September 22, 2025

My Official Statement + What Changed

In September of 2024, I was appointed to the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Vision Plan Task Force to represent my constituents in the Columbia Waterfront District and to fight for the future of our city. I took this responsibility seriously and worked closely with the community and fellow Task Force members to advocate for a plan that recognizes the urgent need to repair and modernize our last working waterfront.

Earlier versions of the EDC’s Vision Plan fell short. They failed to address essential community concerns—including port commitments, affordable housing, transportation, and governance for implementation. The process itself was poorly administered, with limited community engagement and many critical issues left unresolved. During this time, I continued to meet with constituents in public forums, my office, and on Zoom to ensure their concerns were voiced. As I’ve said before, I could not support the previous versions of the plan for these reasons. Still, I was proud to stand alongside peers who consistently pushed for greater transparency, specificity, and more beneficial outcomes, helping to shape a plan that is stronger and more responsive than where it began. 

Today, I’m encouraged to share that through continued collaboration with Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso, we have secured new, critical commitments that significantly improve the plan. These substantial improvements reflect our community’s priorities and deliver long-overdue investments, while also laying the foundation for stronger oversight and accountability. 

The Vision Plan is not a final proposal but a roadmap built on guiding principles to repair decades of divisive infrastructure, while expanding open space and access to the waterfront. It sets both the floor and ceiling: establishing minimum thresholds for affordable housing, caps on maximum total housing units, dedicated port space, significant community investments, and clear goals to reduce and alleviate truck traffic. 

Supporting the plan now does not mean ignoring outstanding demands. Transportation, resilience, and small business protections still need deeper study and action. Advancing the plan ensures those questions will be addressed through binding agreements and a transparent public process.

I have been critical of the EDC throughout this process, and I will continue to demand transparency, enforceable commitments, and investments that support the port, strengthen resilience, and meet the real needs of Columbia Waterfront residents most directly impacted.

Today, I will vote to advance the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Vision Plan into the State’s General Project Plan (GPP) process, where a new oversight body, Brooklyn Marine Terminal Development Corporation (BMTDC), will be formed for long-term accountability. As your Council Member, I will continue serving on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Advisory Task Force (BMTATF) to ensure the environmental review reflects our community’s concerns, and later, through the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Oversight Task Force (BMTOTF), to guarantee every commitment is delivered.

Key Additions Secured in the Revised BMT Vision Plan

Governance & Accountability

  • Binding guardrails to protect all negotiated community benefits.
  • No GPP approval without enforceable City and State contract language.
  • NYCEDC contracts must include clear remedies for nonperformance.
  • Accountability mechanisms will be developed in consultation with the community.
  • Addition of a representative of the Columbia Street Waterfront District to the BMT Advisory Task Force.

Affordable Housing

In June, we called for a majority of units to be affordable; the revised BMT Vision Plan commits to at minimum:

Key highlights:

  • On-site investments:
    • At least 2,400 (40%) out of 6,000 units onsite permanently affordable, averaging 60% AMI (10% at 40%, none above 100%).
    • At least 25% family-sized units (2–3 bedrooms).
    • 250 units reserved for NYCHA residents (Red Hook Houses, Gowanus Houses, Wyckoff Gardens), with rental subsidies.
    • Community preference: 20% of units reserved for CB6 residents in projects starting before 2029; 15% for projects after 2029.
  • Off-site investments:
    • $200M for Red Hook NYCHA, preserving ~575 affordable units.
    • $75M CB6 Affordable Fund (increased by $25M), supporting ~675 units via preservation and new construction.
    • $80M in City housing agency funds to prevent displacement and preserve affordability. 
  • Total impact
    •  Over 3,650 affordable units (2,400 onsite + 1,250 offsite).
    •  Ensuring a majority of the 7,250 total units created or preserved are affordable.

Transportation Commitments

  • EDC and MTA commit to study restoring the B71 bus after years of advocacy.
  • $50 million electric shuttle service connecting the site to nearby subway stations, doubling the previous funding commitment.
  • BMTDC will work with State and Federal agencies to effectively enforce truck and commercial vehicle route restrictions to reduce traffic and pollution.
  • DOT is currently reviewing bids under its new Traffic Safety Contract to install pedestrian signals at two locations near the Van Voorhees Playground on- and off-ramps. The new signals will feature leading pedestrian intervals to improve safety. Installation is expected to begin shortly.

Schools & Parks

  • $3 million for local school improvements.
  • $7 million for DiMattina Park, Van Voorhees Playground, and Carroll Park.

Port Use and Maritime Preservation

  • A Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) will be issued to explore opportunities for port developers, operators, and maritime users to expand activity on the site, without limiting port use to 60 acres if broader utilization is feasible.