Liu, Braunstein present proclamation to Bernard Haber, NYC’s longest serving community board member

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Contact: Scott Sieber: 917-789-8758 | press@johnliusenate.com

LIU, BRAUNSTEIN PRESENT PROCLAMATION TO BERNARD HABER, NYC’S LONGEST SERVING COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBER

Bernie Haber, one of NYC’s original Community Board members, retires after 53 years

Douglaston, NY – New York State Senator John Liu and State Assembly Member Ed Braunstein issued a proclamation recognizing the exemplary service of Bernard Haber, NYC’s longest serving community board member.

Haber, 94, was appointed to Queens Community Board 11 in 1969 by then Borough President Sidney Leviss when community boards first started in New York City. He was elected as Chairman of the Board, a role he filled for over 30 years, and is the last member of NYC’s original cohort of community boards.

Liu and Braunstein paid a surprise visit to Haber’s home during last night’s virtual CB 11 meeting to present him with a proclamation honoring his exemplary service to his community and state.

State Senator John Liu stated, “Bernie Haber is the epitome of community service. For over 50 years, his insights and institutional knowledge have been instrumental in shaping communities in northeast Queens and beyond. Over the years, I have personally sought his guidance on many issues related to everything from land use, parks, transportation and more, and time and again Bernie has shown to have his finger on the pulse of our community’s concerns. His absence on CB 11 will be greatly missed, but his presence will be felt for generations to come.”

State Assembly Member Ed Braunstein stated, “Northeast Queens is a special place to live, work and raise a family, and that’s due in part to civic-minded people like Bernie Haber. As the longest-serving NYC Community Board Member and a civil engineer by trade, Bernie brought a valued perspective and expertise to Board 11 that will be sorely missed. The community is grateful for his hard work and I thank him for his 50+ years of dedicated service. It was a pleasure to visit Bernie with Senator Liu and I wish him well ahead of his retirement.”

Bernard Haber stated, “More than a half century is a long time to serve a community board, but I’m honored to have spent my career working with my engineering company for 50 years, being a member [active and reserve] of the US Air Force for 37 years, and knowing my friend, John Liu for his entire career since his days in the City Council. Just as John and Ed honored me for my work on Community Board 11, I thank them for their service to the people in Queens.”

CB 11 District Manager Joe Marziliano stated, “Bernie Haber has been an inspiration for all of us that have worked alongside him for 53 years at Community Board 11. He is a true class act, and is always able to get so much done with massive amounts of institutional knowledge. As a District Manager I can say that as a Board Member, Bernie shines as an example of how to serve as a good steward of the neighborhood. I will always be grateful for his counsel and friendship."

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