is not allowed to be in redhook because of that. EPA have cleared up all doubts for some but unfortunate for others it’s not clear. I believe if the person that was chosen to give this demonstation were able to explain himself better it would have been ok. Unfortunate because of his speech not being clear and the way he spoke lots of folks didn’t get the message straight. His english was kind of limited. Lillie Marshall President Redhook West
No Real Benefit
I went to the meeting of last week, 2/13/13, at PS 15 in Red Hook. I went with an open mind. It is my opinion that there was lack of specifics and more vagueness expressed to the public. Based on the information provided by the EPA, I would have to say I DO NOT wish to have the dredged material brought to Red Hook for treatment. Send everything off-site instead. No real tangible (believable) benefit was provided at this meeting. Thank you for your time. I appreciate the opportunity to express my opinion. I do hope it is taken into consideration. Lori Burkard
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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
CARLOS GETS A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS
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by George Fiala arlos Menchaca accomplished moved to Red Hook in April, and was a a rare political feat on Sep- familiar face at many local events, looktember 10 - he defeated an in- ing handsome in his white sports jacket, cumbent, Sara Gonzalez. He light blue shirt and striped tie. won by over 1200 votes out of a total of Kickoff fundraiser March 6 a bit more than 7,000. He won not only The campaign began with a fundraiser Red Hook and Windsor Terrace, two at the home of David Mixner, a well neighborhoods with which he has close known anti-war and gay rights activist ties, but Sunset Park, Gonzalez’s home at the beginning of March. Shortly afturf. Menchaca’s resounding victory sur- ter, he was endorsed by Nydia Velazquez prised many insiders and Gonzalez sup- and some important Red Hook business porters. Menchaca came across as an ear- and real estate leaders. In a short time, nest, capable young man with a winning $40,000 was raised. His job with Chrissmile, who stepped up during Sandy and tine Quinn ended (she ended up endorsbecame a valuable community resource. ing Gonzalez), and so he was able to go A closer look at the campaign though, into campaign mode full-time. By the reveals a more sophisticated strategy, run end of the month the campaign hired by professionals and supported by politi- a highly touted Democratic consulting cians with their own agenda. firm, Red Horse Strategies. At the end Red Hook became aware of Carlos Menchaca in the days and weeks following Hurricane Sandy. He was sent here by his employer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Bicycling over from his home in the South Slope, he immediately plunged himself into neighborhood rescue operations that grew to be the Red Hook Coalition, which included Occupy Sandy, the Red Hook volunteers and ReStore Red Hook. He became a familiar face at daily emergency meetings both at the NYCHA houses as well as with the businesses on Van Brunt. Asked who that serious looking man making phone calls at a NYCHA meeting was, a gentleman answered, “That’s Carlos. He’s from Quinn’s office and he’s everywhere!” Carlos proved to be a tireless campaigner, transforming his “everywhere” status from Sandy to much of the 38th District. Long days were spent knocking on doors in Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace and Borough Park - all part of the district. He
of March the Brooklyn Paper ran a story on the race which contained both of his most important talking points - that Sara was absent during Sandy and was a donothing council member. There is no doubt that Menchaca put his all into his campaign. His apparent sincerity won him countless friends in the district - people he met doing the hard work of door-to-door campaigning. However, he was basically an unknown, and had only six months to beat a well known and to many a well-loved incumbent. Without the heavy lifting of Brad Lander and Nydia Velazquez, he might have been at best a fringe candidate. But Lander and Velazquez each had reasons for a change in the 38th, and Menchaca was their man.
Endorsement a surprise Brad Lander’s support came as a surprise to those who weren’t paying attention. (continued on page 3)