Catherine McVay Hughes, Former CB1 Chair, Steps Down from the Board

Catherine McVay Hughes, who announced on Wednesday that she will not reapply for CB1 membership. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib

Catherine McVay Huges, the tireless, two-term former chair of Community Board 1 and a  20-year CB1 veteran, informed the board in a letter this afternoon that she is not reapplying for membership.

Hughes, in an exclusive interview with the Trib, said Wednesday that she wants to put all her energy into environmental and World Trade Center health issues.

“Right now the number one thing to focus on is sustainable cities and the impact to climate change,” said McVay Hughes, who serves on a host of committees and task forces dealing with resiliency as well as 9/11 health. “And with the change in administrations,” she added, “this is more urgent than ever.”

Last June McVay Hughes surprised many on the board by declaring that she would not run for a third term as chair of CB1. But with a Feb. 3 deadline approaching, it was only on Wednesday that she publicly revealed that she would be resigning from the board.

Asked what she would miss about the Community Board she replied with a laugh: “I actually enjoyed going to the meetings.”

And it’s been fun, she said, “working at the bedrock of democracy with so many smart people. When given the opportunity, people really want to do the right thing.”

“And,” she added, “it’s been a wonderful run.”