By Jack Delaney

Little detail given to environmental committee members – worries Newtown Creek advocates

At a meeting last week, community leaders raised a flurry of questions about the EPA’s proposal for cleaning up the East Branch of Newtown Creek. Members of the Community Board No. 1 Environmental Protection Committee met at Swinging Sixties Senior Center in North Williamsburg on September 30 to draft a comment to submit to the EPA as part of the plan’s public review period, which was recently extended. While the committee was enthusiastic that work might begin as soon as next year, those present voiced two main concerns: frustration over a lack of details around technical aspects of the proposal, and a desire for more community input going forward.

Efforts to clean the 3.8-mile Newtown Creek are relatively recent, given its long history of pollution. It was a hotspot for heavy industry during the 19th century, housing over 50 factories and processing plants along its banks. In 1856, the city began dumping raw sewage into the estuary, and contamination worsened as commercial boat traffic steadily increased, reaching a fever pitch with World War II.

Prefer Action Over Waiting

The waterway was named a Superfund site in 2010, and plans for remediation began in 2011. The Record of Decision, which is the final stage before full-scale work on the creek can

proceed, was originally due to be completed by 2023, but was later pushed to 2028. The proposal up for debate on Monday was an early action plan for the East Branch, one of Newtown Creek’s five tributaries. While limited in scope, members of the Environmental Protection Committee praised the concept of beginning now, rather than waiting for a plan encompassing the entire creek. “That part is kind of exciting,” said board member Katie D. Horowitz. “That there could actually be something started in 6 months to clean up.” Board chair Stephen Chesler agreed. “This could act as a study for treating the rest of the creek. That’s one of the key things here.”

The East Branch proposal outlines several possible approaches, ranging from no action to a $500 million, 7-year plan to dredge the entire tributary. The EPA’s preferred alternative is a compromise of dredging deep enough to place a cap over the sediment, a $250 million, 3-year improvement. But at Swinging Sixties, the consensus was that the EPA’s presentation of this option at a public meeting on September 18 had left much to be desired. “You walked out of the meeting, and you don’t really know what’s going to happen,” said committee member Christine Holowacz.

This Description Is A Red Flag

In drafting the public comment, the EPC Committee honed in on several specifications they believed had been omitted. “By now, [the EPA] should be able to at least discuss the composition of the cap,” member Laura Hofmann remarked. For his part, Chesler wanted to know more about why the proposed bulkheads were only temporary. “This description is a red flag for me,” he said, pointing to a bullet point on the projector screen. “I asked this at the [September 18] meeting — what’s the permanent solution, then?”

Yet another debate erupted over the plan’s decision to add six inches of biota, a layer of living organisms reintroduced after dredging, rather than the state standard of two feet. Zooming out, Horowitz called for a clearer sense of how the EPA will monitor results after implementation.

Boats on creek?

The three members also on the Newtown Creek Community Advisory Group (CAG) — Chesler, Holowacz, and Hofmann —were just as focused on the issue of navigability. If the East Branch were designated for commercial use by boats, the plan would need deeper dredging, and discussions about replacing nearby structures such as the aging Grand St. Bridge would have to accommodate this status. Chesler worried about what he saw as a disconnect between governmental agencies involved in the cleanup. The Army Corps of Engineers released a report in January 2024 designating the East Branch as non-navigable, he noted, but the city was continuing with discussions of a movable bridge, under the assumption that it would be navigable. Was the EPA taking this into account? “We should wait for the bridge design,” he said, “because that would change the game.” “If you have to dredge navigable water,” seconded Hofmann, “forget it.” 

Amidst all the minutiae, the main point everyone on the committee agreed upon was that active dialogue with the public should continue. “We just need to make sure that this is a robust plan that will give us what we need,” said Holowacz.

The EPA will accept written comments on the Proposed Plan during the public comment period, which now ends on October 28. Written comments should be addressed to Caroline Kwan,

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor New York, NY 10007.

