Let’s keep it from becoming Undead
It was a big beautiful day on the Lower East Side Saturday, Sept. 21. Some 400 people turned out for our March and Rally to Save East River Park from a dreadful flood control plan that will close and kill our park.
We had lots of energy and fun. People in bright costumes led the march winding through the East Village and into East River Park, down our fabulous promenade, and to a rally where we told stories and shared facts and demands (don’t Bury our Park!)
Rev. Billy and the Church of the Stop Shopping Choir led us down the promenade, and we carried shovels so we could Bury the Plan Not the Park! Which we did under a big pile of compost.
We sang and danced and yelled. Here are some photos in random order from our talented friends. Send more photos and video to: ourpark@eastriverparkaction.org
Thanks to photographers Ken Browne, Steve Giles, and others who sent in their pictures.
Thanks to the many people who organized and made our wonderful event happen: Howard, Jen, Ted, Harriet, Marie, Kendra, Amanda and Amanda, Barbara and Barbara, Wendy, Julie, Delphine, Natalie, George, Joan, Danny, Lauren, Anthony, Sarah, Kate, Diana, Daisy, Dave, Tommy, Charles, Jamie (not Jamie Torres-Springer), Amy, Tiq, Felicia, Fran, Rev. Billy and the Church of the Stop Shopping Choir–everyone who made signs, handed out and plastered up flyers, spoke up, turned out, dressed up, yelled, and raised hell to bury the plan not the park! Listen NYC!
New York Post wrote a story with good photos!
Protesters hold mock funeral to urge city to save East River Park
by Melissa Klein and Olivia Bensimon, Sept. 21, 2019
NY1 coverage of march and rally
East Village Marches in Protest of Plan to Bury East River Park
Miliana Bocher, Contributing Writer, Washington Square News, NYU’s Independent Student Newspaper, September 23, 2019
“Living on the Lower East Side, where there’s more and more traffic, we’re getting more and more kids with asthma,” Rachel Bernstein said. “We need trees more than ever to help us breathe.”
Photos by Julie Powell
On Monday, a story on the City Planning Commission’s disappointing but expected vote, showed protesters at the meeting (that’s us!), and gave a shoutout to our protest Saturday. It’s us who lets the city know we oppose the plan to bury the park!
East Side Flood Protection Plan Gets Go-Ahead From City Planning
By Sydney Pereira, Patch Staff, Sept. 23, 2019
“…A hotly contested plan to bury and rebuild East River Park to protect the area from flooding was approved by the City Planning Commission.”
“Hundreds of people protested the project on Saturday, holding a mock funeral for East River Park as summer comes to a close, the New York Post reported.”
It was a great day. I’m appreciative of all support given. NOW what do we do??? How about a march to Rivera’s office. How about we continue to let these people know THE PLAN IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!???? We need ACTION!! MORE ACTION..
You bet! Monday is the City Planning Commission vote on the plan. They are expected to approve it (they are mostly deBlasio appointees, and it’s the Mayor’s plan….). However, we are planning to attend and protest. September 23, 2019, 1:00 PM @ 120 Broadway (Concourse level), New York, NY, 10271
And please keep up pressure on our legislators. Here’s our Action Page with a informational flyer that can help when talking to city officials and some of their phone numbers and email addresses: http://eastriverparkaction.org/actions-now/
We have to put more efforts into informing the community with posters copy posters and COVER GRAND STREET WATER STREET AND GIVE POSTERS TO ALL THE BASEBALL GROUPS, SOCCER GROUPS, FOOTBALL GROUPS. TO TAKE HOME . Some of the groups come from neighboring areas that may not know what is going home.
Yvonne, please do send your photos and help us contact these groups. We do constant outreach, and it takes a lot of effort! Thanks for stepping up!
SAVE OUR PARK!!!!😊🇺🇸
It was a great event, and my husband and I were glad to be there. if we keep up the pressure we just may succeed in burying the plan for good! I agree — forget City Planning. Question is the final decision made by the City Council? Also, what is our plan? I know there is a limited review by a Dutch company. When will that be available?
Glad you were there Carol and Carol’s husband. The City Council will discuss the plan in Oct. and is expected to vote in November. There should be hearings, and we’ll keep you informed.
The limited review by the Dutch company is supposed to come out tomorrow morning. (Monday). His assignment was to evaluate the options in the Environmental Impact Statement. All of them are flawed. It’s like a gangster giving you a choice, “You want me to break your leg or your arm?” So we have low expectations. In fact, at the end of our interview with him, he advised us, “Manage your expectations.”
After the City Planning Commission votes tomorrow (if it’s yes), the plan will go to the City Council. There will be hearings. There will be an opportunity to persuade the Council to vote No. Our grassroots community is building. We need to be strong and loud so we don’t get bulldozed out of our park.
Desperately needed is an online petition. The skateboarders got OVER 30,000 signatures on theirs. The skateboarders WON ..We desperately need someone computer literate to set this up. I do not have those skills. If it’s an issue of money I am willing to make a donation. The power is within the PEOPLE. Our march and demonstration was GREAT but 300 people I fear is not enough participation to achieve our goals. Even very “busy” people can sign an online petition. Thank you for all your hard work. http://www.lestrackclub.com.
Hello Francis,
You are right! We are crafting an online petition to go with the written one we circulated at our march and rally. We can use donations! We use funds for administrative support, printing (we sure have a lot of flyers), and other supplies.
Sixth Street Community Center, a nonprofit organization that is helping to lead this fight for a better plan, is accepting donations on behalf of East River Park ACTION. When you hit this link, it should take you to a PayPal page. You’ll see a dropdown menu to choose East River Park ACTION. You can donate with a credit card or through PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=7TCc5B3b5CmSADIGhGWrXS0tFa15DZhlmetDMKS50AouL9fAVrd-NdgzFgpZw-6fUkWGd0&country.x=US&locale.x=US
Thank you for your encouragement and support for a better plan.