Josh Skaller Holds Press Conference On Gowanus Superfund Designation With Members Of CORD And FROGG

City Council Candidate Josh Skaller with Carroll Gardens/ Gowanus supporters

Kevin Duffy-Acevedo reads a statement from CORD



Marlene Donnelly, a founding member of FROGG



A young Gowanus area resident on the Carroll Street Bridge

When it comes to the clean-up of the Gowanus Canal, members of the Carroll Gardens Coalition For Respectful Development (CORD) and Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus (FROGG) have lots in common with Josh Skaller, City Council Candidate in District 39.
The two Carroll Gardens/ Gowanus organizations, together with local residents, joined Josh Skaller on The Carroll Street Bridge this morning to express their support of his candidacy and for the nomination of the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site. Skaller has been for the Superfund designation for the heavily polluted canal from the start. His campaign does not accept money from developers. He has vowed to listen to the wished of the community instead of special interests and to fight for "the integrity of our neighborhoods. The health of our future generations. The soul of our community."
He favors: "responsible development of the Gowanus Canal. That means development when the Canal is clean. That means development that gives back to the community. Development that sustains itself and paves the way for a New York City that does, too."
He further stated that: "We know what happens when we put public health aside for a short-term gain." "Love Canal happens. People get sick. The community suffers. That can't happen on our watch."

Marlene Donnelly, a Gowanus area resident and one of the founding members of FROGG, said: "We're a neighborhood group of people who live and work around the Gowanus Canal. We want the Canal to be cleaned because it's our backyard."
She and the members of her organization are highly sceptical of the city's motives and of the city's alternative to the Superfund program.
She expressed her support of the EPA, because only the EPA has the necessary tools to undertake the thorough clean-up needed to get the job done right.

CORD was represented by founding members Rita Miller, Lucy DeCarlo and Triada Samaras. Kevin Duffy-Acevedo read the following statement for the group

"CORD is pleased that Josh Skaller came forward so quickly to support the Gowanus Canal's possible nomination to the National Priorities List as a Superfund site.
CORD does not view this issue as either a 'pro' or 'anti'-development matter.
Rather, we see a comprehensive clean-up of the Gowanus Canal and the EPA's monitoring of the remediation of the surrounding uplands to insure the cessation of further ongoing or future cross contamination, as a matter of the utmost importance to our community's present and future well being."
"We are so fortunate that Josh Skaller shares our vision and our hopes for the future for this poor, long neglected, most critically contaminated site."



Make Sure To Read The Excellent Post:

Gowanus, the Superfund and the Evil of Today's New York on Lost City



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A Moment In Time: Sharing An Umbrella

Watching them
share their umbrella
and
avoid puddles
in perfect unison,
they reminded me,
that even on a rainy day
in Carroll Gardens,
a little sun shines through.

A Carroll Gardener Furious At Mayor Bloomberg's Anti-Superfund Stance

BRAVO!!! Couldn't have said it better myself!

This is a comment left by Anonymous on my post "City To Host Gowanus Homeowners Meeting To Tout Al..."

STOP THE SPIN AND STOP THE STEALTH! THE CITY OF NEW YORK (MAYOR BLOOMBERG) IS GETTING CAUGHT WITH HIS PANTS DOWN ON THIS VITAL HEALTH/ENVIRONMENTAL ISSSUE. SHAME ON BLOOMIE! SCIENCE MATTERS! HUMAN HEALTH MATTERS! Why all the secret flyers and now the secret meetings? To refute the science of course! (Make the facts go away!) IS BLOOMIE trying to re-create the Middle Ages in Greater Gowanus by burning all the science books and EPA findings? Where's the "Green" mayor when you need him?


Let's watch Bloomie take a "nice" canoe trip with all the youngest members of his family REAL SOON on the Gowanus Canal! I am sure the Dredgers will help him.

Doesn't the Mayor care about the health of ALL New Yorkers not just the few wealthy white ones he seems to like to help get rich?

I am a homeowner and live two blocks from the canal and have not received any notice of this meeting nor has anyone else that I have asked. I am NOT surprised however.

