About CSWA
Learn about CSWA’s mission, story, and leadership.
CSWA’s Story
We decided to form a neighborhood association when, in 2024, we were faced with two challenges: the Department of Transportation’s concrete recycling facility on Columbia Street, which spewed toxic dust across our streets; and the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) plan to redevelop the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT).
The EDC created a task force that included representatives from surrounding communities but no one from the Columbia Street Waterfront. Residents were told that we lacked representation because the neighborhood did not have its own association. This task force went on to vote in favor of a plan that includes 3,800 new housing units, effectively tripling CSW’s population, but lacks detailed financials, a traffic study, and comprehensive resiliency analysis.
At a community meeting in May 2025, many residents gathered and demonstrated overwhelming support in favor of forming our own association. Since then, we’ve applied and received our Certificate of Incorporation and 501(c)(3) decision letter, formed a board, passed bylaws and elected officers, and registered with the NY Charity Bureau. We’ve also revived the annual Holiday Tree Lighting at Human Compass Garden, and held a community cleanup day/scavenger hunt to celebrate Earth Day on April 18.
We’ve advocated for our community’s voice to be heard with the DOT and EDC. We organized a meeting with the DOT Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner at Jalopy Theatre and Music School to demand traffic safety measures for dangerous intersections on Columbia Street. We have led a successful campaign for an extension on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Draft Scope of Work comment period to give the community adequate time to review information EDC had released only a week prior.
“Our organization’s mission is to promote the health, vitality, and character of the Columbia Street Waterfront (CSW), and to advocate for the interests of residents and area businesses. Acting on our mission, we advocate locally to increase accessibility to pre-K, to remedy dangerous traffic situations, and to give our community a true voice in the future of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. CSWA promotes the vitality of the neighborhood through street cleanup efforts, preserving neighborhood spaces like our wonderful community gardens, and promoting our vibrant business community.”
Board of Directors
James DeFilippis
James DeFilippis is a Professor of Urban Planning at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. His research focuses on the politics and economics of cities and communities. He is particularly interested in the processes of social change, and questions of power and justice in cities. He has published work in academic journals in a variety of fields, both independently and in collaboration with other authors. He is the author or editor of six books and more than 50 articles and book chapters. Professor DeFilippis has also written applied monographs and reports, and his interests extend well beyond the academy and into the practice of concrete political work and policy analyses.
Lucy Di Rosa
Lucy Di Rosa, Secretary, is the Executive Director of the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute (SSPI), a not-for-profit organization that creates programming related to leadership and service following the example of Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver. With a background in communications and a deep knowledge of Sargent Shriver’s legacy, Lucy’s role is to bring Shriver’s compelling accomplishments in politics, peacebuilding, and poverty abolition to life for a contemporary, multigenerational audience. Lucy has previously worked in for-profit and not-for profit environments and has experience in multiple sectors, including finance, technology, and the performing arts. Lucy is also an experienced instructor and researcher who holds a PhD in Italian Studies from the University of Toronto. She speaks several languages, including English, Italian, and French.
Ben Fuller-Googins
Ben Fuller-Googins is the Executive Director of the Carroll Gardens Association, a Brooklyn-based grassroots organization fighting for housing and economic justice. CGA organizes with low-income residents, immigrants, and domestic workers to forge a Brooklyn where dignity, opportunity, and community thrive for all. In his tenure at CGA, Ben has developed immigrant-led worker cooperatives promoting community wealth building, established a citywide domestic worker association reaching thousands of workers fighting for better jobs, a tenant union bringing residents together to organize for safe, accessible, and affordable housing, and is currently leading the development of 300+ new units of permanently affordable housing in Red Hook. Ben is a proud board member of the National Domestic Workers’ Alliance. He holds a BA from Boston College in History, an MA from New York University in Urban Planning, and lives in Kensington, Brooklyn.
Randy Gordon
Randy Gordon, President, has been a resident of Columbia Street Waterfront since 2005. He has worked in the financial industry for more than 25 years in risk management and data governance roles. He is a writer, tech critic, and a classically trained cellist. He and his wife, Sharon, met at music school and often perform together. They are grateful to have raised their now 26-year-old daughter, Mollie, in this wonderful neighborhood. Randy recently retired from the 1 Tiffany Place Board of Directors after 20 (!) years of service.
