Civic Association meets at the Rec Center, by Brian Abate

Despite the dog days of summer, an engaged crowd of 23 showed up for the Civic Association Meeting on July 17 at the Red Hook Recreation Center.

A vote was held on whether or not to have an August meeting, and the majority voted against it. Another vote was held regarding when the next meeting should take place and it was decided that the next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 6.

Matias Kalwill came up with a strategy to address issues that are important to the attendees. Once a specific issue is raised, there will be a research phase, followed by compiling a one-page input sheet to “try to build consensus around the topic.” After that, there will be a report on the issue.

Progress has also been made in regard to some of the key issues that the committees are focusing on. Dave Lutz provided an update on the Services Committee and said that after a call to 311, “additional trash cans are being returned to Van Brunt St.”

Additionally, a fact sheet was put together regarding the possibility of a bus route that would go directly from Red Hook to Manhattan.

“We know this is something that’s been talked about for a long time and we’re pushing for busses from Red Hook to Manhattan,” said Emmitt Mendoza-Gaspar, chief of staff for Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes.

The Infrastructure Committee continues to focus on safe streets, air quality, and E-warehouses. One of the key issues they’re looking at is the cruise ships that come to Red Hook and whether or not ships like the Queen Mary are plugging in and using shore power or if they are spewing fumes into the neighborhood.

“Regarding MSC Cruises, we’ve become used to seeing people on the cruises end up stuck in Red Hook, and we never should’ve had a ship that big here,” said Council Member Alexa Aviles.

Kristen Rouse, deputy director for Congress Member Dan Goldman also provided an update on the Red Hook Library, which is closed for renovations, saying “We’ve been communicating with New York Public Library [NYPL.] Their website now has a link for events planned in Red Hook.”

Upcoming events in August include a knitting group, improv camp for kids, story time with Crystal, teen tech support, Spanish as a second language, and more.

Unfortunately, the Carroll Gardens Library, which is the second closest one to Red Hook, closed for renovations on July 21. The library is expected to be closed for 18-24 months.

Before the meeting concluded, attendees had the opportunity to bring up new business. One of the topics raised was the return of spotted lanternflies, an invasive species that threatens agriculture here in NYC. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), adult spotted lanternflies begin to appear in July. One attendee mentioned the possibility of introducing praying mantises into the neighborhood because they eat spotted lanternflies. As of now, nothing so drastic is planned.

The next Civic Association meeting is scheduled for September 6, at the Rec Center at 6 p.m.