Councilman Carlos Menchaca, Commanding Officer Justin Lenz, and Water Taxi founder Tom Fox are three important assets that Red Hookers are lucky to have. Menchaca is finishing his freshman year in the City Council. The Star-Revue has watched him grow in the office as he learns on the job. There are no classes in how to be a councilman. What […]
Carlos Menchaca
Menchaca Statement on Valentino Pier Bathrooms
I heard a variety of views during recent community meetings and conversations on the proposed comfort station at Valentino Pier Park. Some expressed the strong need for a bathroom in that area while others described issues with the comfort station as proposed. Ultimately, I have decided to pull the funding from this currently proposed project. The roughly $2 million […]
Menchaca flexes his muscles on parks issue, by George Fiala
At a meeting organized by a recently formed Red Hook park advocacy group, freshman City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca sped the community toward a quick resolution of the Valentino Pier bathroom controversy. Menchaca first became known to Red Hookers two years ago, when he was sent to the community by his then-employer, Council Speaker Christine Quinn. His job was to convey […]
Valentino Pier repaving to go on as planned, by George Fiala
As reported recently, Red Hook residents were surprised one day when fencing went up around Valentino Pier. Call were placed to Councilman Menchaca’s office, and he quickly arranged for a community meeting at the Red Hook Library. Kevin Jeffreys, head of the Brooklyn division of the Parks Department made a presentation that explained the reason for the fencing, and he […]
Parks apologizes for hasty fencing at Valentino Pier, by George Fiala
Red Hook park lovers were fuming last week when, without warning, fencing was put up around Valentino Pier park. It turns out that the Parks Department had planned some minor renovations that would close some parts of the park for about a month. Many residents, still upset at the cavalier attitude in which the Coffey Park renovation was handled, couldn’t […]
Menchaca for Zuniga – Velazquez for Ortiz
Campaigning for State Assembly in the 51st District ramped up yesterday as both Felix Ortiz and challenger Ceasar Zuniga received help from other local elected officials. The 51st AD includes Red Hook and Sunset Park, roughly approximating the City Council district represented by Carlos Menchaca. Menchaca, who unseated long term incumbent Sara Gonzalez with a surprising victory in last year’s […]
Menchaca makes endorsement in local assembly race
Councilmember Carlos Menchaca has changed his position in the 51st Assembly race to not making an endorsement to an endorsement of Ceasar Zuniga. He will be announcing this Wednesday morning at 7 am at the 36th Street subway station (at 4th Avenue). He had originally told the Star-Revue that he was too new to make an endorsement. From early on though, […]
Message from Carlos about Valentino Pier
FYI: Please see the following statement from CM Menchaca regarding the fencing placed around Valentino Pier Park and new capital funding for this Park “This morning my office was informed by community residents that fencing was placed around Valentino Pier. This is deeply concerning for several reasons. First, our office received no advance communications from the Parks Department about […]
Updated – UPK application period extended
NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS MENCHACA | 38th District Dear District 15 Families: Earlier today the Department of Education announced that seven new pre-k classrooms at the former Bishop Ford High School would immediately provide over 100 seats to school district 15 families. After working closely with the Mayor’s Office, the Dept. of Education, and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, I am proud […]
Red Hook’s Night Out Against Crime, by George Fiala
The first time I heard about “Night Out Against Crime,” back in the 1980’s I didn’t take it seriously at all. I really didn’t know what it was about, I thought it was some kind of feelgood event that did nothing to cut down on the rampant crime that was plaguing America’s cities. I left tonight’s celebration at Coffey Park […]