Gravesend resident Theresa Scavo went to her first community board meeting to learn about a synagogue’s plans to build a school on her block, but found the attendees shouting or barely listening, and the moderators hand-picking the speakers.
“I was really angered,” says Scavo, who complained to the aide of a congressman occupying an office next to her jewelry shop in Sheepshead Bay.
His reply made her think twice.
“He said to me, ‘When was the last time you did anything for your community?’ ” she says. “I said to him, ‘You’re right, I should step up instead of criticizing.’ ”
Twenty years later the retiree is the gladiatrix of unpaid grassroots advocacy.
She is out most days and nights in the field or at civic meetings, as vice president of the Highway Democratic Club, treasurer of the 61st Precinct Community Council, second vice chairwoman of the Coney Island Hospital Community Advisory Board, and chairwoman of Community Board 15 — the same civic panel she recoiled from 20 years earlier, although she claims to have tamed its Wild West days.
“There’s no screaming, people can voice their opinion, and the board is really unified,” Scavo told this newspaper in 2013 when she ran for City Council in the new “Super-Russian District.”
She lost the race, but continues to score numerous victories in her tussles with the city and state on behalf of Brooklynites.
“Our community rises or falls on our ability to unite behind issues which make our neighborhoods so special,” says Scavo, 63, who has helped to install 30 traffic lights in a single year at dangerous intersections, had a third of the roadways and curbs in her district repaired and resurfaced, removed toppled trees and abandoned cars, persuaded the state to revoke liquor licenses for rowdy bars, conceived ideas for the city’s storm-abatement programs, and kept precious parking spots from being gobbled by buses.
The Woman of Distinction is their go-to gal, say area residents.
Sheepshead Bay resident Janet Langberg was losing sleep over a screeching security alarm at a neighboring religious day care center, until Scavo came to her rescue.
“It would go on for days if there was a holiday, and there was no one to turn it off,” she says. “Theresa knew who to call and within an hour the alarm went off.”
Scavo also lit a fire under city honchos to fix a local road of horrors, adds Langberg.
“People were falling down and killing themselves, but Theresa knew who to call and she got our street repaved,” she says.
The honoree was as swift to alert the Department of Transportation to a dingy corner at Ocean Parkway and Avenue U in Gravesend.
“They did a study, agreed the corner was dark, and added a street light,” she says.
Scavo’s report card shows she has more than fulfilled the pledge she made long ago.
“I said after that first community board meeting that from this point on I will step up and make the time,” she says. “And I did.”
OCCUPATION: Chairwoman.
COMPANY: Community Board 15.
CLAIM TO FAME: To improve the quality of life in my community.
Favorite Place: The beach.
WOMAN I ADMIRE: Entertainer Bette Midler because she does not let her fame go to her head.
MOTTO: Live for today.
