Editorial: Breaking the chains of corporate interests

Speaking truth to power can involve a personal sacrifice. Getting into a position where power will listen is a big achievement. It takes courage to risk that position if the truth is not what the powers that be desire.

Carlos Menchaca, our City Councilman, did just that the other week. He used the power vested in his position to refuse the NYC Economic Development Corporation’s (EDC) request to control a pier in Sunset Park. By standing up to EDC, – and for the community – Menchaca put himself in a position contrary to the mayor’s office.

EDC’s function is to attract business to New York. They are a city agency, but operate outside normal city oversight. They claim that to properly manage city properties, they need the flexibility of a private development company to quickly grant leases.

The deals EDC cuts as they do the city’s business are not always in the best interests of local residents. For example, there have been many local complaints about EDC’s management of the Atlantic Basin. Theyhave not acted on Red Hook’s desire for ferry service to Governor’s Island. They reneged on a promise to berth the Mary Whelan there.

Their staff is not representative of the local community. EDC President Kyle Kimball, comes from the world of investment banking.

What EDC asks for is to act like a private development company. These companies act in the best financial interests of private property. But EDC manages public property. The role of government is to steward the land of the people for the best interests of all the people.

Councilman Menchaca position gives him authority over EDC’s request for full control of the development of South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Menchaca represents the largely blue collar population of Sunset Park and Red Hook, and he asked reasonable questions about local hiring and maintaing a balance between public and private uses of the Terminal. He was not satisfied with EDC’s answers and so did not immediately grant their request.

It is obvious that EDC is not used to opposition. Their response was to say that Menchaca doesn’t know what he is talking about and, as reported in the NY Daily News, “walked away from the table.”

Menchaca simply wants to do the job he was elected to do, which is to advocate for the community. In this case, he bravely stood alone against an entrenched and powerful city agency.

Menchaca was elected along with the mayor as a “new progressive.” While these words may have been simply a strategy for some politicians to gain power, it looks like Menchaca is taking his mandate seriously; he is working hard to change things for the betterment of his constituents

Our councilman is modest, but what he just did was truly iconoclastic. We applaud him for that.

Red Hook Containerport
If our speculation is correct, the Red Hook Containerport will not have their lease renewed in 2019. The prospect of suddenly vacant prime Brooklyn waterfront brings the possibility of multiple scenarios.

A huge line of interests, led by luxury condo real estate developers, will be interested in the property. Others include advocates for affordable housing, open space, entertainment venues and industry.

One only has to look at the controversies that have surrounded Brooklyn Bridge Park over the years to get an idea of the battles ahead.
Councilman Brad Lander has had his hands full dealing with these interests in Gowanus. He has been walking a fine line between industry, parks, historical preservationists and real estate interests.

The final story is not yet written, although the face of Carroll Gardens is already changed forever as the Lightstone project begins to rise alongside the Gowanus Canal.

Our guess is that dealing with the future of Gowanus will be child’s play compared to the future of the Columbia Waterfront District’s shoreline, if and when the Containerport exits.