Deconstruct the video of the “Frontline Communities Coalition” rally on December 18th https://thevillagesun.com/you-dont-speak-for-us-pro-resiliency-plan-rally-slams-park-defenders and what you see is an image makeover for supporters of the De Blasio plan that is now obliterating East River Park despite wide community opposition. It is certainly interesting how speakers at the rally evade the history of this controversy with…
Tag: east river park
Don’t Sign, Scott
East River Park Action rallied July 27, 2021, to urge NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer to withhold approval for the controversial low-bid contract that will destroy East River Park. Construction for the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project at East River Park could start once approved. Nearly 100 people came with creative signs and chants and solid…
Stringer Declines to Sign Contract
Park Destruction Stalls for a Possible 60 days On Wednesday, July 28, news broke that Comproller Scott Stringer did not sign the IPC Partners contract at hand, but instead sent it back to the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) to address concerns. This came after Christopher Marte, winner of the Democratic primary race for…
Alienation Lawsuit Appeal
The City has strenuously avoided asking for “alienation” approval from the NYS legislature. East River Park Action insists. The more that is uncovered about the City’s East Side Coastal Resiliency project, the more it is clear that accountability is critical. Attorney Arthur Schwartz filed a brief April 30 asking the appellate court to require state…
Big March to Save the Park
A crowd of some 500 marched from Tompkins Square Park to East River Park Amphitheater Sunday, April 18. For more photos, including all the candidates/advocates, see the photo album: https://patarnow.zenfolio.com/p551069889 Speakers Eileen Myles, MCDaniel Strongwalker Thomas, The Delaware Nation Lenni Lenape Statement from Kiara Williams, co-founder Warriors in the GardenEmily Johnson; LES land protector Rev….
Lawsuit Filed for Unredacted Value Engineering Report
What’s wrong with the flood control plan for the Lower East Side? Let’s see the report and find out, says a new lawsuit. NYC may have to reveal the contents of a hidden study that supposedly justified the complete destruction of East River Park and the building of a giant levee at double the cost…
Over Budget
The CONSTRUCTION BIDS are in, and they are off-the-charts. Not in a good way. The lowest bids for the East Side Coastal Resiliency project will cost $73 million more than the $1.45 billion budget… and they’ve barely started. These bids do not include the new ‘parallel conveyance’ for the enhanced sewer system, or other major components of the plan. Where…
Open Air Quality
How we can get the information we need to breathe free LES Breathe took part in a fascinating panel during Open Data Week, an annual knowledge-sharing event sponsored by NYC Open Data. That’s the agency that provides access to the free public data published by New York City and partners, and the nonprofit BetaNYC, which…
A Student’s View
This letter is from Lower East side eighth grader Amalia H. She tells Gov. Cuomo how East River Park is her refuge and gives a cogent argument for a change in plans to demolish the park. The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York StateNYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 RE: East River…
Value Engineering, Redacted
Wait, wait, there is a Value Engineering Study. That’s the report the de Blasio administration cited in 2018 when they announced a change in the flood control plan for East River Park that would double the cost and bury the entire park in eight feet of fill. Yet when we submitted a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)…
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