On September 20, 2021, East River Park Action formally asked the Governor of the State of New York, the Honorable Kathy Hochul, to convene an investigation into the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project immediately, especially the sewer infrastructure alterations, given that the tragic removal of nearly 1,000 drainage – and air quality – critical trees could begin at any moment.
ERPA pointed out that such an inquiry can be made part of, or can provide crossover information and fact-finding for the Governor’s announced “after-action report” on Hurricane Ida, where, as the Governor herself pointed out, intense rainfall “isn’t going to happen every 500 years, and may happen again next week.”
ERPA argued that the process irregularities and compromised (if not potentially fraudulent) decision-data used in both the Environmental Impact Statement and contracting agreements arguably constitute a significant portion of the “intelligence failures in terms of our preparedness” the Governor said that she intended to uncover.
Specifically, ERPA requested that the Governor’s office direct an immediate investigation under Executive Law 63 or other applicable legal provisions into the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project actions and decisions listed on the attached Addendum. ERPA further requested that the Governor take any available appropriate steps to halt NYSDEC approvals or other affirmative New York State Agency participation in or approvals of this project, including contracting actions, until a full investigation into project design, impacts, funding, and contracting is completed.
The New York Attorney-General the Honorable Letitia James was among those copied in the Governor’s letter.
To see the letter in pdf format, use this link:
Please contact the Governor and ask that she orders a pause in the execution of ESCR until an investigation requested by ERPA is conducted;
By phone: 1-518-474-8390 (9:00 AM – 5:00pm)
By email: Use the Contact the Governor link in her website. It offers choices of subjects, among them environment, or health or parks and recreation. People can choose. https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
By US mail:
The Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Bravo
Great letter to Gov Hochul, et al. Bravo to all who wrote, or did research and analysis. Let’s stop this travesty. Thank YOU ERPA, for working so hard to save our beautiful park!
I Demand that e the East River Park resiliency project would be a shining example for NY State by balancing community needs with a forward thinking resilient, bio -diverse and environmentally just plan that serves the health and well-being of the diverse Lower Eastside.
Don’t take away our park!
I wrote the following to the Governor:
Dear Governor Hochul
I am asking that you order a pause in the execution of ESCR (East Side Coastal Resiliency) until an investigation requested by ERPA (East River Park Action) is conducted; the 80-year-old park contains irreplaceable trees—certainly irreplaceable by saplings—that provide a buffer zone for the emissions of the 24-hour traffic on the FDR Drive.
I live two blocks from East River park, and am plagued by asthma-like symptoms that are a result of the fall of the Twin Towers twenty years ago. There is a high rate of asthma in my and other poor neighborhoods in the city, and to remove the mature trees seems rash and unnecessary, particularly when a viable alternative plan that would preserve the trees and the park was introduced, voted on, accepted, and hastily replaced by the new plan that would completely destroy the park.
The park is a buffer zone for many people, and provides recreation, relaxation, and serenity for thousands of people every year. Please call a halt to this disastrous plan until a full environmental review can be completed.
Sincerely yours,
Beth Sopko
30-plus-year resident of East 8th Street (between avenues B and C)
Dear Governor Hochul,
I have been a resident of the East Village & Lower East side for almost 50 years. The park is a place of respite and joy for all residents of the city, but particularly the diverse and vibrant communities closest to it. The current ESCR is an act of environmental racism. Despite repeated entreaties from East River Park Action and other concerned citizens and council members for a stay to further study the impacts of the plan, the city has all begun implementation. The current plan for coastal resiliency ignores recommendations from the previously approved and diligently researched plan made with the community over several years. An environmental holocaust will be the result for this historically underserved area of the city, affecting the air quality and quality of life of its residents for years. The critical need for the fresh air and green space the park provides has increased during the COVID pandemic, has been ignored, our voices silenced by those in power.
I join Beth Sopko in asking you to please call a halt to this disastrous plan until a full environmental review can be completed.
With trust and hope,
Rebecca Perrin