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…
Category: East River Park
Rebellion, Celebration, Suit Up
Protest with Extinction Rebellion Saturday Celebrate and Honor East River Park ACTION with Rev. Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir Sunday Get seriously legal in 2020 Saturday, December 21, noon to 2:00, Union Square (14th St. side). Join Extinction Rebellion in a protest against the destruction of East River Park. We can help save the…
Alienated
It’s how we feel and also a legal term that can help East River Park First, some background Last fall the City abruptly jettisoned a plan formed by Lower East Side residents and experts working together, to shield our community from the negative impacts of flooding caused by extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy. They…
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…
boondoggle
boon·dog·gle \ ˈbün-ˌdä-gəl noun: a wasteful or impractical project or activity often involving graft — Merriam-Webster Example: New York City’s flood control plan for East River Park is a boondoggle—a $1.45 billion unnecessary destruction of a wonderful, much-used park. Our park survived Hurricane Sandy. It won’t survive New York City’s flood control plan—unless…
Report on the Report on Flood Control for East River Park
Brian McGrath’s letter to City Council Member Carlina Rivera: It is with great concern that I write in response to the independent report on the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR). I lived in the East Village for twenty years, and continue to work nearby where I advocate for my former neighbors on community issues…
Lies the City Tells Us
At hearings and meetings, hundreds of us point out misinformation from the City about the East Side Coastal Resiliency project to bury East River Park under eight feet of landfill. We Really Listen Maybe the biggest lie is that the Department of Design and Construction and Parks Department are listening to the community. If they…
A Mountain of Testimony Against a Pile of Landfill
“If this was caused by a natural process, we would call it a natural disaster. If it was caused by anyone other than ourselves, we would call it an act of war.” Here are excerpts from some of the compelling and knowledgable testimony submitted to the City Council committee that will vote on the East…
Bloody new scene in the horror movie of the flood plan for East River Park
Our park is still going to be killed, just in a slower and more messy, ugly way. The Mayor’s press release today announces Phased Construction of East River Park. It is what many in the community have demanded, says the release. Read the text of it here: This is not good. Our park will still be…