Cops stepped in to stop a frustrated group of super storm victims from attacking Councilman Domenic Recchia over claims that the legislator is dragging his feet on important Coney Island infrastructure projects that could protect residents from the next Hurricane Sandy-style disaster.
The fireworks at last night’s Community Board 13 meeting began once Recchia (D–Coney Island) told panel members that the city wouldn’t begin upgrading the neighborhood’s sewer system until 2016 — even though many say that the outdated sewers caused more flooding in Coney Island than the hurricane did.
Residents say the storm surge overwhelmed the system, causing sewer water to spew out of drains and catch basins.
“When Recchia said the sewer system wouldn’t be worked on for another few years, the people in the audience began to berate him,” one witness told Brooklyn Daily. “A couple of board members got into the act and started yelling, so the police that were there stepped in and shouted at everyone to quiet down.”
Recchia, a longtime advocate for the sewer overhaul, apparently took the tongue lashing in stride as community board members slowly calmed down, witnesses said. No one was arrested.
Residents say the councilman has been heavily involved in Coney Island’s ongoing recovery effort. He’s demanded that the federal government provide low-interest rate loans to small businesses affected by the storm and was also spotted doling out free Thanksgiving dinners to Hurricane Sandy victims at MCU Park, residents recall.
Check back with Brooklyn Daily later today as reporter Will Bredderman files his story on last night’s board meeting!
Reach Deputy Editor Thomas Tracy at ttracy@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2525.