Financial "guru" Bloomberg can NOT be trusted to clean this canal. For him it's all about a trade of CASH for HEALTHY residents. Simply put he does not give a crap!

All the proof I need to remain PRO SUPERFUND (which I have been since the get go) is right here in the STEALTH way the City is trying to hold secret meetings. Two weeks ago it was the mysterious stealth flyer designed to alarm people and paid for by slick developer lobbyists who are close friends with the Mayor......They featured the names of all the Local POLS and had misinformation written all over them. It looked like every POL was anti Superfund and was a blatant attempt to spin the issue.

They confused the few residents here still naive enough to trust the City.. Now we have this: stealth meetings with a few select anti-SUPERFUND people to convince WHO? that Superfund is unpopular?

Everyone I know is PRO SUPERFUND! When will these spin doctors ever stop? Something is very fishy here.
I hope Bloomie can smell it where he lives too. It stinks.

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A Letter From Albany: State Senator Squadron Updates His Constituents On The Goings-On

Have you been following the despicable goings-on in Albany in the last few days? As our State Senate has been turned into one giant soap-opera, our State Senator Daniel Squadron addresses his constituents directly with this email to express his own indignation at his colleagues. The email was sent out yesterday. Just in case you did not get it, I am reprinting it here.

Dear Friend,

With so much happening in Albany, I wanted to send along an update.

Over the last week and a half, I’m sure you have joined the rest of the state in looking on with horror and fascination as the State Senate has collapsed. A partially aborted attempt by two of my Democratic colleagues to enter into a pact with the Republicans has led to deadlock...and absurdity. For a period last week, the most significant question circling the capitol was, who holds the keys to the Senate chamber? The absurd truth is that control of the upper legislative house in the third largest state in the nation seemed for a period to hinge on an actual hinge.

There are lots of reasons we are in this mess. For one, it's important to remember there are many who have been desperate to freeze action on important progressive goals from housing to jobs to ethics and campaign finance.

But things have gotten so bad so quickly for a simple reason. In the State Senate, the person, or people, who lay claim to the title of Temporary President and Majority Leader hold all the power. You are not witnessing a simple battle over titles or committee chairs. Rather you are witnessing a fight built on the question of who controls:

· All of the millions of dollars of internal Senate resources (staff, district mailings, member “lulu” stipends…even paper clips)

· All of the tens of millions of dollars of legislative grants and capital investment dollars
· All – that’s right all – of the legislation that moves through the house (in effect giving the leader of the Senate a non-overideable veto on all legislative matters in the
State of New York)
· All other things you can imagine, except who gets elected to this body

New Yorkers are watching a woefully undemocratic process unfold because this is a battle for control of a woefully undemocratic place. After having been elected by the people, each legislator holds one powerful card – the vote for leader. In a sixty-two-member body in which members are so evenly divided between parties – and all sixty-two of us, not to mention advocates, lobbyists and special interests, understand the stakes – desperation, chaos, and stalemate are all too likely.

The only way out of this mess, assuming neither party suddenly gains a large majority, is for the entire body to enact real reform that fundamentally changes the power dynamic.

In the short-term, we need a bipartisan operating agreement that leaves the question of leadership aside while letting us pass the legislation that is so important for our city and our state. We cannot let the madness overwhelm the fact that the issues we fight for and the laws we pass have a profound effect on our constituents.

The proposal put forward by the Democratic Conference, modeled on what other states have done, is a fair way to get us back to the business of legislating, or at least a place to start the conversation. (On the other hand, the "proposal" put forward by the Republican Conference would give Pedro Espada and Dean Skelos absolute power and includes the insane idea that Senator Espada has two votes.)

Of course, whatever solution we come to now won’t get all of the legislation I'm fighting for passed or solve all of the Senate's problems -- and there are a lot of them. Real long-term reform is necessary; we need substantive changes on ethics, campaign finance and internal rules. This year we started to move the ball on each, but we have not done nearly enough. Beyond just getting support for ethics reform, which I was pleased to do, we have to enact it. Beyond just introducing campaign finance bills, we have to pass them into law. And beyond rules reform at the margins (or what the "coup" served up, which is a cynical attempt at headlines that masks leader-controlled business-as-usual), we need to fundamentally change the way the Senate is organized: if we had a real way to move bills to the floor, non-partisan administration of the Senate, and a fairer balance of power between the leader and the members, this sort of nuclear stalemate would be very, very unlikely.

