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Council Member Alexa Aviles Asks Susan Povich About Economic Development Initiatives and Infrastructure in Red Hook
2:34:58
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4 min
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Council Member Alexa Aviles inquires about specific economic development actions and infrastructure improvements Susan Povich, of the Red Hook Business Alliance, hopes to see in Red Hook from the Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Povich outlines the loss of Formula E, a key economic event, and the dismal state of the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. She calls for robust action including signage and wayfinding improvements, Wi-Fi accessibility, and a comprehensive terminal renovation. Povich emphasizes the urgency for these changes to support local businesses and manage traffic congestion, highlighting the vital need for investment in the terminal and the community.
Speaker 2
2:34:58
In the guise of economic development.
2:35:02
Susan, could you could you talk a little bit about some of the things that you would like to concretely like to see the EDC actually do in in this realm.
Speaker 15
2:35:15
The Red Oak Business Alliance Okay.
2:35:18
Let me let me start back.
2:35:20
We had a very large event for a long time called Formula E, which was electric car race.
2:35:25
It was very difficult during that time for the tenants in the cruise port, like port side.
2:35:33
When I'm talking about formula e, I'm excluding the negative impact that that had on tenants in the terminal.
2:35:39
On tenants on on small businesses outside the terminal, it was one of the biggest months of the year for our business.
2:35:47
We regularly saw revenue increase 20% from the year before once Formula e started.
2:35:53
In order to expand cruising in Redhook, The city terminated its contract.
2:35:59
ADC terminated its contract with Formula E.
2:36:02
So we lost one of our biggest economic drivers.
2:36:06
In the aftermath of this, we toured the Brooklyn cruise terminal with the borough president, with SBS, with everybody, and people could not believe what a lackluster experience it is.
2:36:16
There's no food and beverage.
2:36:18
There's no maps.
2:36:18
There's no even mention of any businesses outside of Redhook.
2:36:22
A bunch of us went gorilla and put our own signs up on the fence.
2:36:26
We had no choice because there was no official way that we could get our businesses seen.
2:36:31
What we would like to start with is a thorough rehab of signage and way finding in the terminal.
2:36:38
This is a 1,000,000 of dollars investment.
2:36:40
First, we need to ensure that the Wi Fi is working because a lot of the cruise ship passengers have cell phones that are on on international networks.
2:36:50
So we have to get that up.
2:36:51
We need QR codes, and we need signs that say, welcome to Redhook.
2:36:56
You know, we have all these great opportunities for you.
2:36:59
Like, do you want key lime pie?
2:37:00
Do you want lobster?
2:37:01
Do you want great cocktails?
2:37:02
There's not a single passenger that enters into that terminal that's aware of it.
2:37:07
I would also like there I would like a mandate that the cruise companies need to include information about their embarkation and debarcation ports and what's available there.
2:37:20
If they come a night early, they can stay and and, you know, they can go out to sunnies and hear music.
2:37:25
They can go to and mario's and get pasta.
2:37:30
There are so many things to do.
2:37:31
There are so many cultural institutions in Redhook.
2:37:35
So we need a full renovation of the cruise terminal.
2:37:39
We've been talking about it for years.
2:37:40
I'm not hearing about anything till the end of 2024.
2:37:42
We are going to lose 5 to 6 more small businesses in Redhook this summer if the traffic congestion continues.
2:37:50
Word is out.
2:37:51
People are not coming.
2:37:53
So what I'm looking for is communication directly required with the cruise guests so they know what's available in the neighborhood.
2:38:00
We need an entire renovation of the terminal that not only shows local mapping for businesses, but provides people with interesting history, Portside with water stories has incredible amounts of knowledge, of of of graphics, of things that can teach people about Brooklyn.
2:38:18
So those are the 2 first things we need.
2:38:20
I mean, we also need traffic mitigation, which is keeping everyone else except the cruise passengers outside of Redhook.
2:38:27
But those are our 3 asks, traffic mitigation, direct contact with cruise customers, and a thorough renovation of the terminal.
2:38:34
That lets people know what's going on.
2:38:37
There was $15,000,000 that was supposed to be invested that has been taken away from us.
2:38:41
There has not been a single dime invested in that terminal since it was built except for the shore power.
2:38:46
It is embarrassing.
2:38:47
And I do think that, frankly, I can't believe current mayor and the current bureau president haven't at least tried to get Marty Markowitz off the wall.
2:38:53
I'm wondering where's Marty?
2:38:55
I should send him down there.
2:38:56
He's a very nice guy.
Speaker 1
2:38:57
Sure.
2:38:57
You can respond.