As the City Council representative for Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and the Columbia Waterfront, I am very pleased to report that New York City recently took two good (although long term) steps towards making these neighborhoods healthier, more sustainable, and better connected.

Reducing Truck Pollution at the Port

The City Council voted recently to pass a resolution that I sponsored in support of the federal "Clean Ports Act," introduced by Congressman Jerry Nadler. The bill would empower the country's ports to implement environmental solutions for truck pollution, and improve job quality for drivers.

Earlier this month, the Council heard from area residents who want to see a strong working waterfront, but also want better air quality--and that means phasing out older, dirty trucks that spew toxins and replacing them with new, cleaner trucks. We also heard from truck drivers who would like to drive cleaner vehicles, but who are improperly classified as independent contractors (despite the fact that they make less than $29,000 per year, and don't set their own schedules or routes), so
cannot afford to buy new trucks.

The Port of Los Angeles has pursued a pioneering "clean trucks" program that classifies port truck drivers as employees of the shipping companies, and then requires those (well-capitalized) companies to upgrade to cleaner vehicles (with some financial incentives). We want to see the Port Authority of NY & NJ put a similar program in place here. But the program is stymied in court, and federal legislation is needed to enable ports to put these programs in place.

Many organizations have been working on this important issue, and I look forward to continuing to work with them, with Congressman Nadler, the Port Authority and EDC toward making our ports the greenest and most productive on the East Coast.

"Fixing the Ditch" of the BQE along Hicks Street

The "ditch" created by the BQE along Hicks Street -- bought to us by Robert Moses -- divides Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and the Columbia Waterfront, brings noise and exhaust into the community, is dangerous to cross, and, well, is ugly.

So for the past few months, community members have been working with the NYC
Economic Development Corporation and a consultant (funded by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez) to envision creative solutions to make Hicks Street safer and more attractive, to reduce noise and pollution, and to create more connections across the trench.

At their final community workshop last Monday evening, and three concepts were
presented (which could be pursued individually, or together):

- Improving Hicks Street with traffic calming, new areas of open space (and possibly a cafe along one of the existing bridges), tree planting, and some noise dampening and greenery along the edge of the trench.

- Inserting a series of lightweight pedestrian and bicycle bridges at six different points across the highway to create new connections.

- Most ambitious (and expensive!), constructing a signature "green canopy" along the entire stretch, that would reduce noise and pollution, and generate solar energy.

Obviously, any of these ideas would cost a lot of money, and would take substantial
community commitment and likely quite-a-few years. But I believe that if there is enough passion and support among community residents, this can be more than a pipe dream.