De Blasio Announces Ferry Landing In Red Hook
The Mayor Bill de Blasio Administration and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) yesterday announced that the Citywide Ferry Service ferry landing for Red Hook will be located at Atlantic Basin.
The Red Hook ferry landing is part of the South Brooklyn route which is scheduled to launch during summer 2017. The landing is projected to serve over 6,000 residents that live within a half-mile radius, including families in NYCHA’s Red Hook Houses.
“It’s full steam ahead for the launch of Citywide Ferry Service next year. Families and businesses in Red Hook have needed better transit options for decades. We’re changing that. When ferry service begins out of Atlantic Basin, thousands more people will have a fast and affordable way to connect with their city,” said de Blasio.
The landing is projected to serve over 6,000 residents that live within a half-mile radius, including many families that reside in NYCHA’s Red Hook Houses. The pedestrian entrance to the landing will be located at the intersection of Pioneer and Conover Streets. The location is just a short walk to the growing cluster of restaurants, retailers and artists located along the Van Brunt Street commercial corridor. Additionally, the site is adjacent to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, one of New York City’s terminals for embarkation and debarkation of cruise ships.
“I am pleased that the City has heeded my call and the call of Red Hook residents to site a Citywide Ferry Service landing in Atlantic Basin. This review process has been responsive to concerns we have raised about the potential impact of adverse seasonal weather conditions as well as the distance to the nearest points of transportation and to concentrations of potential passengers. I thank EDC President Torres-Springer for working with the community and the Port Authority to arrange for a site that will best meet the needs of a historically underserved neighborhood, including thousands of public housing residents, as well as provide a boost for the area’s burgeoning commercial corridor,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
Also praising the ferry landing were several borough lawmakers that represent the neighborhood.
“Positioning the landing in Atlantic Basin will mean ferry service more centrally located in Red Hook: at the center of the Van Brunt Street commercial corridor and closer to over 7,000 residents living in public housing. This is important in a neighborhood that lacks a subway,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez.
“Residents and businesses in Red Hook and their nearby neighbors are woefully underserved by public transportation. I am pleased that adding ferry service to Red Hook will enable thousands of commuters to have easy, sustainable access to locations in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan,” said Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon.
“Atlantic Basin is the best Red Hook location for a passenger ferry landing. I’m glad local residents’ voices were heard by EDC when this location was chosen. The ferry’s presence will enliven Atlantic Basin and offer opportunities to make better use of the transportation infrastructure there. I look forward to supporting this new mode of City-wide transportation, and to seeing how it serves residents and businesses in Brooklyn,” said City Council Member Carlos Menchaca.
Gentile To Anounce Capital Project For Those With Developmental Disabilities
City Council Member Vincent Gentile (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) today will join The Guild for Exceptional Children (GEC) to announce a paramount capital project that will be a game changer for adults living with developmental disabilities at GEC’s Martini Residence.
GEC is a not-for-profit agency that was founded in 1958 by parents and friends of individuals with developmental disabilities. GEC grew from a dedicated group of parents volunteering their time to support each other to a leading-edge advocacy agency that spearheaded community living options, opening the very first group home in New York City in 1970.
GEC is dedicated to providing exceptional support and services that will enable children and adults to lead respected and fulfilling lives in their community.
The announcement is slated for 1 p.m., today at the Martini Residence, 311 Senator Street in Bay Ridge.
Team Colton Demand Investigation Into Mishap At Garbage Station
The political team of Assemblyman Bill Colton (Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) and Charlie Ragusa and Nancy Tong, the male and female Democratic District leaders from his 47th Assembly District, yesterday called for the investigation of the controversial Southwest Garbage Station after a six-foot long metal section blew off the roof of the project now under construction on the Gravesend waterfront.
The metal debris blew off the roof during Monday’s gusty wind and rainstorm and nearly hit two people on the adjacent property. It was then mysteriously disappeared from where it crashed down after the neighboring property owner notified the Garbage Station construction site supervisor of what happened, the lawmakers said.
“The City’s concealing of necessary facts and information, is the very argument I made to the Appellate Division as to why the permit should be vacated. Now, here once again, the City continues to cover any information that might stop or slow down its construction. We need to stop this dangerous garbage station once and for all before we have another Flint Michigan like disaster,” said Colton, who has been leading a public battle against the proposed garbage station since 2005.
“We are now demanding the City to investigate this case of disappearing metal, while work continues as if nothing happened. With private construction job, the Buildings Department would immediately dispatch an emergency response unit to respond to such an incident such as a piece of a roof under construction flying off onto a neighboring property. Work would be stopped until an investigation ensured there was no danger to the public. Why should this construction project be treated differently? We believe that the disappearance of the metal shows a cover up that also must be thoroughly investigated. We demand the City Inspector General, as well as the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation also look into this matter,” said Ragusa.
“Here again the public was only able to discover this latest dangerous incidents from the efforts of neighborhood volunteers doing the oversight which the City has refused to do. Without question, this fallen piece of the roof further proves the continuing danger of the garbage station. We are lucky no one was seriously hurt in this incident but government needs to act to prevent future accidents,” said Tong.
Seddio Says TJ Club To Make Major Announcement
Kings County Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio has been putting out the word that his home Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club will make a major announcement tonight concerning the future of the club.
As KCP reported yesterday, sources have told this media outlet that Roberta Sherman, the longtime female Democratic District leader of the 59th Assembly District will step down from this position and Sen. Roxanne Persaud will be named to replace her. However, there may be surprises in store.
The meeting is slated for 8 p.m. at the TJ Club, 77 Conklin Avenue.
