Longtime Brooklyn Community Activist and Kings County Politics (KCP) Contributing Writer Joe Gonzalez yesterday lead a Brooklyn-wide bottled water collection drive to aid Newark, New Jersey residents. Gonzalez, whose many KCP writings can be examined here: https://www.
Gonzalez starting out on his own–with no organizational support and he simply made a large number of calls telling Brooklynites that he was collecting water at a certain place and time and the rest was history. All told, 9,000 bottles of water were donated. The very large number of bottle water collected sent shock waves thru-out Brooklyn’s elected set. Reaction was swift and widespread.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams told the Kings County Politics: “We are very grateful and proud of Joe Gonzalez’ efforts to aid Newark residents during their water crisis. He did us proud.”
U.S. Rep. Hakeem S. Jeffries told KCP: ” I know Joe Gonzalez–he is one of my favorite community activists, We are appreciative of his bottled water collection drive on behalf of Brooklyn. And I am thankful for the NYPD for their efforts in getting the water over to Newark.”
New York State Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James weighed in on the successful bottle water drive saying: “I have known Joe Gonzalez for many years–he works hard and tries to make Brooklyn a better place. His collection drive was fantastic.”
Newark New Jersey has been having many problems with their water systems. There are various neighborhoods that have had their water completely shut off. Many Brooklyn-based Houses of Worship, hospitals, schools, fraternal organizations and community groups among others made donations of bottled water.
The New York City Police Department made available its vehicles to pick up and transport the thousands of bottles of water to Newark New Jersey. Most notable in the effort was Brooklyn North Patrol Chief Jeffrey Maddrey and his staff who arranged for transportation over to Newark New Jersey.
The current water crisis in Newark, along with others such as Flint Michigan, caused many Brooklyn elected public officials to raise questions about the possibility that Brooklyn could be hit with a water crisis and just how it might be handled.
Longtime Crown Heights Community Activist and President of the 77th Police Precinct Community Council James Caldwell told the Kings County Politics: “Today, I am serving notice on all elected public officials to be proactive –now before – the water crisis hits Brooklyn. They must be prepared for anything and everything. Its time for public meetings on this matter–before its too late”.
