By Marsha Sereno

"My impression is that Canarsie is left out and shut out again", stated Rev. Matteo Rizzo, president of the Informed Voices Civic Association at the organization’s recent meeting. His reference was to job application information that had not been made readily available to Canarsiens for employment at the rapidly emerging Gateway Project located on the Belt Parkway.

He expressed his frustration at not being able to get a "straight answer" from elected officials as to where those job applications might actually be. "The fact is that they were available, they were distributed, and no one in Canarsie was advised. Even the other civic organizations were not notified so we were shut out again. That’s a disgrace. I’d like to know why. " He expressed his doubts about the chances of Canarsiens getting hired at the Gateway Project at this late date because of those who had already received and submitted their applications. Those in attendance were urged to contact their local elected officials to find out exactly what is going on.

Community Board 18 Member Mark Fertig addressed the crowd stating that there was published information stating that those interested in receiving an application were to contact Mr. Williams, Chairman of Community Board No. 5. MaryAnn Sallustro of the South Canarsie Civic Association stated that it is a matter of public record that Canarsiens were to be offered jobs at the Gateway Project..

Brian Lee of Councilman Lew Fidler’s office said he had brought some applications with him and suggested that those interested in obtaining a job application for the Gateway Project call his office at: 241-9330. Mr. Lee explained that his office had received the applications a little more than a week earlier and that Informed Voices was only the second organization to which they had distributed them. Fr. Rizzo persisted with his contention that Community Board No. 5 "had them (the applications) and gave them out long ago". Wanda Ihrig Informed Voices’ cofounder, expressed gratitude for the applications, but stated that Canarsiens are frustrated with always being "second string, ...third string" and receiving things "only when we find out about them and raise the roof do we get things, as opposed to ‘Hey, let’s give you the heads up first for a change’." Mr. Lee promised the group that Councilman Fidler’s office would look into the matter and return with concrete answers. Fr. Rizzo assured Lee that he would inform members who called during the week of the follow-up information.

In answer to a request by the Canarsie Courier, Congressman Ed Towns issued the following statement:

"It is imperative that Canarsie is ensured input and access to the resources that the Gateway project

In order to be certain that the concerns of Canarsie are heard, I have arranged

for a meeting between the presidents of Canarsie’s civic and community organizations with the appropriate Gateway project executives. It is my belief that this meeting will strengthen the lines of communication between this development and the Canarsie community and allow the economic benefits to be shared by all of the surrounding communities equally."