CITY HALL — State elected officials plan to overstep the mayor in the fight to save a 40-year-old Williamsburg community center if he doesn't support using eminent domain, they said Monday.
Assemblyman Joseph Lentol plans to reintroduce a bill in January allowing the government to buy the Swinging Sixties Senior Center at 211 Ainslie St., which has been called a "second home" to locals, using eminent domain.
After building was sold for $4.5 million about a year ago, the new landlords, father-son duo Victor and Henry Einhorn, began eviction proceedings.
But while Mayor Bill de Blasio expressed interest in saving the center, he has yet to agree to use eminent domain on the building, Lentol said.
Lentol and other elected officials, including a representative from Governor Andrew Cuomo's office, called on de Blasio to support the idea again on Monday.
If he doesn't, the bill will be written to let the state take action on its own, Lentol said.
"We have to do what we have to do," Lentol said. "It's not an ultimatum. We'll pursue all weapons at our disposal [to save the center]."
Lentol introduced a similar bill last year, but it died in the State Senate. The assemblyman said he's confident a new bill will pass this year in the senate, where State Senator Martin Dilan will be introducing it.
The mayor's office did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The senior center, which also hosts Community Board 1 meetings and universal pre-K classes, has long been a "second home" to locals, seniors have said.
Borough President Eric Adams has already allocated $1 million to buy back the building, a representative said Monday. Councilman Antonio Reynoso and nonprofit St. Nicks Alliance have also allocated funds to purchase the building.
Elected officials said they "come in peace" to talk to the mayor, who they called on to fulfill campaign promises of building a more equitable city.
But they are determined to buy the center without him, they said.
"We need immediate action now," Lentol said. "We're not going away."
