Laudatory Sendoff for McVay Hughes on Last Day as CB1 Chair

At their monthly meeting, Community Board 1 members and staff gather around Catherine McVay Hughes, center, for a group photo. The meeting was held on the 68th floor of 4 World Trade Center. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib

“We’ll never know how the hell she does all this.”

So said Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, in a statement that seemed to speak for the many elected officials and their representatives who were on hand Tuesday, June 28, to shower Catherine McVay Hughes with accolades, proclamations, commendations, citations and plaques on her last day as chair of Community Board 1.

Standing teary-eyed before the board at their monthly meeting, Hughes—who chose not to run for a third two-year term—listened to one speaker after another laud her passionate advocacy on behalf of Lower Manhattan for flood resiliency funding, 9/11 health issues, quality-of-life concerns and more.

“Catherine knows everything and she has the numbers in her head and she can tell you about ninety construction projects going on, where they are, and why they need coordination,” said Councilwoman Margaret Chin, who presented McVay Hughes with a Council proclamation.

“No one fought harder for the residents of Lower Manhattan than you did,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler said in a letter read to the board.

In an unveiling that brought a chorus of “oohs and ahhs,” Silverstein Properties presented McVay Hughes with a large framed rendering of the World Trade Center site, signed by all the buildings’ architects.

“Calatrava doesn’t sign anything for less than a million dollars,” said Janno Lieber, Silverstein’s director of World Trade Center development. “We hope you take this with you as a reminder of how far you got us, together as partners.”

In brief remarks, McVay Hughes thanked those who had supported her over the years while serving as the board’s chair and vice chair, and before that heading the World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee and Financial District Committee.  

“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 is succeeded by CB1 Vice President Anthony Notaro, who ran unopposed in board elections held that evening. (Veteran board member Paul Hovitz, co-chair of the Youth and Education Committee, became the new vice president, defeating Tribeca Committee Chair Elizabeth Lewinsohn.) Notaro, a longtime board member, chairs CB1’s Battery Park City Committee. He also is president of the First Precinct Community Council and is a co-founder and continuing organizer of the annual Battery Park City Block Party.

“It is a bittersweet night,” Notaro said, speaking to McVay Hughes. “You have been a giant and an incredible example for all of us. And I don’t know how we’ll be able to follow your example.”