The Bronx Community Board 11 Ethics and Disciplinary Committee voted to advance a defamation complaint filed by Grace Marrero (Case 1117), who told the committee she believes board members coordinated to block her Allerton Avenue food festival and made false statements about her organization and its permits. The committee agreed to discuss next steps, including possible remedies, at its next meeting and to review meeting video referenced by the complainant.

Grace Marrero identified herself as the founder of the Alex and Barbs Block Association and said she has organized block parties and a hip-hop festival for more than a decade. She told the committee that a separate food festival historically associated with the Allerton International Merchants had changed hands over time and that, when she sought to run a food festival, "lies were told" by other board participants that led to her street-activity permit not being approved.

Marrero alleged that board member Deborah Kowalik and members of the Allerton International Merchants Association coordinated to oppose her permit and that another attendee, Veronica Castro, spoke against Marrero at committee meetings despite holding a leadership role in the merchants'9 association. Marrero said the statements were on video and asked the committee to treat them as slander and a conflict of interest.

During committee discussion, members suggested procedural steps: reviewing the meeting video (Marrero cited an hour-and-26-minute mark in a June joint public hearing/transportation meeting), confirming permit application records through the city portal, and offering Marrero an opportunity to resubmit a complaint that enumerates additional named individuals and the specific remedies sought. The chair noted that the committee typically decides on the written complaint as filed and that callers should not change their requested remedies during testimony.

Public commenters including Diane and Kate Cardona spoke in support of Marrero, saying board members should disclose affiliations with community associations and avoid acting on matters where they have a possible conflict of interest. One commenter urged better transparency and training for board members on conflicts and permit procedures.

The committee passed a motion to advance Marrero's complaint for defamation (Case 1117) and moved next steps including tabling deliberation on specific consequences until the next meeting so members could review video evidence and confirm permit records. The committee also discussed approving other pending street-activity permits while leaving the disputed permit subject to additional review; a motion to approve the broader set of permits with the contested item held for further consideration appeared in committee discussion and was seconded.

Next steps: committee members said staff will pull the cited meeting video and permit portal records and the complainant may resubmit or amend her complaint to name additional individuals if she chooses. The committee scheduled further consideration of remedies and possible sanctions at its next meeting.