November 2025 Annual Meeting Recap

Posted on by Cobble Hill Association

Thank you to everyone who came to our incredibly well-attended Annual Fall Meeting last Thursday. We shared updates on membership growth, community partners, finances, Cobble Hill Park, playground upgrades, events, historic preservation, local advocacy efforts, and our neighborhood beautification efforts. 

We’re grateful to Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, Senator Andrew Gounardes, a representative from Councilmember Shahaha Hanif’s office, and Comptroller Brad Lander for joining us, sharing legislative updates, and taking questions. We received so many questions that we ran out of time before reaching our planned discussions on the BMT Environmental Review.

You can view a summary of the meeting and the presentation slides below.

1. WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

  • CHA President Amanda Nichols opened the meeting and welcomed neighbors.
  • Introduced the all-volunteer board, reminding attendees that everything CHA does—from event planning to advocacy to administrative tasks—is powered entirely by volunteers.
  • Explained what the CHA does and emphasized the breadth of CHA’s work:
    • Acting as a community information hub
    • Organizing social events and neighborhood clean-up projects
    • Supporting Cobble Hill Park and street tree care
    • Responding to quality-of-life issues
    • Runs the daily operations of the CHA, including  membership, performs treasurer duties, maintains the website and social media.
  • Encouraged attendees to get involved and step up as volunteers, noting sign-up sheets at the back.
  • Reflected on the loss of beloved former board member and communications lead Destiny Jackson, honoring her significant impact on CHA’s reach and community engagement.

2. MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

  • CHA continues to experience strong growth in support and engagement.
  • Key year-over-year increases include:
    • Email subscribers: 2,187 → 2,348
    • Instagram followers: 6,282 → 7,627
    • Membership: 340 → 434

3. COMMUNITY PARTNER PROGRAM

  • CHA highlighted and thanked its 12 Community Partners.
  • Program value:
    • Partners reach a highly engaged neighborhood audience.
    • CHA provides promotional support (social media, newsletters, visibility at events).
  • The Program is entering a period of transition and growth.
  • CHA is seeking volunteers to:
    • Support local-business outreach
    • Help maintain partner relationships
    • Produce social media content associated with partner benefits
  • Interested neighbors were encouraged to connect and join the effort.

4. TREASURER’S REPORT & FINANCIAL UPDATE

  • The CHA includes two organizations
    • The Cobble Hill Association (a 501(c)4 entity): handles membership dues and community advocacy.
      • Income and expenses were consistent with last year.
      • Social media remains the largest expense but continues to deliver significant value in outreach and visibility (reflected in membership and follower growth).
      • Cash position indicates stable finances, despite the elimination of dues..
    • Cobble Hill Community Fund (a 501(c)3 entity): receives tax-deductible donations for neighborhood improvements—especially Cobble Hill Park.
      • Major funding continues to go toward Cobble Hill Park, including maintenance and improvement projects.  Dedicated funding also goes to the Cobble Hill Tree Fund.
      • Donations remain strong, particularly from targeted fundraising campaigns. The goal is to raise funds to support specific projects, such as the Cobble Hill Park Playground.
      • Financial tables show healthy net operating income for the year, supporting ongoing park needs.

5. Cobble Hill Park Playground Equipment Upgrade 

  • Vice President Dan Carr shared that community volunteers raised ~$140,000 to upgrade and replace outdated and unsafe playground equipment and expand the safety surface.
  • NYC Parks confirmed current equipment does not meet modern safety standards.
  • The CHA developed the plan in partnership with the Parks Department.  The design preserves the curved landscape and character of the space.
  • The CHA is spearheading the renovation through the Parks Department Adopt-a-Park Program.  Replacement equipment choices are limited because of the requirement of using a Parks Department supplier.
  • Waiting on final Landmarks Preservation Commission approvals.
  • Installation anticipated Spring 2026.

6. Cobble Hill Park Updates

  • Volunteer participation is down; call for more community involvement.
  • Park is celebrating its 60th anniversary; a report on the history of the Park is being prepared for future presentation.
  • Regular volunteers perform weekly maintenance and the next seasonal spruce-up will take place on November 22 (rain date November 23).  Cobble Hill Park will again host the MulchFest after Christmas this year. Please reach out to cobblehillparkcha@gmail.com to get involved.

7. Quality of Life Updates

  • CHA needs to get neighbors to work together for efforts such as collective rat abatement along shared backyards.
  • With support of Councilmember Hanif’s office, successfully reinstated residential corner trash cans after negotiations with DSNY; note that misuse such as leaving household trash in the containers will lead to removal.
  • Cobble Hill Dog Park lights restored by DOT after being nonfunctional for six years and four years of advocacy by Assembly Member Simon, Senator Gounardes and Councilmember Hanif.

8. Community Life Committee

  • New leadership under Dena Driver; planning diverse social events working with Megan McQuillan as board liaison.
  • Recent and upcoming activities include:
    • Over the summer the CHA sponsored three concerts which were very successful.
    • Halloween window painting had full participation and gave the neighborhood a small-town atmosphere.
    • The Halloween parade featuring the Brass Queens and “Sir Cobble Bones” (12-foot skeleton) was a big success.
    • Board member Katie Dunn talked about the first Historic Cobble Hill walking tour on November 15.  It was a great success and the CHA will do it again.  The idea came out of the survey of Cobble Hill Association members.  People want activities that are not just for kids. 
    • Cobble Hill Holiday Gather & Sing w/ Brooklyn Youth Chorus (Dec 22)
    • The Community Life Committee is exploring activities for Spring 2026 including a Scavenger Hunt and a community food drive.