 By James Sienkievic

On Thursday, Oct. 3, the Institute for Community Living (ICL) hosted a Children and Family Resource Fair at the East New York Health HUB. Tucked away in a room off the courtyard in the back of the sprawling three-story community HUB building, the event was an exciting opportunity to introduce the ICL and its partners—including the Food Bank for New York City, the Community Healthcare Network, VNS Health, HealthFirst, and Black Veterans for Social Justice—to families in the area and provide support on a range of issues. Booths lined the walls while games and balloons were arranged around the room, and children played Connect Four on small tables on the floor.

After serving for 15 years …. struggled for years to get proper help from the VA

The fair was an opportunity for the ICL to introduce itself to a wider segment of the community and showcase its wide range of resources to the East New York community, including activities for kids, expert advice on parenting, mental health, substance use disorders, as well as opportunities to win exciting prizes and giveaways.

Natalie Primus, a former Air Force and Marine Corps service member, attended the event that morning after being invited by an ICL veterans outreach member. After serving for 15 years and being medically retired due to an injury, she had struggled for years to get proper help from the VA. She was there that morning hoping to hear about different resources available to her and her child that she may not have known about.

“Sometimes you need to hear about all the other programs that are available to you. Sometimes when one person doesn’t have it, another person may be able to provide that information. So that’s one of the things I hope to get from today.”

Built in 2018, the East New York Health HUB is part of ICL’s approach to what they call a whole health approach to wellness. The site provides comprehensive, integrated services to address a full range of primary health and behavioral health needs, as well as children and family, employment, housing, mental health, and veteran services. Across the three floors, various departments specialize in addressing the specific needs of the community.

Toni Kimpson, a social worker with the ICL, says that some of the most pressing issues lately have been housing and helping people deal with stigma regarding mental health and substance abuse.

The HUB has helped her get through some of the roughest times of her life

“We’re just trying to really educate the community about what mental illness is, what it can look like. It touches all of us, and we need to support each other with where we can go for help and make sure people know where those resources are.”

Martha Salgado shared how the HUB has helped her get through some of the roughest times of her life. The daughter of Chilean immigrants, she had worked steadily in the banking industry for over 25 years before she suddenly lost everything. The ICL became her lifeline and helped her get her life back on track. As a foster mother of three who has cared for more than 20 children, Martha has found the support provided to her by the HUB invaluable. They assisted her with Medicaid, helped resolve human resources issues, and provided essential food bank access. “Their food bank is amazing,” she said.

The Children and Family Resource Fair highlighted the vital role that organizations like the Institute for Community Living (ICL) play across New York City and the nation. As the nation continues to grapple with mental health and substance abuse issues, stories like Natalie’s and Martha’s shine a spotlight on the hard work and dedication of ICL staff in supporting their communities. Resources are plentiful for those in need, and organizations like the ICL assist individuals in accessing them every day.

By Eloise Goldsmith

Mayor Eric Adams and other New York City officials celebrated the launch of the Delaware Aqueduct bypass tunnel, the final phase of a $2 billion project to repair the city’s water supply system at a Sept. 30 press conference in Corona, but the event was overshadowed by a federal indictment against Adams that was unveiled last week.

After Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala fielded questions about the restoration project, Adams reiterated that he intends to stay on as Mayor despite his legal troubles. Charges detailed by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York in the indictment include bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy.

When asked about whether he’s spoken with New York Governor Kathy Hochul about her ability to remove him from office, Adams said he has spoken with her “several times” but that the conversations were private.

“I never go into private conversations, that’s why people enjoy having conversations with me,” he said. When asked whether Hochul has told him she’s going to ask for his resignation he said no.

The state’s constitutions and powers she has through the New York City Charter give Hochul the ability to remove the mayor. Hochul, a political ally of Adams, has intimated that New Yorkers’ confidence in the mayor is on shaky ground.

Earlier in the press conference, Adams called this phase of the project a “great achievement we should all be proud of.” In the 1990s, the city discovered leaks below the Hudson River that were impacting the Delaware Aqueduct, which supplies roughly half of New York’s running water.

