Editorial: Our Red Hook Thanks & Hopes

Thanksgiving is the holiday of thankfulness. This year the Star-Revue will acknowledge some things that it feels our communities might be thankful for, and at the same time we mention things that we are hopeful might happen next year. We invite readers to send us their own list which we will publish next issue. Simply add your comments.

1. We are thankful for another year of non-disastrous weather. We hope to be able to say that same thing next year.

2. We are thankful for the new law that restricts vehicles to a 25 mph speed limit throughout the neighborhood. We hope that the limit will be enforced.

3. We are thankful that the Van Brunt and Degraw Street constructions in the Columbia Waterfront District are finally completed. We hope that any future road construction is done faster.

4. We are thankful that both IKEA and Fairway continue to be good neighbors and community partners. We are hopeful that other major Red Hook players will follow that lead.

5. We are thankful that Bait and Tackle has been able to continue on at Pioneer Street. We are hopeful that their building will be purchased by someone who sees the importance of reasonable commercial rents.

6. We are thankful for the slow upgrading of businesses on Lorraine Street. We are hopeful that the Fine Fair will be reopened as something the community needs.

7. We are thankful for the slow and steady progress of the EPA in their cleanup plan for the Gowanus. We are hopeful that NYC will begin cooperating with the cleanup plan in a more expeditious way.

8. We are thankful for Karen Broughton’s continuing community work which she brings to her position with Assemblyman Felix Ortiz. We are hopeful that newly elected Assemblywoman Jo Ann Simon hires someone to do the same for Carroll Gardens.

9. We are thankful for the accumulated local wisdom that Craig Hammerman and Leroy Branch bring to Community Board 6. We are hopeful that they continue on for many years to come.

10. We are thankful for the addition of the new restaurant Kao Soy to the burgeoning Red Hook restaurant strip that includes their neighbors Kevin’s and the Grindhaus. We hope that all three continue to thrive in 2015.

11. We are thankful for all the programs that Pioneer Works has been producing in the neighborhood. We are hopeful to have some time to check them out for ourselves next year.

12. We are thankful that the Containerport and Cruise Terminal have survived for another year, maintaining some maritime work and resisting pressure from real estate developers. We are hopeful that our local politicians move from giving more than lip service to a working waterfront and actually do something to help move that concept along.

13. We are thankful that we can still see a lot of sky throughout Red Hook. We are hopeful that developers such as Estate 4 consult with us before they begin encroaching upon our horizons.

14. We are thankful for the continuing local work on behalf of NY Rising. We are hopeful that their plans begin seeing the light of day soon.

15. We are thankful for the sense of community that inhabits our commercial strip. We are hopeful that all our home grown entrepreneurs who are here because they love it here will never be replaced by people who are here just for the cash.

16. We are thankful that Greg O’Connell has been able to see the seeds that he planted in the community over twenty years ago begin to blossom. We are hopeful to see him around more next year.

17. We are thankful that in this day of virtual, people still pick up, hold and even read our paper product. We are hopeful that we can publish even more pages next year.

18. We are thankful that the Red Hook Library has been able to open again on Saturdays. We are hoping that next year they start expanding their book collection.

19. We are thankful that Carlos Menchaca has had a great freshman year in the City Council. We are hoping for an even better sophomore year.