New Yorkers are witnessing a fight over choosing a leader who will have near-absolute power, not just on a $130 billion budget but on issues from healthcare to the environment, housing to farming to civil rights. If there is any lesson from this standoff, it is that reform is not about idealism or feeling nice. It is about democracy, at its most basic core. Without democracy, the rot emanating from the Senate Chamber won’t stop in Albany; it is sure to spread, via bad laws and poor policy, across the state from Western New York to the eastern tip of Long Island.

I wish I could offer a prediction about what happens next; but the last week and a half has been so unpredictable, I'm convinced predictions are impossible. (A week and a half ago I would have bet that this week we would pass my ethics reform legislation, my housing, education and pedestrian safety proposals, and a raft of other bills I carry.)

As always, please let me know if you have any thoughts, suggestions -- or predictions. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best,

Daniel

Daniel Squadron
State Senator
25th Senate District

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This Week-End: Deluxa To Host Carroll Gardens Block Party

This Week-End

Deluxa, the vintage boutique at 187 Sackett Street between Henry and Hicks Street is hosting a block party on Sunday, June 21st as part of Make Music New York. More info below:


Make Music New York, described by city officials as “one of the largest musical events in the city’s history,” returns for a third year of free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City, all on Sunday, June 21st, the first day of summer. MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 327 cities around the world — a global celebration of music making.

From 11 in the morning to 10 at night, musicians of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions — from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock — perform on streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, cemeteries, parks and gardens. From high school bands to marquee names, MMNY is open to anyone who wants to take part, enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend.

We're going to have 12 bands and 5 Djs and all day fun. I attached the poster and below are links to all the bands and artists who will be playing--all of which save "Ghost in the Water" are Brooklynites.

Lawrence Chandler (of Bowery Electric)
Luxa
Sharon Van Etten
Soundpool
Elika
Rebecca Pronsky
Ghost in the Water
Telltale
By Night With Spear
Her Vanished Grace
Meghan Halle

and Djs:
Mark Van Hoen of Seefeel and Locust
LG of Dead Leaf Echo
The Invisible Kid
Rich Bennett
DJ Stephan C of Telltale

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City To Host Gowanus Homeowners Meeting To Tout Alternative Plan. Have You Been Notified?

Well, surprise, surprise! The City is continuing to spin and to tout its alternative plan for the Gowanus clean-up. The latest in this saga involves an email (below) from Amy Chester, Chief-Of-Staff to Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, about a meeting for home owners and for business owners along the canal.

It was sent to me from a resident of Fort Greene, who was notified by the office of State Senator Velmanette Montgomery. (Thanks goes to State Senator Montgomery who is on top of the Gowanus issue and supports the 'Superfund Site' designation for the Gowanus Canal.)

Problem is, it would appear that residents of the Carroll Gardens/Gowanus community have not gotten the same information.
I live two blocks away from the Gowanus and did not know anything about this.

Bad me. I guess I was supposed to magically find the info on the City's www.gowanusalternative.com web site.

So Typical!!!!!

Below is the email from Amy Chester.

Subject

Gowanus Canal Meetings June 23 and

24th at 6pm

Hello,

We just wanted make sure that you know that the Mayor’s Office has planned

2 meetings for the property owners who are adjacent to the Gowanus Canal to

discuss the proposed listing and the City’s alternative plan. You are of

course, welcome to attend.

The info is as follows:

· Meeting for homeowners who live near the Canal Tuesday,

June 23 at 6 p.m., at P.S. 32 (317 Hoyt Street).

· Meeting for business owners located near the Canal

Wednesday, June 24 at 6 p.m., at P.S. 32 (317 Hoyt Street).

The meeting information is also available on our website

www.gowanusalternative.com

We hope to see you there.

Best.