In 2010, the city announced a project to construct a bypass that would allow for repairs. During the repairs, part of the Delaware Aqueduct will shut down and water will be re-routed through the Delaware Aqueduct bypass, a 2.5-mile long tunnel. Repairs are expected to take place over eight months.

“We have the best water in the country,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. Our system was built in the 1800s. The water is cleaned by gravity and nature, and it allows New Yorkers to enjoy a billion gallons of water every day. Its only flaw is that it has a small leak,” she added.

While the bypass is in use, the city will draw less water from Catskill-Delaware watershed and another watershed, the Croton, will cover the shortfall.

Aggarwala said that the city has planned for “every scenario” in the event that something goes wrong. “Worse comes to worst,” city officials have the ability to reconnect to the existing aqueduct without too much trouble though it would cost time and money to do so.

Aggarwala also gave a shout out to Paul Rush, DEP’s Deputy Commissioner for Water Supply, who he called New York City’s “chief mixologist”  because his job is to “determine which reservoirs we’re going to draw from and create a blend of that water that maximizes taste and safety and reliability.”

New Yorkers may notice that their water over the next few months tastes slightly different, said Aggarwala, who said the variations are due to harmless mineral differences between the water drawn from different reservoirs.

Adams drank a glass of “sample” tap water during the press conference and said he couldn’t taste the difference. “You’re not going to be able to detect it,” he said.

By Olivia Graffeo | olivia@queensledger.com

The People’s Firehouse, Inc. of Greenpoint and Williamsburg has been advocating for their community for nearly 50 years. When New York City faced a massive budget crisis in the 1970s, firehouses in all five boroughs were vulnerable to sweeping cuts. The People’s Firehouse was one of many organizations that fought back. 

Now a non-profit focused on restoring and helping the community of Greenpoint-Williamsburg, The People’s Firehouse performs a myriad of services. A pillar of the organization focuses on anti-arson work  and fire prevention education in hopes of reducing the number of fires in the area; the dangers associated with e-bikes and their highly flammable batteries are the newest opponent to fire safety, having caused deaths and injuries throughout the city. In addition to the more traditional firehouse services, The People’s Firehouse participates in building restoration and the tenant rights movement. By owning and restoring buildings in the area, the organization provides affordable housing to vulnerable individuals such as seniors. Tenants and smaller landlords can come to The People’s Firehouse if they are in need of help, and there is always an ear open to them there. 

Originally called Engine 212, The People’s Firehouse was always a staple of its community. The three-story structure gave neighborhood residents a much-needed sense of safety during a time when house fire deaths were dramatically on the rise in New York City. Despite this gruesome trend, the decision was made to make cuts to fire protection all over the city. Engine 212 was officially chosen for closure in the fall of 1975, although rumors of firehouse budget cuts had been circulating for months. The community in which the firehouse resided was caught unaware when the day finally came, perhaps due to the logistics of the city’s plan. While residents of the neighborhood enjoyed Thanksgiving weekend with their families, the city was scheduled to seize Engine 212’s fire truck and shutter the building early that Saturday morning. 

Within hours of receiving the news, the neighborhood came out in droves to protest the closing of their beloved firehouse. Hundreds of people rushed to the building, assisted by community leaders and advocates who worked quickly to organize the demonstration as best they could. With the city expected to arrive the next morning, many residents decided to bunk within the firehouse, creating a physical barrier between the fire truck and those who sought to seize it.  

While many communities rallied around the firehouses that were slated to close in the mid-70s, none were as stalwart and dedicated as those in Greenpoint-Williamsburg. Protests of the city’s fire protection budget cuts were common, but they often died down or were snuffed out. The Engine 212 protests were different; the firefighters employed there actively assisted locals in their mission, and even participated as willing hostages within the building. Despite the city’s continued efforts to end the occupation of the firehouse, the neighborhood remained there for sixteen months. 

In addition to residing within the building to prevent its seizure, community members and those who supported them held organized demonstrations and marches. During one of these marches, the group managed to briefly shut down the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway as a form of protest. It was here that “The People’s Firehouse” was born; the neighborhood considered the firehouse to be a part of their community, belonging not to the city, but to the people. 

