When Vice is Nice

Two Veteran Committee Chairs Seek CB1’s Number Two Spot

Thinking Outside the Box: Tammy Meltzer and Paul Goldstein playfully engage in some pantomime sparring as they debate their respective visions for the role of Community Board 1’s vice chair.

Community Board 1 (CB1) has a new vice chair. Tammy Meltzer, who currently serves as CB1’s Secretary, as well as the chair of the Battery Park City Committee, was elected at the Board’s monthly meeting on Tuesday evening.

Also vying for the post was Paul Goldstein, who serves as the chairman of CB1’s Waterfront, Parks & Cultural Committee. Both Ms. Meltzer and Mr. Goldstein were hoping to replace Paul Hovitz, who stepped down from CB1 in June, after 27 years of service. Each candidate spoke briefly on Tuesday evening, to explain their reasons for seeking the vice chair’s post.

Mr. Goldstein began by predicting that, “Tammy and I will work well together regardless of outcome of the election,” and then recalled his decades of leadership in Lower Manhattan — first as CB1’s District Manager for 23 years (beginning in the 1980s); following which he served as a close aide to then-Speaker of the State Assembly, Sheldon Silver; and more recently as a member of CB1. His list of achievements includes helping to spur the creation of multiple schools and youth athletic leagues, along with vital amenities, such as libraries, parks, and playing fields.

“I know how to work with people,” Mr. Goldstein concluded, adding that, “I know when to compromise and when to stand firm, and I have the skill set to get things done. If you choose me for this position, I won’t let you down.”

Ms. Meltzer began by noting, “this community has lived through September 11, and we’ve prospered since. The situation we face now is dealing with where we are in a prosperous Lower Manhattan, and where we go from here.”

“Whatever we’re doing on the west side, we need to do on the east side,” she observed. “We need connectivity on issues like resiliency. We can’t just push problems from one area to the next.”

“We’ve seen all of these changes,” she concluded. “Now we have to look at what we want for the future.”

During a question-and-answer period following the candidates’ presentations, CB1 member Bob Townley congratulated both aspirants, “on running a very civil campaign. Because ultimately, we’re a community. And if the community can’t get along, we’re out of luck.”

CB1 chair Anthony Notaro observed that, “I can’t believe how blessed this Board is to have candidates like these. This is a hard decision, but I want to thank Paul and Tammy for standing up to the challenge.”

When the votes were counted following this discussion, Ms. Meltzer was elected by a margin of 29 votes to 13.