A stalwart community organization recently began another era under a new president.
That after Tom Hernandez took the reins of retiring Robert Nadel as the new president of the Fraser Civic Association (FCA).
The Fraser neighborhood runs from the East 30s between Nostrand Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, and from Brooklyn College to Kings Highway.
“This [September] was our first meeting after the summer break and we had a great turnout,” said Hernandez, who is also a Community Board 18 and 63rd Police Precinct Community Council member.
Hernandez, who is a homeowner and raised three kids in the neighborhood, said among the issues the organization hopes to address are the alarming rate of foreclosures and how to prevent brownouts that hinder the area.
Hernandez said the FCA will also focus on the 2009 citywide elections and would like to see all the elected officials come to some of their meetings.
These elected officials include City Councilmembers Lew Fidler and Kendall Stewart, Assemblymembers Nick Perry and Helene Weinstein, and State Senators Kevin Parker and John Sampson.
Hernandez said that currently only Fidler and Weinstein attend FCA meetings regularly.
The Fraser community has about 1,700 homeowners and the organization prints and distributes 1,700 fliers for local residents to come to the meeting, said Hernandez.
Hernandez characterized the neighborhood as being very diverse – including large Orthodox Jewish and Caribbean-Americans populations as well as African-Americans and elderly whites who own there own homes and like where they live.
“I’m hoping to make positive changes and to pick my battles,” Hernandez said.
“If I get a sense we have some unity in the neighborhood and we are well represented it will be good for everyone,” he added.
