Happy June, Columbia Street Waterfront!

In this issue:

1. A look back at last Thursday's Community Celebration!
2. Community forum with Dan Goldman Tuesday, June 2, 3-4 PM.
3. CSWA Book Swap on Open Garden Day at Urban Meadow Garden June 6, 3-5 pm!
4. Jazz in the Garden at Summit St Community Garden, June 6, 5 pm!
5. Petition opposing plan to change the traffic direction on Woodhull Street between Columbia and Hicks.

A Wonderful Community Celebration!

Thanks to everyone who joined CSWA for our celebration of community action and victories last Thursday! As our Board Member Lynette Wiley said: "That was an impressive gathering today. Lots of ownership of our work. People felt connected. There are a lot of leaders. Community was made and I was pleased." We all were!

CSWA Vice President John Leyva posted the video on Instagram and wrote:
​
"Today was about joy, gratitude, and the power of organizing. What neighbors coming together as a community can accomplish.
​
"We celebrated real wins:
✅ traffic safety improvements moving forward, new stop signs and crosswalks,
​
✅ the Van Brunt

Street pre-K opening
​
✅ the closure of the SIMS Concrete Recycling Facility, and
​
"None of this happened by accident. It happened because parents, neighbors, volunteers, advocates, & community members showed up and refused to give up."

We thank all the community speakers - Randy Gordon, Roopa Kalyanaraman Marcello, Dan Teicher, Robbie Block, Jessica Setton, Leah Carroll, Debra Tackney and John Leyva. We were proud to hear their stories of confronting challenges, building community power, and achieving their goals!

We thank DOT Deputy Commissioner Leroy Branch and Derek Walker for joining us and appreciate their response to our advocacy for traffic safety improvements on Columbia Street. We also thank Council Member Shahana Hanif and her team, as well as Adam Dore-Young from Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes' office and Nathaniel Goodyear from Senator Andrew Gounardes's office for sharing in our celebration. We appreciate the efforts of all the electeds who supported our community members through significant challenges to achieve these amazing victories.

Before we all met at Cabrini Park, Dan Teicher led Deputy Commissioner Branch and Mr. Walker, along with Council Member Hanif and team and several CSWA members on a tour of Summit Street, between Hicks and Hamilton. Summit and Columbia Streets do not have stop signs, crosswalks, or a traffic signal. Dan did a great job illustrating to everyone that with a preschool nearby on Columbia St, and frequent groups of children making their way across the Summit Street footbridge to the skate park at Hamilton and Van Brunt, this intersection needs strong consideration for safety improvements as well. Deputy Commissioner Branch said a traffic study is in progress for the intersection and committed to communicating the results and meeting with the community again to discuss them.

It's Tomorrow! Community Forum with Dan Goldman - Tuesday, June 2, 3-4 PM

CSWA and CGA are hosting a community forum with Dan Goldman in the Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen's Cabrini Hall (125 Summit Street, Brooklyn) on Tuesday, June 2, 3:00-4:00 PM.

The purpose of the forums is for community members to hear Mr. Goldman's views on neighborhood issues. This will be a non-partisan community forum. The associations do not support or oppose any candidate. We will have a moderator ask Mr. Goldman questions you've submitted. Additionally, postcards will be provided at the meeting for other questions that will be handed over to the moderator.

If you haven't done so already, we invite you to submit your questions and concerns for Rep. Goldman here. Questions will be accepted until 6 PM tonight. If you do not have a question to submit, but plan to attend, you can RSVP on the form.

Thank you to all who attended the Community Forum hosted by CSWA and Carroll Gardens Association (CGA) with Brad Lander on Wednesday, May 20. You can watch a video of the forum here. You can also read Ward 6's coverage of the forum here (as well as our community's successful campaign to open the Van Brunt pre-K!).

Saturday, June 6: Open Garden Day in the Columbia Street Waterfront! Including CSWA's Book Swap at Urban Meadow Garden!

Our neighborhood is so fortunate to have not one, not two, not five, but seven community gardens! Here they are:

• Human Compass Garden
• South Brooklyn Children’s Garden
• Urban Meadow Garden
• Amazing Garden
• Summit Street Garden
• Pirate’s Cove Garden
• Backyard Garden

Two gardens are holding events on June 6. First, don't miss CSWA's Book Swap at Urban Meadow Garden, where there will also be a garden learning activity, arts and crafts, and food!

Please start pulling together books you want to swap! If you can't join us this Saturday, you may leave your books at 1 Tiffany Place. Please leave them with the doorperson for Randy and Sharon Gordon.

Then head over to Summit St Community Garden for Jazz in the Garden!

This should be a wonderful day to enjoy these precious green oases!

Proposed Change in Traffic Direction on Woodhull Street between Columbia and Hicks

Read more about this proposed change and how it would negatively impact the neighborhood and sign the petition.

Questions? Email us at admin@columbiastreetwaterfront.org. Also, please share our mailing list sign-up page with your friends and neighbors: Columbia Street Waterfront Association Email List.

Some of you may be receiving this newsletter for the first time. Welcome! We hope you decide to stay with us. You can always click "unsubscribe" below.

Media Contact:​
Randy Gordon, President
Columbia Street Waterfront Association, Inc.
Phone: 917-593-2674
Email: admin@columbiastreetwaterfront.org​​