An open letter to City Council Member Carlina Rivera I read in City & State that you said I was behind the “Chinzilla” poster* and another with an image of you and the mayor. I am not behind either poster nor is East River Park Action. I apologized and withdrew the social media post I…
Author: Pat
Art Destruction
Toilets Overflow but Erasing Art Comes First The city was in a big hurry to demolish protest art in East River Park this morning. They’re in a big hurry to demolish East River Park itself. Why? A woman approached a Parks Department employee on the promenade by the amphitheater where six official vehicles parked. “The…
Unanswered
I asked questions in July. It’s September. We need action. “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” –Shirley Chisholm City Council Member Carlina Rivera and I (along with Rivera’s staffer Ivy Rosado) Zoomed on July 21. We went over many vital questions about the East Side Coastal Resiliency…
Deference to Racist Rezoning
Corey Johnson is running for Mayor. Carlina Rivera is running for a second term. Keep an eye on where they get their campaign contributions. This city does not have to continue to be owned and operated by real estate and construction. Does it?
Not One Sandbag
The city says no to Interim Flood Protection We have been asking for temporary flood barriers because hurricane seasons are getting more fierce It’ll be at least three years before the city’s massive East Side Coastal Resiliency project will have flood walls that will block storm surges. A sketchy study proved it’s not possible. That’s…
East River Park Oak Tree
(after Marianne Moore’s “The Camperdown Elm”) by Marcella Durand Dear Mayor Bill de Blasio, I choose as my treean oak that standssomewhat alonein a triangular lawn-like spacefacing the East Riverin East River Park,which is slatedto be demolishedthis coming Septemberper your opaque and confusingplans to, at some point,protect the Lower East Sidefrom floodingduring superstorms. The oak…
Unalienable rights Alienated
New York State has written guidelines on the alienation law that can help as you write your affidavit for our lawsuit. Here are some useful excerpts. Handbook on the Alienation and Conversion of Municipal Parkland New York State’s General City Law…explicitly provides that city-owned parkland is “inalienable” and requires legislative approval to alienate… The use…
Mitigation Blues
Where am I supposed to go? When demolition of East River Park starts in 2020, the city should have alternate spaces for park users–called “mitigation.” There is no mitigation planned for these park users. The mitigation that has been promised is pitiful, and what is planned is not likely to be ready when the bulldozers…
East River Park to be Buried Under Flimsy Promises
Toothless agreement satisfies City Council Committee The City Council Land Use Committee passed the flood control plan that will demolish East River Park. The plan goes before the full City Council Nov. 14. It is expected to pass, and bulldozing will begin next year. Before the vote Nov. 12 (10 Yes, 1 abstention), City…
We Rallied. The Subcommittee Voted for the ugly, unnecessary project that will Kill East River Park.
We delivered 9,000 petitions from three grassroots groups. We have a letter signed by 34 groups. Most everyone in our Lower East Side/East Village opposes the East Side Coastal Resiliency Plan to demolish East River Park since there are better ways to gain flood control. We lost the first critical vote Nov. 4 in the…
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