Amy

AMY CHESTER

CHIEF OF STAFF TO DEPUTY MAYOR KEVIN SHEEKEY

CITY HALL

NEW YORK, NY 10007

212.788.2154

AChester@cityhall.nyc.gov

www.nyc.gov

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Picture Of The Day: Flamingo And Geranium

I was lost deeply in my thoughts,
when something made me look up
at the elegant brownstone.
Next to the bright red geranium
in the window,
I spotted a pink flamingo,
standing on one leg.

A fine pairing, I thought.

Pacifico's Junky Neighbor on Pacific Street

Fine Dining

You may ask: "Why would this blogger name this picture 'Fine Dining'?"
And she would explain that this junky, rat infested parking lot is right next to Pacifico, one of Alan Harding's many restaurants.
And that does not seem to bother diners.

Go Figure!

Have you eaten there? Where you bothered at all? Didn't it make you think just a teeny little bit?

Let me know. Because I am really trying to understand.

Cast Your Vote To Elect Carroll Gardens Green Market As America's Favorite

I just voted to name the Carroll Gardens Green Market "America's Favorite", after receiving an email from Heather Rubi, our Market Manager.
Heather entered our own neighborhood market in the contest lead by the American Farmland Trust.

From the Trust's web site:
Farmers markets are an asset to our communities and deserve our support. You can help your favorite farmers market gain the recognition it deserves and ensure that it and other local markets like it continue to thrive.

Heather feels that "Carroll Gardens can pull off a win!!!"
Lets prove her right, shall we?

To Cast Your Vote, Click Here

****And Don't Forget: This Week-End At The Carroll Gardens Greenmarket, there will be a strawberry shortcake eating contest at 11 am!***



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Reader Comment Of The Day

Reader comment left on "Thanks To State Senator Squadron, MTA To Review F Train":

Oh, the F... I travel between Bergen Street and 2nd Ave to get to work, and farther uptown during the day for site visits, and am considering working the amassed hours I have spent waiting for the F into my bills for clients: travel time, courtesy of the F. I can't help loving the F a little, too. It's like having the world on our train.


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These Are The EMTs And Paramedics In Your Neighborhood!

Say hello to some of our neighborhood Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.
The photo above was sent to me by Zipporah Dvash, Asst. VP of Public Affairs & Development Long Island College Hospital.

Zipporah writes:

We all hope never to have the need to call an ambulance, but just in case...it’s nice to know they’re here.
In honor of EMS week at LICH, the department’s managers and supervisors treated paramedics and EMTs (emergency medical technicians) a celebratory Bar-B-Que.

Proudly posing in front of the ambulances which serve the local community so well, are: (left to right):
1) Oscar Laporte, EMT
2) Keith Herrera, Paramedic
3) Adam Pace, Paramedic
4) Jason Burgos (student)
5) James Montesino, Paramedic
6) Elizabeth Serra (student).

Almost all the EMTs and paramedics in the photo are community residents themselves.

LICH’s Dept. of Emergency Services is now a teaching site for EMT courses. At the conclusion of the program, the graduates can become certified as New York State Emergency Medical Technicians. The instructor of the course is Edward Caballero, CCEMTP, CIC, LICH’s Senior Director of Emergency Medical Services & Logistics. “People’s lives often depend on the quick reactions and competent care of emergency personnel such as EMTs,” he says.

If anyone would like information on becoming an EMT, contact:
Zipporah Dvash phone: (718) 780-1234, or write to zdvash@chpnet.org

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Picture Of The Day: Old And New Brooklyn

Looming over a small old brick house,
that, no doubt,
has witnessed its fair share
of Brooklyn history,
a construction crane
in the distance
hovers over another
generic tower.

New Al Fresco Seating At 'The Jake Walk' On Smith

In the pouring rain last week, a big new sliding door was being installed on the side of # 282 Smith Street, the home of Jake Walk, the wine and cheese bar which opened back in March.
The staff confirmed that Jake Walk would be expanding onto the sidewalk soon.
Sure enough, the work has now been completed and teak tables and chairs have been placed outside. Patrons were already enjoying a glass of wine al fresco yesterday evening as I walked by.
Now lets only hope the weather holds....