In 1977, after sixteen long months of activism from the community, the city finally agreed to allow Engine 212 to re-open at full capacity. Forty-seven years after their monumental victory, The People’s Firehouse is still fighting for their neighborhood. Although they have faced setbacks and burdens throughout the years, people remain at the heart of the organization. 

By Olivia Graffeo | olivia@queensledger.com

Pioneering his own unique blend of South Asian fusion, Brooklyn-based musician and activist Sonny Singh is continuing a decades-long mission of bringing people together. 

Singh was raised in Sikhism, a religion originating in the Punjab region of India that preaches meditation and equality of all people. Born of two Indian immigrants in North Carolina, Singh embraced his Sikh background as a way to cope with rising racial and ethnic tension in America. 

“When times were tough, I found myself gravitating towards some of the [Sikh] devotional songs I learned as a kid,” Singh said. 

Noting that the demographics of Charlotte in the 1980s was mostly white and Black people, Singh and his brother were the only children in their school who wore turbans. He described this as causing a deep feeling of isolation and otherness. 

“Kids on the playground would ask me, ‘are you white or black?’ and I wouldn’t know how to answer,” he said. 

Despite being part of a small minority in the American South, Singh found a way to feel he was a part of something. Exploring his heritage, and specifically the music of his ancestors, provided Singh an outlet to feel connection and peace within his community. Though there were not any gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in their area growing up, Singh was able to find meaning through playing music at small events, usually at community members’ houses. 

After making his career in music, which he calls becoming “a musician with a capital ‘M,’” Singh found success in trying out many different genres. Participating in bands that played mixes of ska, reggae, punk rock, and other fused genres, he has only recently returned to his roots in Sikh-inspired compositions. After the release of his first solo album, Chardi Kala, in 2022, Singh fully embraced the style of music that comforted him in childhood while putting his own flair in every song. 

Singh’s second solo album, Sage Warrior, will be released on September 6th. While his recent work harkens back to the religious music of Sikhism, which he calls “sacred poetry,” Singh is not simply performing renditions of the spiritual hymns of his faith. His music combines different genres, languages and instruments to reflect the unique identity Singh has formed over decades of playing music. 

While classical renditions of Sikh music usually contain the Punjabi language and instruments such as the harmonium and tabla (a type of South Asian drum), Singh expands on this. He can be heard singing in Punjabi, Spanish, English and Hindi; in addition, Singh’s skill as a trumpet player is utilized often, creating a distinctive new sound. While Singh notes that some more traditional Sikhs may disagree with his interpretation of their religion’s music and teachings, he is sure that his work is having positive effects for their community.

“It’s a constant evolution… I’m making music that makes sense to me and my own heart,” he said.

A facet of Singh’s work that is especially important to him is its foundation in social justice and activism. Since becoming involved in social causes as a teenager, Singh has continually worked to help others not only through his music, but through activism work as well. A major tenant of Sikhism is the notion that all people are equal: providing justice to everyone is paramount. 

“This sacred poetry of our tradition, there is so much wisdom in it that’s applicable today… Sikh wisdom has always inspired me, has inspired my activism,” he said.

Through music and activism, Singh notes he was able to avoid falling into “despair and assimilation,” and keep his culture alive. During his live concerts, he gives context and history to the audience, most of whom are not Sikh themselves. 

Singh describes his current musical journey as “Coming back to my past, coming back to ancestral wisdom.” 

Sonny Singh’s new album Sage Warrior can be pre-ordered before release on September 6th at https://sonnysingh.com/. 

By Ana Borruto

The 11.4-mile long Brooklyn-Queens Crosstown G train subway service will be partially shut down this summer for track reconstruction and modern signal installation. 

Starting Friday, June 28, the G train will undergo the first phase of an extensive multi-week, 24/7 project to replace its 1930s-era legacy signal system with Communications-based train control (CBTC) — a wireless connectivity system that keeps trains in constant contact, and in turn, more reliable. 

