Commentary – The Flux of CB 6, by Mark Shames

There have been significant changes at the top of the Brooklyn Community Board 6 (CB6) hierarchy. Our Carroll Gardens’ friend and neighbor Gary Reilly, former Chairperson of CB6, has started a new domestic adventure with his wife and children in a home of their own with a backyard near Mount Kisco, New York. My guess is that even Gary would acknowledge that the 10549 zip code lacks the appeal of 11231. But now that Mount Kisco has Gary and his camera-ready family, they are clearly coming up in the world.

We are fortunate that there are many community conscious and talented people left behind in Community Board 6 to pick up the mantle of leadership. Our First Vice Chairman, Sayar Lonial, automatically ascended to the chairmanship. He then recommended a new appointee to fill his seat on the Executive Committee. In contrast to the United States Senate, the Executive Committee of CB6 unanimously accepted his nominee. Michael Racioppo now fills that position.

Both Lonial and Racioppo have a substantial background in community affairs. They both seem to have the wisdom and strength to advance the interests of our community, as it integrates itself with the broader needs of the City.

There are always plenty of issues for the community to confront. I don’t know about the other board members – but even with my strong convictions – I take comfort in the fact that what we say is strictly advisory. Those who have been elected by the people are the ones who get to decide; that’s how it should be.

There are many issues on the horizon including: multiple rezoning questions; serious environmental and neighborhood impacts from the Superfund clean-up at the Gowanus Canal; transportation tensions between motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and mass transit users when it comes to sharing roadways; allocating budgetary funds; and resiliency concerns as a coastal and estuary area facing sea level rise. There will continue to be the occasional uproar over a liquor license and backyard extensions for buildings in one of our historic districts.

On the local political front, we have had a resignation by our female Democratic District Leader Paige Bellenbaum. When she first expressed an interest in this unpaid position, I pointed out to her how few women with young children took on such a role. I thought that having a young parent’s perspective would be a positive for the party. I was wrong in this particular instance but I still think it would be beneficial to the party. From what I am told, the stress and expense on the family caused her to relinquish the role.

On the recommendations of Assemblywoman JoAnne Simon and Male District Leader Josh Skaller, Ann Swern, a former first assistant DA in Joe Hynes office, will be slotted into Paige’s position.

While she is an accomplished person her appointment has the feel of a throwback to old-fashioned backroom politics with the choice coming after scant conversation and consultation.

Such is the illusion of reform in politics, even in this “good government” part of Brooklyn that I have come to know all too well. I prefer the relative directness of the acknowledged “regulars” and the use of power for progressive ends of the Working Families Party to this syncopated quick step that catches the eye, but is so superficial it simply drifts harmlessly away.

After we each take a moment to quietly contemplate the ever flexible and degraded meaning of the word reform, let us turn to the tidal wave of corruption flooding the capitol grounds where the Hudson meets the Mohawk. This hub of insider activity that provides enough material for a multi-season crime drama perhaps “Law and Order – Albany”, has again spurred the legislature into mustering the outrage necessary to propose the most modest of reforms.

They take a dive when it comes to the enactment of term limits, public financing, and higher pay coupled with a ban on outside income. Those reforms together with longer terms that would give space to weather difficult governance decisions could lead to positive change. Such reforms would bring new voices, and perspectives while tamping down opportunities for corruption.

Alas, they are not on the table, so let’s see if even the inadequate proposals being discussed make it into law.