Andrew Gounardes Has a New Office, But He Isn’t Telling Bay Ridge
Senator Andrew Gounardes has been in office for 7 months, yet on Senator Andrew Gounades’ website, an address for his local district office was not listed – just a phone number.
In June after Gounades pushed the bike lane decision, we tried the Brooklyn phone number and no one answered. We went to 311 86th Street (Gounardes’ old office), but there no one was there. Then we tried Stars and Stripes Club 7321 15th Avenue, as Gounardes shared on social media that he set up a temporary office there. No one was at either office between 3:30 -4:00 pm in the afternoon on a weekday. Later, we realized Gounardes was in still in Albany, but where was his staff?
We called 411 and they only have Senator Gounardes at 311 86th Street. Google has the same:
At the June 2019, Community Board Meeting, Gounardes’ chief-of-staf stated that an upcoming blood drive would be held at Gounardes’ office on 3rd Avenue. So even she doesn’t know where the office is! See here
The only address Senator Gounardes provided on his website was his Albany one. Does he expect residents to visit him there or send a letter?
On his website, Gounardes says he is making himself accessible….how? He uses social media for announcements and rarely answers anyone, but his friend.
From his website:
Gounardes represents residents here to Gerritsen Beach, yet there is no office for people to walk in and speak to him or his staff. Six months after being inaugurated, he still doesn’t feel residents need his address. We thought he wasn’t putting the address online because his office was at the other end of the district and he didn’t want Bay Ridge to be slighted, until he opened the office with Brannan and Rose.
Where is the money he was given for an office?
Deja vu….this is just like Pam Harris – an elected official without an open office. If you can’t find them, they don’t have to help you.
We kept hearing that Gounardes was moving into the office with Max Rose and Justin Brannan at 8203 3rd Avenue. Brannan kept saying it was going to be “one-stop shopping” since all three (or their representatives) were going to be at that office. Yet, that didn’t happen. Ironically, even though Brannan just moved all mentions of his office now have this address – even Google.
Councilman Brannan shared on Facebook this week that Senator Gounardes is (or will be) moving into Brannan’s old office at 8018 – 5th Avenue. Why wouldn’t that be on Gounardes’ site?
Strangely, a story appeared on the news and referred to Gounardes’ office. The man said his grocery store was “right next door” to Gounardes’ office. (See here) The article said the man walked into Gounardes’ office in March…so Senator Gounardes has been in Brannan’s office since March? Or since January? Is he only representing some people in this district?
After Senator Gounardes overroad Community Board 10, without any input from residents, we realized he is just representing some people in the district. (See here) Home owners aren’t Gounardes’ base and he didn’t do anything to alleviate the disproportionate tax rates that our neighborhood has dealt with for years.
Why did Gounardes run for office, if he just wanted to represent some people in the community? While everyone hoped that things were going to change, we have the same problems we had with Marty Golden. An inaccessible senator, who votes for bills for his friends (Golden gave tax breaks to developers – Gounardes voted for his friend, Governor Cuomo to get tax breaks….no I am not kidding – see here). Golden wasn’t accessible to some residents and neither is Gounardes. Campaign promises don’t mean much, so why do people keep taking our senate seat if they aren’t interested in helping residents?
Yesterday, Gounardes put out a flyer for school supplies. Were the addresses on the bottom made blurry on purpose? The top of the flyer is very clear – even with a small font. See the whole flyer here…..see his original flyer on his Facebook page here. Even if the font was small, you would be able to zoom in and see it….this has been blurred.
How long has Andrew Gounardes been on 5th Avenue? Why is his address still not public? Jessica Ramos is a new senator and all her information is online. Who works at Gounardes’ office and why aren’t they available to ALL residents?
Hugs,
marlene
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