Thanks to all of you who joined us for the BMT Community Forum, Columbia Street Waterfront!
We had a great turnout, fantastic speakers, and terrific energy in the room! Thanks especially to Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez for her stirring remarks, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon for setting the stage and for leading the Q&A, our other elected co-hosts Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Council Member Alexa Avilés, and Council Member Shahana Hanif, our phenomenal panel of maritime experts, Phaedra Thomas, Jim Tampakis, and Geoffrey Utmark, CSWA member Sharon Gordon for welcoming everyone, CSWA President Randy Gordon for moderating the panel, and CSWA Vice President John Leyva for giving everyone clear directions on what to watch for and actions to take as the BMT's Environmental Impact Statement and General Project Plan processes move forward. Thanks to Brad Lander, staff from Deputy Mayor Julie Su’s office, and NYCEDC representatives for joining us. Thanks also to our co-host civic organizations, Cobble Hill Association, Carroll Gardens Association, Resilient Red Hook, and PortSide NY for their support.
You can watch the forum here. And please fill out this survey, Our Waterfront, Our Future: What Should We Fight For? whether you were able to attend or not. We'll soon be sharing more content from the forum as well as information to help you take action!
And now, on with the rest of what's happening!
- Join the CSWA Board!
- Still time to volunteer! City of Forest Day at Van Voorhees Playground, co-hosted by Cobble Hill Association (CHA) and CSWA - Saturday, October 3!
- 1 Tiffany Place Block Party on Sunday, October 4!
- Join The Sunday Sweep to clean the Henry Street Pedestrian Bridge, 10-11 am, Sunday, October 4
Join the CSWA Board!
As we announced last week, the Columbia Street Waterfront Association (CSWA) Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from neighbors who would like to serve on the CSWA Board.
Open Positions
All board and officer positions are open as our Annual Meeting on November 16 is the first time CSWA members will elect the Board.
- One (1) President, serving a three-year term.
- One (1) Vice President, serving a three-year term.
- One (1) Treasurer, serving a three-year term.
- One (1) Secretary, serving a three-year term.
- Four (4) additional directors, serving two-year terms.*
- Three (3) additional directors, servicing one-year terms.*
We encourage neighbors with a wide range of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives to apply. The only absolute requirement is that you must be an Individual or Business Member in good standing. The Support page of our website outlines the requirements to be an Individual or Business Member.
How to Apply
Please complete the application form by Friday, October 9.
If you have questions, you may contact the Nominating Committee at NomComm@columbiastreetwaterfront.org.
What does the CSWA Board do?
The CSWA Board is a volunteer, working board that serves the neighborhood. Board members focus on:
- Community advocacy to assure our neighborhood voices are heard on major projects like the Brooklyn Marine Terminal
- Supporting our local businesses.
- Traffic and environmental safety for our neighborhood
- Preserving and expanding public spaces!
- Building community through events and activities for all ages
Summary of Responsibilities and Time Commitments:
- Directors: Directors participate in discussions and decisions about neighborhood issues, support the work of CSWA committees and initiatives, and help represent the Association in the community.
Time commitments of directors: One 2-hour board meeting every other month, plus 2–4 hours per month outside of meetings, depending on ongoing issues and interests. Additional board meetings may be scheduled as needed.
- President: The President helps set priorities, coordinates Board work, serves as a primary point of contact with agencies and elected officials, and supports the overall functioning of the organization.
Time commitment: Same as directors as far as board meetings, plus 2–4 hours per week outside of meetings, depending on ongoing issues and interests.
- Vice President: The Vice President assists the President with their responsibilities.
Time commitment: same as directors for board meetings, plus 1-2 hours per week outside of meetings, depending on ongoing issues and interests.
- Treasurer: The Treasurer maintains the Association's financial records, oversees all Association funds, processes payments and reimbursements, and ensures that tax and other required filings are completed. The Treasurer reports regularly to the Board and membership on the Association’s financial status and prepares the annual budget and financial reports required by law and by the bylaws.
Time commitment: same as directors for board meetings, plus 3–5 hours per month outside of meetings, depending on ongoing issues and interests.
- Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for taking and distributing board minutes. The Secretary also manages approval of Board resolutions and assures board members complete their Conflict-of-Interest disclosures.
Time commitment: same as directors for board meetings, plus 2–4 hours per month outside of meetings, depending on ongoing issues and interests.
- Board members may be members of one or more committees. Committees meet on an ad hoc basis and involve various levels of participation.
*The difference in term length is because this is the first board election, and having different terms allows us to stagger board membership so there is carryover of board members from term to term. The initial elected Board will decide by lot which of the non-officer Directors will serve the one-year and two-year terms. In future years, all directors and officers will be elected to three-year terms.
For more details see the CSWA Bylaws, section VII.
There's still time to volunteer! City of Forest Day at Van Voorhees Playground, co-hosted by Cobble Hill Association (CHA) and CSWA - Saturday, October 3!
Don't miss this tree stewardship event in Van Voorhees Playground on Congress Street between the BQE and Columbia Street on October 3rd from 10 am to 12 pm!!
We are participating in a city-wide day of action and have worked with the Parks Department and Partnership for Parks to organize this event!
Thank you, Partnership for Parks, for donating tools, gloves, bulbs, seeds, compost, and mulch!
Here are some details from Liz Velikonja, CHA:
- When: The event will be October 3 from 10 to noon. You are welcome to work all or part of this timeframe.
- Where: the children's play area of Van Voorhees Park on Congress Street between Columbia and Hicks streets on the west side of the BQE
- Who is invited: Everyone is welcome and this is a great event for children. If you bring your children, please plan to work with them.
- What should I bring? All tools and gloves are provided. If you need sunscreen or bug spray, please bring your own. There is a bathroom on site. Please wear clothing that can get a little dirty.
This is the first volunteer cleanup of this park in years, and we are hoping for a strong turnout! Please RSVP on the CHA website. All ages welcome!!
Tiffany Place Block Party returns on Sunday, October 4!
Ever since 2017, the Tiffany Place Block Party has been a highlight of the late summer/early fall for not just those of us who live on the street, but for neighbors across the Columbia Street Waterfront and from surrounding neighborhoods as well. Scan the QR code below to learn more! And consider donating to support the party!
Join The Sunday Sweep to clean the Henry Street Pedestrian Bridge, 10-11 am, Sunday, October 4
Harbor Middle School 6th-grade dad Taylor Mali is organizing a one-hour cleaning of the Henry Street pedestrian bridge on Sunday, October 4, at 10:00 am. The event is called The Sunday Sweep, and it has the support of Council Member Shahana Hanif, the NY Department of Sanitation, as well as a growing number of local community members and organizations. Volunteers are asked to bring an outdoor broom, a clear plastic trash bag, and (as former slam poet Mali says) "a mask for the swirling dust of neighborhood pride and civic engagement!” Mali made a name for himself in this neighborhood in recent years as Plastic Bagman, extracting once prevalent bags caught in trees for free with the help of a 30-foot pole!
Questions? Email us at admin@columbiastreetwaterfront.org. Also, please share our website with your friends and neighbors: https://columbiastreetwaterfront.org/, where they can sign up for our newsletter!
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Media Contact:
Randy Gordon, President
Columbia Street Waterfront Association, Inc.
Phone: 917-593-2674
Email: admin@columbiastreetwaterfront.org