Dolly Williams
Encyclopedia
Dolly Williams is co-founder and CFO of A. Williams Construction, a Brooklyn, NY general contracting company. She was a member of the New York City Planning Commission from 2002-07.
, has lived in Brooklyn, NY since 1971. She and her husband, Adonijah "Carl" Williams, have two children and reside in Park Slope, Brooklyn
.
A graduate of St. Francis College with a B.S. in Accounting, in 1979 Williams and her husband founded A. Williams Trucking & Backhoe Trenching Company (also known as A. Williams Construction), which has grown into a multi-million dollar business with 25 employees. A. Williams Construction received the U.S. Small Business Administration
's Contractor of the Year Award in 1995, Crain’s Small Business
Award in 1999 for Contractor of the Year, and Contractor Firm of the Year in 2001 by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Williams received the U.S. Small Business Administration
Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award for the New York District in 1998, and was honored as the 1999 Woman of the Year by the Brooklyn Boys & Girls Club.
. As a member of the Commission (and the only appointee from Brooklyn), she was involved with reviewing and voting on development and land use in New York City
, including the controversial Atlantic Yards
proposal for downtown Brooklyn, a project which would include a new arena
for the New Jersey Nets
.
In 2004 it was revealed that Williams had invested a million dollars in real estate developer Bruce Ratner's
purchase of the New Jersey Nets
. Williams subsequently announce that she would recuse herself from any further decisions about the Atlantic Yards project.
In 2007 Williams was fined $4,000 by the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board for voting in support of Atlantic Yards while at the same time investing in the project. Borough President Marty Markowitz
declined to reappoint Williams to the Planning Commission, and named Shirley McRae as her successor.
Personal life
Williams, born in Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
, has lived in Brooklyn, NY since 1971. She and her husband, Adonijah "Carl" Williams, have two children and reside in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Park Slope is a neighborhood in western Brooklyn, New York City's most populous borough. Park Slope is roughly bounded by Prospect Park West to the east, Fourth Avenue to the west, Flatbush Avenue to the north, and 15th Street to the south, though other definitions are sometimes offered. Generally...
.
A graduate of St. Francis College with a B.S. in Accounting, in 1979 Williams and her husband founded A. Williams Trucking & Backhoe Trenching Company (also known as A. Williams Construction), which has grown into a multi-million dollar business with 25 employees. A. Williams Construction received the U.S. Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
's Contractor of the Year Award in 1995, Crain’s Small Business
Crain Communications Inc.
Crain Communications Inc is a publishing conglomerate based in Detroit, Michigan. The company publishes a variety of trade newspapers, including some city-based business newspapers, such as Crain's Cleveland Business, Crain's Chicago Business, Crain's Detroit Business, and Crain's New York Business...
Award in 1999 for Contractor of the Year, and Contractor Firm of the Year in 2001 by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Williams received the U.S. Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award for the New York District in 1998, and was honored as the 1999 Woman of the Year by the Brooklyn Boys & Girls Club.
Politics
Williams has served on the boards of the Red Hook/Gowanus Chamber of Commerce, the South Brooklyn Empire Zone and the NYS Association of Minority Contractors. She was chairperson of the Caribbean American Center for New York, and has served as a member of Brooklyn Community Board Six.New York City Planning Commission
In 2002, Williams was appointed to the New York City Planning Commission by Brooklyn Borough President Marty MarkowitzMarty Markowitz
Marty Markowitz is the Borough President of Brooklyn, New York City, the most populous borough in New York City with nearly 2.6 million residents. Markowitz was first elected borough president in 2001 after serving 23 years as a New York State Senator...
. As a member of the Commission (and the only appointee from Brooklyn), she was involved with reviewing and voting on development and land use in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, including the controversial Atlantic Yards
Atlantic Yards
The Atlantic Yards is a mixed-use commercial and residential development project of 16 high-rise buildings, under construction in Prospect Heights, adjacent to Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene in Brooklyn, New York City...
proposal for downtown Brooklyn, a project which would include a new arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
for the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
In 2004 it was revealed that Williams had invested a million dollars in real estate developer Bruce Ratner's
Bruce Ratner
Bruce Ratner is an American real estate developer and is a current minority owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets...
purchase of the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Williams subsequently announce that she would recuse herself from any further decisions about the Atlantic Yards project.
In 2007 Williams was fined $4,000 by the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board for voting in support of Atlantic Yards while at the same time investing in the project. Borough President Marty Markowitz
Marty Markowitz
Marty Markowitz is the Borough President of Brooklyn, New York City, the most populous borough in New York City with nearly 2.6 million residents. Markowitz was first elected borough president in 2001 after serving 23 years as a New York State Senator...
declined to reappoint Williams to the Planning Commission, and named Shirley McRae as her successor.