Warm turnout on chilly evening for the Civic Association, by George Fiala

The thermometer read 11 degrees at 7:05 pm, when the January meeting of the Red Hook Civic Association began in the PS 15 auditorium.

A rather large crowd came to hear Gordon Jackson of CORE talk about the new homeless shelter that suddenly took over the Look Hotel on Seabring Street last December. As of the 30^th, there were 148 residents at the former hotel. Five case managers and 8-9 security guards are on premises. A major task of the shelter, run by the Department of Social Services, is to find work and permanent housing for the men.

The floor was quickly opened up to questions, the first two by Jim Tampakas and his wife Michelle, who both operate businesses over on neighboring Richards Street.

“How long will the shelter remain in Red Hook,” was Jim’s first question. Jackson said that it was a temporary situation, but he didn’t have a clear answer as to how long that would be.

Another complaint was of men wandering the streets at all hours drinking, smoking and urinating. Jackson reminded everyone of what he said at the original meeting on the shelter last December at PS 676, mainly, that there is a 10 pm curfew for most of the residents.

He didn’t really answer the question of the above-named after hour activities, but Megan O’Malley, commanding officer of the 76^th precinct, chimed in, saying that there hasn’t been much complaining about this directed to the 76^th. She told the audience that rather than just taking photos of itinerants and garbage, pick up the phone and call 911 and an officer from her precinct will be sent over. She said that’s what the NCO officers are for, and they are on duty 24/7.  The complainants can remain anonymous.

Even after this, a resident complained of finding empty half-pint bottles of booze in the planters around his house, among other indignities. Mary Kyle complained of Red Hook being stuck with homeless shelters, and high priced rehab facilities (she operates a liquor store in close proximity to on of those).

Jackson fielded all the questions with patience and tact, until he finally got a question that he obviously relished.

“How can we be good neighbors?” asked a gentleman in the back row. Jackson, who ones worked with long time Red Hooker Leroy Branch, said to “treat clients with dignity. Be transparent and direct.” He said that if somebody was disrespecting the neighborhood, they should be told the right way to do things. He told the auditorium audience not to pre-supposed who the homeless are. “We have PhD’s, we have people who have earned over $100,000 per year, who get in a hole.”

He said to be courteous and to make them feel part of the community, and they will in turn respect our neighborhood.

McGettrick had the final word on the subject, suggesting a collaboration with the Justice Center.

Jackson was invited back to the March Civic Association meeting for a further update.

Jo Goldberg of BASIS International said that she has been in talks with the developers of the two warehouses close to the school and was encouraged by the communications.

Renae Widdison, who normally handles land issues for Councilman Menchaca, came to talk about Participatory Budgeting. She said that the elections will be in April, and that there are ballot measures for two of the local schools.

Jenny Witherall, who has a child in PS 15, came to speak for the school. She urges everyone to vote for two items – new Astroturf and electric outlets in the schoolyard. The outlets would eliminate the need for lengthy extension cords for some of the neighborhood events held in the field.

Robert Berrios, who sits on the dais at these meetings, had some potentially good news regarding neighborhood transportation. He said that the MTA is actively considering a revival of the B 71, which would provide service directly to lower Manhattan. He passed out some MTA surveys which he encouraged everyone to fill out and give back to him. The more surveys the MTA gets the better the chance of getting the bus. To get a copy of one, write Robert at [email protected]

A Civic Association meeting would not be complete without a bashing of the BQX plan. That’s the real-estate developer funded plan to put a fancy trolley car service alongside the Brooklyn/Queens waterfront. McGettrick said that it would be great to get 3,000 signatures in favor of the B71, and that it would be equally wonderful to submit 3,000 signatures against the wasteful and intrusive trolley.