9. Historic Preservation / Landmarks

  • Board member Katie Dunn shared that the CHA tracks all LPC applications in the district and summarizes them in a separate newsletter..

10. Legislator Updates 

Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon

  • Key issues discussed:
    • Working on legislation related to gas hookups, utility costs, and consumer affordability.
    • BQE redesign: The Federal Highway Administration has not approved the City’s submission.  The City has pulled back on hearings related to the Draft Scope of Work and NEPA (the federal environmental review).  NEPA will not begin until after the first of the year.  The new mayoral administration will address it.
    • Atlantic Yards / Pacific Park: New developer backed by union pension funds; concerns about height, density, affordability requirements.
    • AM Simon emphasized community participation in the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) scoping and EIS process.  Individual community members should submit statements on the impact of the BMT development on them. 

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

  • Key policy initiatives:
    • AI safety legislation (RAISE Act) pending gubernatorial signature, facing federal preemption concerns.  Big Tech opposes the bill.
    • Push for “Super Speeders Act” mandating speed limiters for chronic speed offenders with 16 or more tickets representing the worst 1% of drivers  
    • Advocacy for universal childcare expansion.  New Mexico has done it.
    • Extensive discussion of homeowner insurance affordability, transparency in insurer risk modeling, and DFS oversight.
    • The model for affordable housing is to have affordable and market housing in the same building to make sure you are delivering affordable housing.  It is now required in NYC.
    • Federal government shutdown impacts on SNAP and heating assistance, which are now facing a backlog.
  • BMT Redevelopment Discussion
    • Scoping period underway; it closes on December 11; a request has been submitted for extension.
    • Broader transportation study area secured due to community advocacy.
    • Environmental analysis will determine impacts and drive possible mitigation.  It may require a pull back on the number of housing units.
    • Final GPP must go to the Public Authorities Control Board, where approval may be blocked if the final plan deviates significantly from the Vision Plan.
    • Discussed community member concerns regarding:
  • Whether changes to the Vision Plan were adequately presented.
  • Housing density, open space, and massing assumptions.
  • Traffic impacts, truck enforcement, and unsafe intersections.

Councilmember Shahana Hanif (by representative)

  • Legislative Update – “NYC Trust Act” Hearing
    • The City Council will hold a hearing on December 8th at 10:00 a.m. on their bill, the New York City Trust Act.
    • Purpose of the bill:
      • Strengthen NYC’s sanctuary city protections.
      • Crack down on ICE activity in anticipation of potential increased federal immigration enforcement (including National Guard or ICE “ramping up their activities”).
    • Community members encouraged to submit testimony at the hearing and expressed hope that Cobble Hill residents will testify in support of the bill.

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander

  • Pension Fund Performance & Policy Direction
    • NYC pension funds have surpassed $300 billion, now the 3rd largest public pension system in the country.
    • Funds are over 85% funded for their long-term obligations.
    • Highlighted major policy leadership:
      • Boldest climate investment program in the U.S. among public pension funds.
      • Divested from fossil fuels and fossil fuel infrastructure.
      • Continuing to pressure utilities, banks, and asset managers on climate transition.
  • Expanding Opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises as Asset Managers
    • Nationally, about 98.6% of assets are managed by firms owned by white men; only 1.4% by managers of color.
    • Under his tenure: MWBE-managed assets grew by 62%, now over $10 billion more than before.
    • These MWBE-managed funds outperformed their benchmarks by 700 basis points, showing diversity is financially advantageous.
  • Preserved 35,000 Rent-Stabilized Units After Signature Bank Collapse
  • Oversight, Auditing & Anti-Corruption Work
    • Audited every city agency.
    • Reviewed 60,000 City contracts.
    • Emphasized commitment to accountability.

11. Tree Fund & Neighborhood Beautification

  • Louis Cox, CHA Board member and leader of the Cobble Hill Tree Fund shared that 14 new trees are being planted through participatory budgeting funding.
  • There were two major tree care events to clean, aerate tree beds and spread compost.  Louis thanked the volunteers.
  • Two major neighborhood compost distribution events were completed with compost from DSNY.
  • MulchFest upcoming; Cobble Hill Park is a major Brooklyn drop-off site.
  • Tree Fund offers cost-sharing for tree planting; encourages watering and maintenance by property owners.  The Tree Fund needs community donations.  Councilmember Hanif’s office has provided a lot of support with tree planting.  The Parks Department has expanded tree beds to capture water.
  • Guidance provided on handling hazardous trees and navigating city permitting.

12. Launch of Neighborhood Beautification Committee

  • CHA Board member Lauren Sandtorv presented a new effort to formalize and expand neighborhood beautification activities (trash, graffiti, tree care, block cleanups).  The Committee will put out a newsletter every month and hold meetings every other month.
  • The Beautification Committee is looking for volunteers for leadership roles and to work as committee members.  Email Lauren at lsandtorv@cobblehill.nyc if you are interested.

13. BQE & Street Safety

  • CHA Board member Megan McQuillan will be taking on CHA’s BQE efforts, she emphasized that she would like to hear from community members with experience to learn more about the background. 

Meeting ran over time significantly, so BMT Environmental Review Updates will be shared via newsletter.