NYCHA tenants launch petition to stop current East Side flood plan
“A group called NYCHA Speaks is behind the petition, which demands that local officials…reconsider the current plan, which would raise the park by 8 to 10 feet along 2.5 miles of the park along the East River.
“Our homes are next to the East River Park,” the petition reads, “and we are concerned about the impact that the full-scale destruction of the park will have on our health and quality of life.”
Concerns about the city’s plan, according to Yvette Mercedes and Curtis White of NYCHA Speaks, include pollution from contaminants being released into the air, and the loss of green space, including nearly 1,000 trees. The group said it has sent the petition to local officials, including all City Council members, state senators, assembly members and Mayor Bill de Blasio.”
On Nov. 4, the current plan passed the City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Sitings and Dispositions. The next vote is scheduled for Nov. 12 in the Land Use Committee, and then a full vote in the City Council on Nov. 14.
East River Park ACTION, has recently presented its own petition against the plan, which collected around 2,000 local signatures.
Read more here.
Ecological Cities event to focus on East Side waterfront
“Artists, dancers, singers, musicians and performers of all stripes are invited to join a free panel discussion and planning meeting of Earth Celebrations Ecological City Climate Solutions Action on Wed., Nov. 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Loisaida, Inc. Center, at 710 E. Ninth Street, between Avenues C and D.”
“Featured climate solution presentations will be by Aziz Dehkan, NYC Community Garden Coalition; Wendy Brawer, Green Map System; DeeDee Maucher, MoS Collective; Howard Brandstein, Sixth Street Community Center; and Felicia Young, Earth Celebrations.”
Don’t Kill East River Park for a Bad Flood Plan
From the Lo-Down: Op Ed by East River Park ACTION founder Pat Arnow.
“Troubling Questions, Vague Promises
There are deeply troubling unanswered questions as this plan races toward passage in the City Council Nov. 14. The city has promised to look into interim protection and timelines that have not been worked out. For instance, there is still no report on how long it will take the eight feet of fill to settle before a new park can be built or how to deal with contaminated soil that will be dug up when ConEd works with their underground lines. We have no written guarantees that the city will deal with these or any other problems with the plan.”
Read more here.
