Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez with teacher Maria Diaz and students at P.S. 24, photo by William Alatriste

Local Politics–Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez keeps busy:

*Councilwoman Sara M. González last week joined Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and others at P.S. 24 on 38th Street for the official launch of ‘Respect For All Week’, a citywide program to address bullying, harassment and discrimination in New York City Schools. “We will be instilling a most valuable life lesson to children at a young age, that bullying, harassment and discrimination are not acceptable in today’s society,” said Councilwoman González in a press release.

*On March 12, the councilwoman took part in a panel discussion chaired by Senator Velmanette Montgomery as part of an emergency meeting at Borough Hall in Brooklyn to address the slated closures of day cares and Head Start programs throughout the city.  DC 1707, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators and the Day Care Council called the meeting in response to the threatened cuts.

*Friday was supposed to be the final voyage, but the Rockaway Ferry will forge on, NY1 reported. A last minute deal brokered between the City Council, including Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez, and the mayor’s office will extend the ferry service until July, including its service to the Brooklyn waterfront.

In State News:

*Congressman Felix Ortiz raised the ire of many local restaurateurs when he proposed a bill to ban salt, yes that is the use of all salt, in New York restaurant. Ortiz advocates the ban as a way to address health issues such as hypertension that have skyrocketed in recent years. But you can imagine how fans of salami, pastrami, French fries, salt cod, soy sauce and, well, most dishes with flavor felt about the Sunset Park Democrat’s plan. Tom Colicchio, star of “Top Chef” and owner of Craft restaurant, served as token foodie in the Daily News coverage. “New York City is considered the restaurant capital of the world,” he said. “If they banned salt, nobody would come here anymore.”

After much tomato-tossing, Ortiz last week he backed down from the ban, the YourNabe reported. It seems, in the long run, good for Sunset Park’s many eateries. The tears of the Top Chef crowd might not tug on any heartstrings in Sunset Park, but the end of savory banh mi and chorizo-laden pambazos is another story.

*Congresswoman Yvette Clark joined with two other House Democrats in to oppose the reduction in the number of station agents in New York City subways, Gothamist reported. Clark is the Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology. The letter to MTA chairman Jay Walder implied the reduction could have serious consequences: “We strongly urge you to re-evaluate the current plans” and not, potentially, “compromise” subways, they wrote. You can read more at the NY Times.

Sunset Park Chronicled is overdue for a news update. Below are a couple of links to the latest news about Sunset Park, but it’s just a teaser. Stay tuned for more in the next few days:

*There has been talk for a while about the 14-mile Green way slated to connect Greenpoint to Sunset Park. The Department of Transportation this week announced that it will hold community workshops in conjunction with the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and the Regional Planning Association to educate the neighborhoods about the bike and pedestrian path. Sunset Park gets its own, which will take place Thursday, April 8 at 6:30pm at St. Michael R.C. Church on Fourth Avenue and 42nd Street.

*Images of the Sunset Park waterfront featured in a show in February called Gentrification: The Pink Elephant Speaks, a recent art exhibit at The Museum of African Diasporan Art. You an read about the show at the Indypendent, and others that capture the lesser known sites in New York City.

*The New York Times took a tour around Sunset Park. Anything you didn’t know? Anything left out?

Neighbors Helping Neighbors sent over this notice to say they seek new board members. For those interested in housing and looking for an opportunity to get involved in the neighborhood, this could be a good fit:

Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a 19-year old housing advocacy organization based in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, is seeking new board members.  We provide homeownership and foreclosure counseling and direct tenant advocacy to low- and moderate-income clients in Sunset Park and throughout Brooklyn.  We have a dynamic, committed staff and an active and engaged board of directors. A commitment to our mission is essential; being a Sunset Park resident and/or experience in housing and tenant advocacy, finance, fundraising or strategic planning are helpful. Essentially, board commitment involves ~5 hours a month and currently encompasses questions of program, strategic planning, fundraising, and staff and executive administration. Candidates must reside or be employed in Brooklyn. For more information, please contact Elizabeth at eln212@gmail.com.  Visit www.nhnhome.org to learn more about the organization.