I actually like Jake Walk very much. How can I not like a place that offers a superb wine selection and has cheeses from the Auvergne on the menu.


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New Art Classes In The Carroll Gardens Transit Garden

NEW ART CLASSES in Carroll Gardens!

NEW ART CLASSES forming in the Transit Garden in Carroll Gardens!

Adults, Children and Families!

Where: The lovely Transit Garden at the Corner of Smith Streets and Second Place in Carroll Gardens.

Who: For Would Be Artists of All Ages and taught by Triada Samaras*

Classes:

Adults: Drawing and Pastels Classes using the flowers, shrubs and trees in the garden as our inspiration. $25.00 per 90 min class. Sign-up for a minimum of four. (Art supplies to be purchased by you). Parents: You may bring your child to class to draw with you for the reduced rate of $10.00 per child!

Children ART/SCIENCE class (Ages 3-5): $20.00 per 45 min. class. Sign up for a minimum of four. ($15.00 materials fee). This is a drop class. Parents may attend with three year olds however.

Times:

Adults: 90 min. classes will be offered twice a week beginning June 21, 2009. Sundays 10:15 -11:45 and Thursdays 6:30-8:00.

Children (ages 3-5) 45 min. classes will be offered Sundays at 12:00 and at 1:00 and will begin on June 21, 2009.

Why: Because making art in the open Brooklyn air will feed your heart and soul!

*Bio: Triada Samaras is a visual artist and poet who has lived in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn for the past 15 years. She holds a Diploma and “Fifth Year Certificate” in Studio Art from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA, and her Masters Degree in Art and Art Education from Teachers College/Columbia University. Triada has been teaching art to students of all ages for the past 17 years in and around the Metro NYC area. She has published an article on wood sculpture for young children in the NAEYC Journal/ National Association for the Education of Young Children.

She is currently an Adjunct Professor of Art at Kean University, Union, NJ, and an Adjunct Professor of Art and Art Education at William Paterson, Wayne, NJ. Triada recently exhibited her art work at the Kentler International Drawing Space in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and at the Nancy Dryfoos Gallery at Kean University. For more info, contact her at: triadasamaras at gmail at com

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Thanks To State Senator Squadron, MTA To Review F Train

State Senator Squadron's letter to MTA

State Senator Daniel Squadron certainly deserves thanks for urging the MTA to address the many problems plaguing the F train. The ridership on this line has exploded in recent years. Then there is the problem with deteriorating stations. (9th Street in particular is a nightmare.)
Most importantly, some of the elevated tracks look disastrous.
In an email, Ellen Whelan-Wurst, the Senator's Brooklyn Office Director, writes:

I wanted to let everyone know that thanks to a request made by Senator Daniel Squadron, the MTA has begun a full-scale, comprehensive review of the F train. Senator Squadron reached out to the MTA on this matter after having heard from many constituents about the increasing problems facing F train riders, including delays, crowded trains and poor station conditions. We are happy that the MTA has begun this review, and of course we will share the conclusions as soon as they are released.

Sounds great to me.
And for those who missed it last week, our State Senator got special mention in an editorial in the New York Times.

It is worth noting that the befuddled Democratic majority was nothing to wave the flag about. In many ways, it turned out to be almost as bad as the Republicans who ran the Senate for more than 40 years until January. But some Democrats, like Senator Daniel Squadron of Manhattan, were pushing for real changes that would, for example, have started to clean up the campaign finance system.

Thanks, Senator Squadron!
For related reading go to The Brooklyn Paper

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Picture Of The Day: Blooms At Triunfel Grocery

So many blooms,
so many choices.
annuals,
perennials,
shade loving,
sun worshipping,
variegated leaves,
double blooming
or
single.

All in front of Triunfel
on Court Street,
ready to be planted
in your garden.

Work Resuming At Old OTB On Court Street

Back in September 2007, there was talk of a new restaurant coming to the space once occupied by O.T.B. at 320 Court Street.
The name of the establishment was supposedly going to be 'Huîtres', the French word for oysters. Construction started on the space that fall, an application for a liquor license had been filed, and then... nothing. Windows were boarded up and construction paper was taped over the glass doors. And there it sat. Until now, that is.

