Tag Archives: Marty Markowitz

Brooklyn’s Biotech Park Grows

Brooklyn's BioBAT Biotech Park

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg may be robbing us of one of the things we like to gripe about: the slow pace of his administration’s  departure from its  initial narrow focus on residential, office, entertainment, and retail development, e.g., Willets Point, Coney Island, Hunters Point South and the Kingsbridge Armory Mall.

That’s what we concluded today when we saw Mr. Bloomberg join with SUNY Downstate Medical Center President John C. LaRosa at a press conference at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, where they announced Phase II of BioBAT, the biotechnical industry facility that NYC’s Economic Development Corporation and Downstate are developing together. Continue reading

Charter Commission Kick-off: Cheesecake and Undercurrents

First came the cheesecake: Brooklyn BP Marty Markowitz greeted the 2010 NYC Charter Revision Commission members at their first public meeting, at the NYC College of Technology in downtown Brooklyn, and gifted each one with Junior’s cheesecake.

Then commission chair Matthew Goldstein explained the purpose of the meeting to an audience of about 75, and invited his colleagues to introduce themselves. When the intros progressed across the crowded stage to commission member Carlo Scissura, Scissura leaned back and deferred to colleague Hope Cohen, who had been forced to sit behind him when the dais got too crowded for all 15 commission members. Goldstein, a mathematician by training, joked about this as being an example of “a packing problem.” It was not his last mathematical allusion. Our take: The commission’s March 3rd appointment date didn’t leave enough time to hire the staff members who could prepare for a public meeting scheduled only two weeks later. Continue reading

Mayor Finally Names 2010 Charter Revision Commission

Matthew Goldstein

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg finally named CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein to chair his 2010 charter revision commission. Along with Goldstein, the mayor’s press release identified 14 other commission members.

Two of them can be expected to be particularly sensitive to the interests of NYC’s community boards: Anthony Perez Cassino, an attorney who served as Chairman of Bronx Community Board 8 from 2004-2008, and Carlo Scissura, who currently serves as Chief of Staff to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Continue reading

Community Boards in the News: Feb. 5, 2010

The Daily News reports that Freshman Queens Councilman Dan Halloran (R-19CD) has let veteran members of Queens Community Boards 7 and 11 know their years of volunteer service won’t matter if recent attendance at board meetings is poor. “We need new blood,” Halloran said.

Spec News reports on Manhattan Board 7’s rejection of a sidewalk café permit renewal for Magnolia Bakery.

Queens Tribune reports on community board budget priorities eliminated from the mayor’s Executive Budget.

Manhattan Community Board 4 viewed as crucial to approval of proposed Hell’s Kitchen hotel and entertainment complex for the gay community.

The Manhattan Borough President’s office says school zoning issues are like other land use issues when considering community board members’ conflicts of interest.

Mcbrooklyn covers Marty Markowitz’s State of the Borough address; notes BP’s intent to strengthen community boards through charter revision.

Marty’s State of the Borough: Keep the Beeps!

One of our favorite bloggers, Faye Penn, was among the Brooklynites honored tonight by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz at his swearing-in by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and his State of the Borough address — as always, a spectacular tribute to Brooklyn’s diversity and achievement. Faye’s accomplishment? Her snappy new blog for savvy consumers, Brokelyn.com. (Full disclosure: Faye’s News Editor, Jonathan Berk, also serves as Associate Editor of CityPragmatist.com.)

Although Marty never quite said “it’s the economy, stupid,” his message was clear: Faye and the other stars on the stage at the Park Slope Armory are the reason that Brooklyn continues to grow and prosper. As to his own role, which is rumored to be threatened by an anticipated Bloomberg charter revision commission, Marty promised his audience that he will “demand charter changes to beef up the borough presidents, the Public Advocate, and the community boards.”

In Marty’s audience were the borough presidents of The Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, which, to this observer, implies that at least four of the city’s five beeps — and the Public Advocate — may be aligned in an effort to preserve and strengthen the voices of boroughs and neighborhoods in New York City.