April is Racing to a Close Here at Columbia Street Waterfront as Important May Dates Approach!

In this issue:

1. Register today about the CSWA Family Committee's listening session about pre-K availability Monday, May 4.
2. BMT - CSWA BMT Committee shares a CSWA Member Template for DSOW Comments as the May 8th deadline for comments nears. EDC holds two Advisory Task Force sessions, and BMT Development Corporation meets this Thursday, April 30 - the public can attend online or in person.
3. CSWA in the news!

Join the CSWA Family Committee on Monday, May 4 for a Listening Session on Neighborhood Childcare Needs!

On Monday, May 4, 6-7 PM, our new CSWA Family Committee is holding a listening session to discuss neighborhood childcare needs. Specifically, we’ll share more about the unopened but fully furnished Pre-K at President and Van Brunt, and how to open it. Come hear Zach Hetrick share what he saw during his tour of the center.

Once again, Jalopy Theatre and School of Music has graciously agreed to host this community meeting. Scan the code below for more details and to register or click here. And share this flyer with your friends and neighbors!

Here's Zach Hetrick's Instagram post about his visit on April 3 to the unopened Pre-K at President and Van Brunt. And don't miss Zach's entry into the Mayor's jingle contest for 2k!

Zach has set up a micro site with the data case. The site includes a link to the petition to open the school which fellow Family Committee member Jessica Setton set up. Please sign if you haven't already. And contact Council Member Hanif's office to express your support.

New York Post published another article about the unopened pre-K center, featuring Jessica and Zach's comments: Exclusive | Empty NYC preschools cost taxpayers nearly $100M in rent alone​

If you are interested in joining the CSWA Family Committee, email us at admin@columbiastreetwaterfront.org.

Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) News

CSWA Template for Community Commentary on Draft Statement of Work (DSOW)

Thanks to all of you who commented on the CSWA BMT Committee's draft consolidated commentary document. We are incorporating all your feedback as we prepare the final version. Our BMT Committee has prepared a CSWA Member Template for DSOW Comments you can use to create your own comments. Special thanks to committee member Joey McDonald for creating the template and incorporating committee feedback.

CSWA continues to press EDC to make the full RFEI responses available to the public, where possible. We believe the details of these responses could generate more questions and comments for the Draft Statement of Work.

BMT Advisory Task Force (ATF) and BMT Development Corporation (BMTDC) meetings - open to the public

EDC held two ATF meetings last week. Presentations are now available on EDC's Brooklyn Marine Terminal Advisory Task Force page. EDC has said meeting transcripts will be posted soon. CSWA intends to request EDC also make the video recordings of these meetings public.

On Thursday, April 30, 2-4 PM, the BMTDC will hold its first meeting of 2026 at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The public may observe in person or virtually via this link. You can find more information about the BMTDC and this meeting on the BMTDC webpage.

CSWA in the News

• This week's Ward 6 newsletter covered U.S. Representative Dan Goldman's and Brad Lander's visits to our Earth Day Community Clean-up/Scavenger Hunt on April 18. Subscribe to Ward 6 for local coverage you can't find anywhere else.

Upcoming dates!

• Thursday, April 30, 2–4 pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall: BMTDC meeting: see above for virtual observation information.
• Monday, May 4, 6-7 PM: CSWA Family Committee Listening Meeting, Jalopy Theatre and School of Music
• Friday, May 8: Deadline for BMT CEQR Scoping written commentary.

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.

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