LOWER MANHATTAN — Lower Manhattan's Community Board 1 has a new chairman.
Longtime CB1 member Anthony Notaro was elected chairman in an uncontested bid for the seat last week, after Catherine McVay Hughes, chair of the board since 2012, decided she would not run for a third term.
McVay Hughes, who's lived a block from the World Trade Center site for nearly 30 years with her family, had become known as a passionate and dedicated advocate for Lower Manhattan. Before being elected chairwoman, she served as the board's vice chair for six years.
At last week's full board meeting, McVay Hughes was sent off with a host of praise from local elected officials.
“It’s hard to say goodbye, because Catherine has just been a wonderful person to work with,” said Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, who lauded Hughes’ involvement with numerous committees and task forces over the years — including her work on storm resiliency funding after Hurricane Sandy, and years of work in the aftermath of 9/11, from rebuilding to health issues.
“We will never know how the hell she does all this,” Glick said.
Among other gifts of appreciation, a tearful McVay Hughes was given a framed rendering of the World Trade Center site, signed by all of the buildings' architects.
“There have been many challenges, from 9/11 to the financial collapse to Superstorm Sandy,” she said. “We did good work, we worked hard and we did it by working together.”
McVay Hughes will stay on the board as regular member.
Notaro, a longtime Battery Park City resident, is also the chair of CB1's Battery Park City committee.
Paul Hovitz, a member of the community board for more than 25 years, was elected as the CB's vice chair.
