Seasoned Community Activist, New CB Member: Rob Solano

Rob Solano is the perfect combination of formal and casual. Dressed in a suit, tie and crisp white button-down, he sits at the corner table of one of his favorite lunch spots in Southside Williamsburg, Giando’s, his back to the sweeping waterfront view, and leans against the glass.

Solano has been deeply involved in the Williamsburg community since he was a teenager, living on Bedford and S. 4th street, in the house where he was born and raised, and as of Tuesday he is now officially a member of Community Board 1. Solano was appointed by Councilmember Diana Reyna, and is immediately filling a position recently vacated by Annie Beauchamp. Solano smiles easily, and talks warmly about his native Williamsburg, and his excitement about his recent appointment.

“Honestly, I’m really excited to listen and learn,” Solano said with a smile. “And also, to have more than two minutes to say what I want to say!”

Though he has only been a CB member for a few days, Solano is no stranger to the monthly board meetings at Swingin’ Sixties: He is a regular attendee who often testifies at open hearings on pressing issues pertaining to the neighborhood, namely affordable housing—a topic about which Solano is particularly knowledgeable. Since 2003, Solano has been intimately involved with community-based organization Churches United—and later, the reincarnation of the organization, Churches United for Fair Housing—rallying on behalf of more equitable and affordable housing in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, and was recently hired full-time as Executive Director.

Though CUFH has earned a reputation for itself as staunch opponents of the Broadway Triangle Rezoning plan that was approved by the city council, the organization is much more than that: Solano and CUFH recently forged a partnership with Cornell University, and will begin working on collecting neighborhood narratives—with a focus on the Latino community—for their North Brooklyn Oral History Project. CUFH is also in the process of creating a website, NorthBrooklyn311, which will serve as a virtual hub for all information and resources offered by all community-based neighborhood organizations. In addition, CUFH is settling into their brand new location on Whipple Street—conveniently located right next to Solano’s apartment. As executive director, Solano aims to make sure that the Williamburg community has adequate access to fair and equitable housing, and all necessary resources. But most of all, Solano hopes to act as a proxy for the Southside, working on the residents’ behalf and making sure their voices are heard—a responsibility he takes seriously, and plans to carry with him to the Community Board.

“We were born and raised here, and these issues are very personal to us. I have opinions of what I think is right, but I’m always open to others to change my mind about things,” Solano said. “I want to build a bridge between old Williamsburg and new Williamsburg. There’s a lack of representation of old, Latino Williamsburg, and I hope to help make that connection through working for affordable housing in the community.”

“I also want to apologize to the members of the community board. I get very passionate during public hearings, and I want to make it clear that it’s about me just wanting people to hear my opinion,” Solano continued. “But I’m joining this body because I respect it. I want to start fresh, and I don’t want to be typecast. I’m willing to meet with anyone, and I hope to be invited to Teddy’s drinks after!”

Upon his appointment to the Community Board, Solano emphasized, above all else, his willingness to listen, to discuss difficult and controversial issues, and his commitment to keeping an open mind.

“I don’t want to fight—I will respectfully agree or disagree,” Solano said. “This community needs some serious healing. I’ll have lunch with anyone—Cono’s or Gottlieb’s!—because this board represents a whole community, and out of all the neighborhoods in New York City, this is some community.”