As I walked by there last week, someone was cutting up some wood right in front of the place. Yesterday in the afternoon, the door was open and I glimpsed an arched brick wall and what looked like a tiled kitchen area with counter, indicating that someone had done some serious work in the place.
Does anyone out there know if this is still going to be Huîtres or another restaurant?

Hey, Whatever Happened To The Other Carroll Gardens 'Oyster' Bar

Huître on Court Street : Will Court Street's Newest Restaurant Ever Open?

Huître on Court Street

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Fix-The-Ditch: NYC Economic Development Corp. Seeking Consultant To Study B.Q.E. Trench In Nabe

photo courtesy: Bridges And Tunnels Special Archive
Thanks to Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary–St. Stephen Church

Great News For All Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill/Columbia Street District Residents.

This just in from Community Board 6 manager Craig Hammerman

At long last, the New York City Economic Development Corporation has released a Request for Qualifications for a Brooklyn-Queens Expressway study ("Fix the Ditch") that would look at ways of mitigating some of the impacts the BQE highway trench has had on the adjoining South Brooklyn communities of Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and the Columbia Street District. This study is being funded by a $300,000 grant that was secured years ago by Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, with the support and encouragement of Brooklyn Community Board 6 and all the area's major civic groups. Please do help circulate the link to this important announcement, particularly to potential respondents, so that we can get the best pool of qualified candidates to submit proposals. Responses are due by July 8, 2009.

From C.B.6th web site:

New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”) is seeking a consultant or consultant team to study improvements to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (“BQE”) "trench" in Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill/Columbia Street District (“Project”). EDC will act as lead agency, in close coordination with local stakeholders, to look for ways to "fix the ditch", namely ways to mitigate its noise and pollution, and reconnect communities on both sides. Solutions may include beautification projects such as green planted buffers, overhanging walkways and/or pedestrian crossing bridges. Ultimately, this project will benefit the community and enhance the surrounding region by developing a pedestrian transportation network, improving air quality, decreasing noise pollution, expanding recreation options, and providing safe pedestrian access to and from the nearby waterfront Columbia Street area. (Posted: June 15, 2009)

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Astrograss Brings Bluegrass To Carroll Park

Astrograss

Simmi Degnemark, Event Organizer,
Committee To Improve Carroll Park

Oh, what fun the littlest Carroll Gardeners had In Carroll Park on Sunday afternoon!

Rocking, swaying and be-bopping around to the fabulously danceable bluegrass music of Astrograss, the kids obviously enjoyed every minute of this season's first event in the 2009 Carroll Park Kids' Concert series.

Excitement mounted visibly as the band set up around the monument in the center of the park. Squeals of delight could be heard as the members of Astrograss tuned their instrument and ran through some last minute sound-checks.

And then...as the concert began in earnest and the band launched into its first song, many joyful kids jumped to their feet.
Some danced solo, some joined hands with a best friend. Some shy little ones preferred to watch from the safety of a parent's lap. But all enjoyed the delightfully clever lyrics and happy tunes
of Astrograss.

A big round of applause goes to the series' organizer, Simmi Degnemark of the Committee To Improve Carroll Park, who has worked so very hard to bring such joy to so many children. The

The music series continues with :
Audra Rox (July 15th),
Starfish (July 29th)
Putumayo Kids celebrating a CD release (August 8th).

Don't miss out!

The Carroll Park Kids’ Concert Series is free due to the generous support of local businesses and individual sponsors. For all concert and band information go to Carroll Park, Brooklyn


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A Moment In Time: Dumbo After The Rain

The clouds parted
to make room for the sun.
Umbrellas were put away temporarily,
and people came out
to enjoy the change in the weather.

The Gowanus Canal? It's A 'Crying' Shame

Photo credit: Carolina Castillo



Little Miss Alaia was rather blue
about the polluted state of the Gowanus Canal.
She expressed her displeasure rather loudly.
Would this waterway be cleaned up in her lifetime, she wondered?




She seemed much more pleased about the prospect of Superfund Listing!
That's it! thought little Alaia.
One day, with any luck, I'll be able to swim
in the Gowanus Canal!