Marty Talks Development, Etc.
While Borough President Marty Markowitz’s entrance last night for his State of the Borough address is likely to be the most discussed aspect of the shebang, Brooklyn the Borough has reprinted his speech in full, and here are a few parts of it that stand out: -“Fourth Avenue, which runs from Downtown Brooklyn to Bay…
While Borough President Marty Markowitz’s entrance last night for his State of the Borough address is likely to be the most discussed aspect of the shebang, Brooklyn the Borough has reprinted his speech in full, and here are a few parts of it that stand out:
-“Fourth Avenue, which runs from Downtown Brooklyn to Bay Ridge, remains under-utilized…I have been promoting the transformation of the street into a livable, walkable, tree-lined avenue that I have dubbed ‘Brooklyn Boulevard.’ We’re just about to kick off the first in what will be many steps toward that goal by refurbishing the 4th Avenue-9th Street subway station and the surrounding streetscape.”
-“For many years, we’ve been talking about improving the Gowanus Expressway, and it’s time to act!” [More details, please!]
-“…I’m setting aside over one million dollars in capital funds and working with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and its president, Seth Pinsky, to develop a ‘business incubator’ in one of Brooklyn’s economically challenged areas.”
-“Beginning in the fall of 2012, the Barclays Center will not only be the home of the Brooklyn Nets…But it’s not just about the arena; the affordable housing built nearby will help make sure that Brooklyn remains proud home to everyone from everywhere.” [AY report has a bit to say on this.]
-“I’ve supported a $15 million streetscape project for Fulton Mall that includes repairing sidewalks, adding new public seating and repaving roads, because I believe we can once again make it New York City’s most prized shopping district, an eclectic and dynamic commercial strip that reflects the diversity of Brooklyn.”
-“Across from Borough Hall, we have a dream for the Municipal Building at 210 Joralemon Street. The building’s ground floor will soon be available for retail, and I know what store would truly be the ‘apple’ of my eye.” [Yes, let this happen so we can stop blogging “Apple-is-coming rumors”!]
Click through for quotes on Williamsburg and Coney development, bicycling, and Prospect Park.
– “For example, 2010 was the year that ‘Domi-no’ became ‘Domi-yes.’ The classic Domino Sugar refinery in Williamsburg is being converted to residential use…Also in Williamsburg, I am supporting creation of the Northside Town Hall and Community Center in a former firehouse. For their hard work in helping to make this happen, I want to congratulate Neighbors Allied for Good Growth and the People’s Firehouse. As a proud native of Crown Heights, I was excited to broker a deal between the city and private developers to make sure Tivoli Towers was not removed from the Mitchell-Lama program…One of the largest capital projects in public housing history is about to happen in Brooklyn: the re-visioning of Prospect Plaza in Ocean Hill-Brownsville. I was able to take the lead in making sure that the plans centered around maintaining permanent affordability.”
-“And we’re thrilled that the Shore Theater, which we hope will open soon, has just received landmark status…And of course, in a few short years the beautiful new amphitheatre at Asser Levy Park will ensure that there will always be music at Coney Island.”
-“As I’m sure you noticed, I made my entrance tonight on what I like to my senior cycle, so I hope you understand that I am not against bicycles. I’m not even against bike lanes. I’ve supported their creation around Brooklyn, including 9th street near Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Greenway that runs from Greenpoint to Sunset Park. But for the majority of New Yorkers, it is simply not feasible to make bicycles their primary mode of transport, and unfortunately that’s the direction I believe the City’s policy is heading. They are trying to stigmatize car owners and get them to abandon their cars, when the fact is, even many bicyclists also own cars!” [?]
-“Tupper is leaving a gift for all of Brooklyn: the Lakeside Project at Prospect Park. When it is finished, it will include two new skating rinks, the renovation of 26 acres of parkland and the restoration of five acres to the lake.”
-“Tonight, I have a message for developers: we need to build more affordable housing and assisted living facilities for seniors. And let’s also build housing for adults who are 55 and over, so that nobody has to move to New Jersey to live an active lifestyle. Because today’s seniors, and ‘seniors-to-be,’ are active.”
Don’t have a sh*t fit tybur6; I said his running for mayor was unlikely and succeeding even less so, but yeah, I’d vote for Marty. OTOH I think that John Lindsey was the greatest mayor in my lifetime, so I just might be a bit out of step 🙂
For MAYOR!?! Are you farking out of your mind!? Borough booster, OK. Chief Executive of the largest city in the United States?!
You would put MARTY MARKOWITZ at the helm of a city with a GDP equal to the entire country of Australia?!
Marty Markowitz?! You’ve got to be joking.
designerbiker,
Loosing your vote doesn’t much matter. AFAIK Marty is term limited out of running for BP again.I LIKE Marty (even though I disagree with him over some important issues, most notably Atlantic Yards). I’d vote for him for mayor, but I doubt that’s in the cards.
Marty is an OK guy, and a good cheerleader for Brooklyn who has done some good over the years, but he is way off base when it comes to the future of transportation in Brooklyn. We need more bike lanes, especially protected bike lanes. This does not come at the expense of drivers. Bike lanes do not cause more traffic jams, but they do reduce all types of accidents. He is living in the past, he has lost my vote in the next election.
He shows up to the Brooklyn College commencement every year… to give the SAME speech… which is bereft of anything of substance and involves him shouting at the audience for 15 or 20 mins. Not to mention being somehow offensive or patronizing in his tone/words.
Markowitz is a clown.
He has the silly bike, now all he needs is a red nose and a rainbow wig. Maybe an oversized bike horn. Entering the second decade of the 21st Century, his huckster nostalgia routine undermines the transformations taking place in the Borough.
Whenever I see him, bumbling about with over-sized portions of various ethnic comfort foods in his hands, the “Welcome Back Kotter” Theme song plays in my head. Don’t get me wrong, a great tune by all accounts, just outdated.
Just like Marty.
I’m not sure the Brooklyn Paper article is correct; didn’t Markowitz arrive on a trike? (That sounds like I am trying to belittle the man, who doesn’t need my help in this regard, but is actually a straight-forward question of fact.)
Does he realize that the major refurbishment of 4th and 9th was nixed for lack of funds? It’s getting some upgrades that are needed but that huge makeover that was unveiled back in 07 won’t be happening.
ha ha ha arriving on a bike