Keith Markel, an attorney who specializes in employment law and a father of four, joined Community Board 1 last month.
Markel and his wife moved to Nassau St. over 11 years ago. Three of their children attend Spruce Street School and the youngest is 18 months old.
Longtime Downtown residents, he and his wife are active members of the community and their children play in several of the local sports leagues. He said his wife also works in the community.
“I want our children and our friends and our neighbors to appreciate what I have always said to my wife is the nicest part of Manhattan,” Markel said in a phone interview. “That was really the impetus for wanting to be a part of [C.B. 1].
“I’ve long felt that C.B. 1 has done great things to help our community grow and prosper and I just want to be a part of that process,” he added.
He was appointed to the 50-member board by Borough President Gale Brewer last month, and replaces Jeff Galloway, who was removed after pleading guilty to tax fraud.
Markel, a partner at Morrison Cohen in Midtown, will serve on the board’s Seaport/Civic Center and Planning committees. Resiliency, a pressing issue since Superstorm Sandy, is on his radar.
“I think it’s important for our community to make sure that we’re not left vulnerable,” he said. “That we do whatever we can to grow our community in an environmentally friendly manner and safeguard our residents and commercial tenants who have chosen our community to make a living.”
Markel noted that several businesses in the Seaport haven’t been able to bounce back after Sandy.
“We want to be able to create a community that lasts,” he said.
Asked about the hit and run incident that happened in April during the morning dropoff outside his children’s school, he said, “As a parent, I’m always concerned about the safety of our children and walking to and from the school.”
He said that the traffic light that was installed at Nassau and Beekman Sts. should help.
“Unfortunately, we live in a congested area that now has a lot of residential buildings,” he said.
Safety at Spruce and Peck Slip School, which will open in the Seaport this fall, is also a reason Markel wanted to join the board.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of the process,” said Markel. “I’m excited about having open dialogue about these issues. I’m looking forward to giving back to the community as best I can.”
— DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC
