Councilmember Vincent Gentile may still be settling into his new office at 8018 Fifth Avenue, but the show must go on, and the local pol is happy to put it on from the busy Fifth Avenue corridor.
“We’re really excited to have our brand new spacious district office on Fifth Avenue,” said Gentile who spent over a decade at Third Avenue and 87th Street, admitting that it’s always difficult for a politician to pick a location for an office – especially in a district like his. “From Bay Ridge to Dyker Heights to Bath Beach to the parts of Bensonhurst I represent, we have so many great areas and unique enclaves. I wish we could have an office on every avenue!”
Nevertheless, a decision had to be made and the Ridge’s Fifth Avenue was the big winner.
“We ultimately decided on this location because it was a much larger space than our original office and the most centrally-located, since we’re so close to public transportation on 86th Street,” he said of his new digs.
The local pol is urging local residents to stop by and say hi, especially with concerns in tow.
“My staff takes their constituent work very seriously and we all work very hard to listen to the concerns, problems and issues constituents may have so that we can advocate and get results on their behalf,” said Gentile, “and sometimes great ideas for citywide legislation are born out of finding those sometimes simple but elusive solutions to everyday common problems.
“We may not always hit a home run, but we’ll always go to the plate swinging for you,” he joked, stressing that constituents can utilize the brand new office for “anything and everything involving the great City of New York.”
“Whether you’re a resident, a business owner, new to the neighborhood or a native Brooklynite, we are here to serve all,” he said, lauding his staff for its expertise.
“My staff is very experienced in the best ways to navigate the bureaucracy for your specific situation,” said the local pol. “I also rely on my constituents to be an extra set of eyes and ears around the district. If you are having a problem with something city-related or if there is something that you just feel I should know about, please come visit us or drop me a line. My staff and I are always here to listen to any ideas you may have for ways that we can make our neighborhood safer, stronger or cleaner.”
Whether it’s a problem with a local agency like the Department of Sanitation or the Department of Buildings, or simply a question about a program such as Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) or Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE), Gentile said, there’s a staffer for that.
But he’ll also go to bat, he said.
“Each and every morning I wake up honored to serve as your councilman representing the fine, hardworking people of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst,” said Gentile. “This is all a big team effort and I couldn’t ask for better teammates than the people of the 43rd District.”
“My office is your office and my door is always open to you,” said the councilmember, inviting any and all to stop by as they cut the ribbon on the brand new district office at its official grand opening celebration, scheduled for Saturday, September 20 at 11 a.m.
The district office is open to the public from Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It can be reached over the phone at 718-748-5200.