Mr. Speaker, when residents of Marine Park were being threatened by the New York City Department of Transportation because Parks Department trees were tearing up their sidewalks, Carmine Carro confronted city hall.

When two women from Marine Park broke the gender barrier by competing in a Citywide boccie tournament, Carmine Carro cheered them on.

When vandals sprayed racist graffiti on PS 207 in Marine Park, Carmine Carro donated all the paint and supplies the students needed to whitewash the wall.

When Carmine passed away earlier this week, New York lost a classic. Carmine was an old school New Yorker, devoted to his community, Marine Park, and a dogged advocate for his neighbors.

Carmine moved to Marine Park in the 1960s, and rose to become president of the Marine Park Civic Association--one of the oldest civic associations in New York City. Under Carmine, the MPCA built on its long tradition of making Marine Park one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Carmine worked every year to organize a Halloween walk attended by as many as 20,000 community members. He served as Park Warden for Marine Park for five years. He was a member of the local school board and vice-chairman of Community Board 18.

Carmine Carro was the Mayor of Marine Park. He represented the best of what New York can be. He will be sorely missed.