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Councilmember Lincoln Restler hosted a town hall on Thursday, May 30 at John Ericsson Middle School in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where representatives of the Metropolitan Transit Authority and New York City Department of Transportation explained how the shutdown will catapult the G train “into the 21st century.” 

The forum allowed for regular G train commuters to ask questions and express their concerns about the shutdown, which was described as a “huge inconvenience” to the Greenpoint community and beyond. 

“When we got this news a few months ago, we pushed and prodded the MTA to consider if there are ways to do just overnight work, are there ways to limit this so we don’t have to endure a six-week full shutdown of this train line,” said Restler. “We haven’t been able to identify an alternative path forward, they are insistent that this is the necessary way to go.” 

Sean Fitzpatrick of the MTA explained exactly why the service outages are needed on the G train, the main reason being the age of the subway line. 

The G train has some of the oldest signals left in the New York City train system, which has caused “below average” performance times, according to Fitzpatrick. The current system is fixed-blocked signaling, which means the trains are divided and registered into fixed blocks with buffers up to 1,000 feet-long installed between them.

“It’s a marvel of early 20th century engineering,” Fitzpatrick said.

However, the drawbacks of this current system include not being able to pinpoint the exact location of a train, so trains run farther apart to create a safety buffer — creating service delays. 

The infrastructure for fixed-block signaling is also expensive to install and maintain. 

CBTC signaling allows trains to transpond to one another: in simple terms, the train’s position on the track is easily located because the section of track around each train moves with the train, rather than being on pre-defined, fixed blocks. 

“We are able to run them more closely together, more quickly, while maintaining safety,” Fitzpatrick said. “We also have a better view of the entire system so we’re able to respond better when there are incidents — it’s the single biggest investment that we can make to improve the reliability of a train.” 

This transition from a fixed-block to CBTC system for the G train requires the installation of new signaling equipment, replacement of 30 miles of track and more than a dozen switches and the integration and testing of the new system. 

Fitzpatrick said replacing the 1930s-period switches and tracks is particularly challenging, especially in the underground tunnels. To create a safe, workable environment for the project, the MTA said it has no choice but to shut down the G train line temporarily. 

With ridership lower in the summertime and school not in session, Fitzpatrick said it is the ideal time for the outage to take place. 

He added the MTA is promising to be finished with the reconstruction by Sept. 2. 

During the outage, shuttle buses will be available at impacted stations every one to four minutes during the weekdays and every five to 10 minutes on the weeknights. 

Shuttle buses can be expected to arrive at stations on weekend mornings and evenings every three to five minutes; every five to 10 minutes on late nights. 

Several tools will be implemented to keep traffic moving and areas clear for the shuttle buses, such as turn restrictions, daylighting, monitoring and automated camera enforcement. 

Here is the timeline of the shutdown and list of alternative shuttle bus transportation options: 

Phase 1: Friday, June 28 to Friday, July 5 

• G trains won’t run between Court Square and Nassau Avenue 
• Free B94 shuttle buses will run between Court Square and Nassau Avenue and make all ​ stops.

Phase 2: Friday, July 5 to Friday, August 12

• G trains won’t run between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand Avenues.
• Free B98 shuttle buses will run between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and make all stops.

Phase 3: Friday, August 12 to Tuesday, September 3

• G trains won’t run between Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and Church Avenue. 
• Free B93 shuttle buses will run between Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and Jay Street-MetroTech, making all stops between Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and Hoyt-Schermerhorn. 

The overall long term work of the G train will continue into 2027. With this specific line becoming the go-to transportation option in some of the fastest growing communities in the state, elected officials are urging Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA to further invest in the G train’s future. 

This includes extending the G train back to Forest Hills, Queens. According to Gallagher’s public campaign in favor of a full G train upgrade, the petition mentioned how up until 2010, the G train served parts of Astoria, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Rego Park and Forest Hills.

“The G is our lifeline in this community,” said Gallagher. “It’s going to be a very long summer.” 

To find out more information about the G train shutdown this summer, visit tinyurl.com/ymv5b99c.