Dedicated Brooklyn couple honored as 84th Precinct’s community heroes

Mark and Cheryl Gelbs stepped up and 'did the work.'

November 13, 2024 Mary Frost

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon presented Mark Gelbs, former president of the 84th Precinct Community Council, with a NYS Assembly Citation on Oct. 15. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

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DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Two of the 84th Precinct’s civilian heroes — Boerum Hill residents Mark and Cheryl Gelbs — were honored with New York State Assembly Citations at the Precinct’s Community Council meeting at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Oct. 15.

The couple has quietly yet determinedly worked for years to enhance community relations with the police and improve the quality of life in the 84th Precinct. The precinct, under Commanding Officer Captain Thomas Maffei, includes Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill and Vinegar Hill and a bit of Downtown Brooklyn.

Mark Gelbs stepped down in August as the president of the Council. Long a board member, he took over the position in 2017 after the passing of the former president Leslie Lewis (Tony Ibelli briefly served as acting president). Cheryl Gelbs, who also stepped down, served as Council treasurer even longer.

Peter Lanfranca is the Council’s current president, and Tim Blaine has taken on duties as treasurer.

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon presented Cheryl Gelbs, left, former treasurer of the 84th Precinct Community Council, with a NYS Assembly Citation on Oct. 15. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

‘The unsung heroes’

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon presented both members of the duo with individual citations.

“The 84th Precinct Community Council only happens because people take leadership roles — people who put in their time and effort,” Simon told the crowd. “Everybody complains about something, but nobody wants to do the work. The people who step up and do the work, they are the unsung heroes.”

The Gelbs have improved the quality of life in their Brooklyn community for years, and through the Council have helped to unite residents with their local police, Simon said. “Everybody is so grateful.”

Presenting Mark with his citation, Simon said, “Mark collaborated with the NYPD and community members to enhance public safety, improve quality of life and strengthen the police-community relations, while navigating through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring the Council continued uninterrupted.

84th Precinct Commanding Officer Captain Thomas Maffei, left, with Peter Lanfranca, current president of the 84th Precinct Community Council, at the August Nights Out event. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

“He played a vital role in addressing important community issues by collaborating with local authorities and elected officials on key matters such as managing vendors on the Brooklyn Bridge, tackling placard parking abuse, improving safety around Atlantic Avenue and working towards a solution for sidewalk vendors near Goodwill,” Simon added.

As to the female half of the duo, Simon joked, “Leslie Lewis roped Cheryl — without whom Mark would be nothing — into being treasurer.”

During her tenure, “Cheryl brought order and clarity to the financial workings of the Council, ensuring that all records were accurate and up to date and providing a solid foundation for future operations,” Simon said.

Calling her “a determined change agent,” Simon said that Cheryl “is also a dedicated board member of the Boerum Hill Association and a member of Brooklyn Community Board 2,” and in this role, she has worked on land use applications, budget reviews and served as the former vice chair of the Transportation & Public Safety Committee.

Under the couple’s leadership, the Council fostered community events that brought together residents, seniors and children, including holiday toy drives and special programming, Simon added.

During the Night Out event at Brooklyn Bridge Park in August, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes also recognized the Gelbs, to whom he presented Certificates of Achievement from the New York State Senate. Councilmember Lincoln Restler also recognized the couple with a City Council proclamation honoring their service to the community.