The
Red Hook StarªRevue SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
THROUGH NOV. 1, 2012
FREE
RHI unveils Stop & Frisk study
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by Drew Petrilli
hadijah Jones James says that “I’m not anti-police. I’m prounderstanding—pro-unity.” Such was the general rhetorical atmosphere at the Red Hook Initiative’s (RHI) recent presentation on the topic of the NYPD’s Stop and Frisk policy in the community. The presentation took place at 7:30 pm on October 15. Focusing more on community education vis-à-vis civil rights and Stop and Frisk procedure, the content of the presentation was decidedly not to bash the NYPD, specifically South Brooklyn 76th precinct, and instead to inform interested community members on how to share information and act appropriately to any sustained acts of harassment or brutality on the part of the 76th precinct’s shadier cops.
Captain Jack praised
James spoke highly of the 76th precinct’s former captain, John Lewis, citing his initiative to transport residents
of the Red Hook Houses, via van, to the 76th precinct building on Union Street for monthly community meetings. James believes that such initiatives break down the isolation between the residents at the Red Hook Houses and the police. Cops “need to have a relationship with the people they’re policing”, states Ms. James. More than anything, the presentation at 767 Hicks Street was about advocacy and community empowerment. Before any information was presented, the audience was first instructed to rise, look at someone whom they hadn’t met before, and introduce themselves one on one. This is not to say that the presentation was without what the RHI considers well-founded criticism (continued on page 5)
Holiday Wailing on Verona Street
GOWANUS TAKES A BIG STEP TOWARDS THE FUTURE
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by George Fiala
ithout a dedicated community, the character of a neighborhood can be lost. In Gowanus, a caring group of leaders is making sure this does not happen. By taking advantage of a state program, plans are currently being created that will preserve and expand the Gowanus legacy as an industrial force. The Gowanus Canal Corridor is an underutilized area lying between two highly gentrified neighborhoods, Park Slope and Carroll Gardens. Gowanus has defied gentrification because of both its geography and history. Industry moved there in the 19th century to take advantage of the transportation that the canal offered. In the 1950’s, shipping was replaced by truck transport. The decline of Amercan manufacturing left the area with a large swath of empty buildings. In addition, the toxic residue of industrial activity remained at the bottom of the canal, making the area undesirable and unsafe. What originally made Gowanus a boomtown eventually caused its decline. In 2003, NY State Department of Environmental Conservation created the Brownfield Opportunities Areas Program (BOA). The state offered local municipalities funding for the creation of revitalization plans and strategies of existing brownfields by using funds made available from the federal Superfund/Brownfield legislation. A brownfield is a former manufacturing area affected by environmental contamination. The Friends of Community Board 6 was formed in 2003 as an adjunct to Community Board 6 (CB6) to give assistance to an overworked and underfunded Zoning map for the Gowanus BOA district (shaded in community board. In 2005, they purple). C 2-4/R84, C 8-2 = Local Service Districts; filed an application to have the M1-2 = Light Manufacturing, High Performance; Gowanus corridor declared a M2-1 = Light Manufacturing, Medium Performance; BOA site. In 2011, approval was PARK = Parking; R6-B = General Residence District. (courtesy of Friends of CB6) granted and Friends received a $275,000 grant to prepare a strategic plan. Last November a Request For Proposals (RFP) went out soliciting a consultant to provide a planning and economic analysis report. The Friends chose Starr Whitehouse, a planning consultant firm that was involved in the BQE trench improvement study in 2010. On Monday, October 15th, Steve Whitehouse, president of the firm, gave a (continued on page 3)
Also in This Issue: Halloween Calendar Local Fishing page 4
page 10 new original crossword puzzle page 11
PLUS LOTS MORE!
Added Value Harvest Fest page 7