John Leyva
John Leyva, Vice President, has lived in the Columbia Street Waterfront District for over 30 years, bringing deep neighborhood experience to his community and housing-justice work. A graduate of St. Francis College, he spent 15 years at the NYC Department of Education and worked in marketing before completing a community organizing fellowship at CCNY. John’s tenant-advocacy journey began with his building’s fight to stay housed through Save63Tiffany.com and has since expanded to working alongside many housing-justice coalitions across New York City. He is a strong advocate for “real” deeply affordable housing, transparent decision-making, and the protection of public land. As a devoted father to a severely autistic son, John is committed to building a neighborhood rooted in care, accessibility, and genuine community power.
Greg O’Connell
Greg O’Connell is the CEO and Principal of the O’Connell Organization, a Brooklyn-based, family-owned real estate company focused on long-term investment and stewardship. Greg oversees a 39-acre portfolio of Civil War-era waterfront warehouses and mixed-use buildings, housing 700 residents and over 100 businesses across Red Hook, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and the Columbia Street Waterfront. His philosophy prioritizes sustained community value over quick profit. He advocates for slow growth to preserve local character, securing long-term tenancies, and building strong community partnerships through trust and authenticity. A lifelong Columbia Waterfront resident, Greg has been civically engaged having served on boards including the Red Hook Initiative, the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, and Community Board 6.
Debra Tackney
Debra Tackney, Treasurer, was a public school educator for over 30 years in New York and New Jersey. She specialized in curriculum design and professional development. She has a Supervisor License from Rutgers University. She was an NJEA labor leader negotiating terms and conditions of education labor contracts. Debra is an expert in employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits. She’s experienced in contractual language, conflict resolution, and policy development. Debra was an NJEA political action specialist in school employment regulations, policies and legislation. Debra holds bachelor of arts and masters of science degrees from Hunter College, City University of New York. She is presently Chair of the Columbia Terrace Condominium Waterfront Ad Hoc Committee. In prior years, she was Board President of the Second Columbia Terrace Condominium. Multiple generations of her family have lived in the surrounding communities. Her two children attended P.S. 29.
Lynette Wiley-Wood
Lynette Wiley-Wood is the Executive Director of Living Traditions, Inc and a co-founder of the Jalopy Theatre with her husband, Geoff Wood. She is also the owner of the Jalopy Tavern. Prior to working at the Jalopy Theatre, Lynette was the Executive Director of the Speh Foundation in Chicago, where she served as Vice President of the Donor’s Forum, was a fellow at Leadership Greater Chicago and Director of Play for Peace. Lynette has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and in anthropology from the University of Miami, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington.
Standing Committees
CSWA’s Committees are where the action happens. Our committees address the community’s needs and concerns, organize events, grow our membership, and communicate to our membership and beyond.
Membership Committee
Develop and implement strategies for recruiting and retaining members, including following up with interested individuals and assembling a broad mailing list of potential members, maintain accurate membership records, and promote member engagement.
2nd Tuesday monthly
Location TBD
Communications Committee
Manage the Association’s website, social media presence, newsletters, and other communication channels, and ensure effective communication with members, the public, and other stakeholders.
2nd Tuesday monthly
Location TBD
Environmental/Infrastructure Committee
Monitor and address environmental and infrastructure issues within the district, including resiliency, traffic safety, and related concerns, and advocate for improvements.
2nd Tuesday monthly
Location TBD
Community Life Committee
Plan, organize, and execute community events and activities that foster a sense of community, further the Association’s goals, and promote community engagement.
2nd Tuesday monthly
Location TBD
Greening Committee
Develop and pursue ideas to improve, enhance, and create parks and open spaces within the community, and address improvements to and safety/traffic issues related to existing open spaces and parks.
2nd Tuesday monthly
Location TBD
Family Committee
Advocate for community families on issues such as better access to child care and early child education
2nd Tuesday monthly
Location TBD