6 BROOKLYN NEWS WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
20 BROOKLYN QUESTIONS
for Borough President Adams
One Brooklyn (OB): What do you think is the biggest threat to Brooklyn’s future?
Borough President Adams (BP): The lack of affordable housing coupled with the
harassment from some unethical landlords has created a climate where neighbors are
fighting neighbors. The real battle is strengthening our laws to arrest landlords that
break the law and finding locations in our borough where contextual rezoning to achieve
meaningful affordable housing makes sense.
OB: What’s your Brooklyn “guilty pleasure”?
BP: I have a deadly sweet tooth, and the great desserts in this borough are killers! It’s
hard to resist a sweet treat at a spot like Ample Hills Creamery, Junior’s, Mike’s Donuts...
I could go on and on.
OB: What will the economy of Brooklyn look like in 10 years?
BP: We are developing innovative industrial clusters where people will be able to live,
work and play in their community. Businesses, especially in the tech sector, are already
clamoring to move to Brooklyn, and we welcome the jobs that they’ll bring! We need to
prepare our students for the jobs of today and of tomorrow.
OB: Who’s your favorite Brooklyn celebrity?
BP: Lately, I’ve really been enjoying the King of Caribbean Comedy, Majah Hype, who is
based out in Flatlands. He is an example of the power of
social media, and I had a great time meeting him when
he performed at one of my recent heritage celebrations
at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Of course, every Brooklynite is
a celebrity in his or her own right.
OB: How do you define “responsible development”
in Brooklyn?
BP: Responsible development is contextual in size to the
existing neighborhood and involves listening to the voice
of that neighborhood during the development process.
The final result should always combine senior housing
as well as rents that are affordable for low-income and
middle-income residents.
OB: What’s the biggest misconception you want to
clear up about Brooklyn?
BP: We don’t all wear skinny jeans and have lumberjack
beards; one look at me proves that! We may be One
Brooklyn, but we are not a monolithic borough. We are
made up of very different communities that all live
together, and we are in constant evolution.
OB: Does Brooklyn get its fair share?
BP: No. As the largest borough in the city, and soon to be
the third-most populous city in America standing on our
own, the resources we receive from government should
reflect this.
OB: What do you do when you’re not being Brooklyn
Borough President?
BP: I am ALWAYS Brooklyn Borough President! The
demands of the job do not really allow for a lot of down
time, traveling from Bushwick to Brighton Beach and
everywhere in between. When I can sneak a few hours
here and there, I will ride my bike down to one of our
great vistas, like Red Hook or by the New York Aquarium
in Coney Island, and relax with a good book.
OB: What can government do, right now, to make life
better in Brooklyn?
BP: Several of our communities are experiencing doubledigit
Photo: Kathryn Kirk/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Borough President Adams enjoyed a kiss from
Diego the sea lion as part of a visit to the New
York Aquarium in Coney Island on the second
anniversary of Superstorm Sandy.
Borough President Adams played the first round of
pool at The Gutter in Williamsburg when it reopened
to the public after being declared safe and Ebolafree,
days after the bar and bowling alley was
visited by the first person in New York City to test
positive for the virus.
unemployment. Government has the ability to better connect these areas with
workforce development and training, as well as support many of the industries that are
creating job opportunities today. Employment is a pathway to prosperity.
OB: What has been the most unexpected part of being Borough President of
Brooklyn?
BP: I continue to be pleasantly surprised by how receptive people are to welcoming me,
or anyone else, into their culture to share their history. I have met some of the warmest
people right here in Brooklyn from all of the various groups, whether it is at a Hasidic
wedding in Borough Park, a Dominican bachata festival in Crown Heights, or a West
Indian cricket match in Canarsie. As I grow 10,000 Concerned Brooklynites, more people
will get to see what I see every day.
OB: How can we advance higher education in Brooklyn?
BP: One of the most important things we can do is to embrace the pipeline concept
championed by Dr. Rudy Crew at Medgar Evers College to better connect primary
education to colleges and university. We need to create college culture environments. I
am also having the Independent Budget Office investigate the potential impact of making
our two-year community colleges at CUNY tuition-free once again.
OB: What’s been your most “hipster” experience in Brooklyn?
BP: I first discovered the bowling lanes at The Gutter in Williamsburg while helping the
borough get over the Ebola scare last year. Now, they’ve become a favorite hangout for
a Brooklyn brew and a game!
OB: What do seniors have to look forward to in Brooklyn?
BP: Seniors should look forward to the joy of aging in place with many senior-friendly
services. At Brooklyn Borough Hall, we make a concerted effort to show our elders
what resources are available to them. I am also pushing to create housing specifically
targeted to our seniors serving as caregivers for their grandchildren; they have been
underrepresented for too long, and they need to be a protected class of tenancy.
OB: What is Brooklyn’s best-kept secret?
BP: Not enough people, locals included, have discovered
our waterfront as one of the ultimate affordable getaway
destinations. From Greenpoint to Gerritsen Beach, you
can hop on a bike, bus or subway to enjoy the excitement
and relaxation of our coastal communities. Why drive to
Jersey or fly to Miami when the surf is fine in Brooklyn?
OB: What is the biggest mark on Brooklyn’s
reputation?
BP: The popularity of our brand has not translated into
prosperity for all of our people. Brooklyn is simply too
expensive, and we have a crisis of homelessness that’s
been ignored for years by many. Our public and private
sectors, working together, need to step up and ensure
every Brooklynite has a decent quality of life, that all of
our young people have a safe place to learn and grow.
OB: What is the number one Brooklyn experience
that you have not had yet, but need to have?
BP: I love Brooklyn Bridge Park, but I have yet to play
volleyball there or try my hand at canoeing!
OB: How would you improve the delivery of social
services in Brooklyn?
BP: We have to utilize technology to give Brooklynites
better access to the services that are already available
to them. Outreach and education are critical and often
ignored. Many people in need are not aware that they
have access to free social services. I plan to use my new
website, brooklyn-usa.org, as a hub that can connect the
dots.
OB: How would you recommend someone spend an
ideal Brooklyn day?
BP: Discover our rich history and various neighborhoods!
I recommend walking around off the beaten path. How
about exploring our Victorian homes in Ditmas Park?
Why not check out the emerging arts scene in East New
York? Of course, I’d be remiss in not mentioning one of
the dozens of restaurants adding to our “foodie” scene,
or one of our incredible parks! There’s a lifetime’s worth
of ideal Brooklyn days to plan.
Photo: G.N. Miller/NY Post
OB: What changes would you make to improve public transportation in Brooklyn?
BP: For starters, the MTA’s fares are out of control, and the State needs to identify a
sustainable funding stream in its budget to meet the needs of our growing ridership.
There are dozens of unmet challenges and opportunities in Brooklyn, including disability
support for our subway stations, investment in new subway connections, the creation
of a light rail line along our waterfront, as well as the expansion of bus rapid transit
and select bus service along our major corridors, including Eastern Parkway, Flatbush
Avenue, Kings Highway and Utica Avenue.
OB: Where is your favorite Brooklyn spot to get a haircut?
BP: As a follicly-challenged man, this one’s easy: home!
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