While Other Senators Were Sharing New Legislation, Gounardes Posted a Photo of Himself
Bay Ridge is represented by state legislators who don’t represent the community and have shown that they don’t understand the job.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes has been in office for five years. When he first ran for office, Andrew told the community that he would fix the property tax problem, bring a new high school to Bay Ridge and make major improvements to the Shore Road. Gounardes has done none of these things.
Instead Bay Ridge has nearly 30 illegal cannabis shops. High property taxes have driven up rents in our neighborhood. Many people have moved out of Bay Ridge because the cost of living is too high. Seeing Senator Gounardes post pictures of himself, tells us he doesn’t understand this job! Nobody needs another picture of him.
In 2023, Gounardes moved his office out of the area. He didn’t move to the center of his district. He moved to a suite in a building in Carroll Gardens. In July, when Gounardes arrived at his fundraiser, which was within walking distance of his new office, he pulled up in a SUV. (See here)
Instead of speaking up for Bay Ridge while in Albany, we saw Gounardes pushed legislation on topics he was lobbied for. Many residents feel hopeless because nothing is changed or improved….not even a little.
Last year, Community Board 10 sat through a presentation by Get Around Car Sharing company. CB 10 knew something was wrong and one member asked, “Why are we only hearing from one company?” There was no vote, but signs for the company were put up on the street and parking spots were given to Get Around’s cars. Residents were no longer able to park there. We were shocked to see this video of Andrew Gounardes speaking for a private company. Business must not have been profitable here because last Summer, those signs were removed quietly. Not one politician said the parking was being returned/signs removed. Community Board 10 wasn’t forthright with that information either.
Sunset Park isn’t any better with Gounardes in office. When Eric Adams had a meeting with Sunset Park, Andrew Gounardes didn’t even show up to the meeting! People were asking Eric Adams for the simplest things, like crossing guards for their school! (See video of meeting) That’s something Gounardes should have funded, but more importantly Gounardes should have been present at that meeting to listen to the community.
Sunset Park is filthy and he hasn’t done anything to improve the quality of life there. Gounardes thinks he is helping people in Sunset Park by campaigning near the subway, he doesn’t notice how dirty the community is, even when he is there. (See here)
In June 2022 was the last time Andrew Gounardes held a meeting in Bay Ridge. Andrew and the 68th Precinct Captain told the community that the trucks and trailers on Poly Place were going to removed and that the parking would be changed to angled parking. (Meeting info here). Nothing was changed and the problem has grown. Andrew Gounardes did not follow through and there is no one here to hold him accountable.
What terrible changes has Andrew Gounardes voting made in Bay Ridge? The area is covered with illegal cannabis shops. How much business have Bay Ridge restaurants that are near these shops lost?
Community Board 10 wrote a letter to ask for help with the cannabis shops. Why did Gounardes write the letter – he’s the one who voted for this legislation without checking that there was a plan for its rollout.) No one responded to the letter. Kathy Hochul said in July 2023 that she was going to fine the illegal cannabis shops – she didn’t fine any of them that we know of. Gounardes did not stand up for the community and call for Hochul to keep her word.
Last month, Community Board 10 held a meeting about The City of Yes. Gounardes attended the meeting, but he did not speak at it. When he saw that people were confused and had a lot of questions, he should have done something to bring clarity to the situation. He put up a short message that people could contact his office. (We won’t because it in the past it took months to get a simple reply to email.)
Bay Ridge needs someone who wants to be a leader and talk to people!
Hugs,
marlene
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