According to a media advisory, representatives from the Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), NYCHA TA Leadership, Coalition for a District Alternative (CODA), an independent political organization,
and members of the Frontline Communities Coalition will be in attendance.
Their media statement includes:
ESCR is one of many critical life-saving infrastructure projects needed to protect NYC residents from the devastating impacts of climate change. Without the completion of ESCR to provide flood protection, a resilient park, and improved drainage systems, Lower East Side including NYCHA's infrastructure will remain susceptible to deterioration, putting the future of residents at great risk of loss of life, evacuation, and potential loss of homes.
And:
Frontline Communities Coalition refutes the misinformation campaign specifically targeted to play into the fears of people of color and the residents of public housing. ESCR is about saving lives and in doing so it will also save the homes and East River Park itself for future generations.
This morning, the rally takes place at 11 on Sixth Street at FDR Drive between the Jacob Riis and Lillian Wald Houses.
2) Yesterday, the state Court of Appeals denied activists' bid to hear their case.
As NY1 reported:
In a terse, 20-word ruling, the court rejected allegations that the city side-stepped state law by not seeking a vote approving the plan in the state legislature. Judges in earlier phases of the suit had already ruled in the city’s favor twice.
The court also rejected the activists' motion to hold the city in contempt of court, after the city continued to cut down trees in the park following a judge's order in the case, issued last week that appeared to require the city to pause construction.
A lawyer for the activists, Arthur Schwartz, told the Post that the whole process "has been shameful."
"It has never been necessary to destroy the park in order to get flood protection for the people of the Lower East Side," Schwartz said. "Tens of thousands will lose a local park for the next 5 to 7 years, maybe more."
In an Instagram post, East River Park Action, which had been fighting the city over this version of the plan to stormproof the park, said:
This is truly a sad day, not only for us but for all parkland. This decision sets a terrible precedent for all parkland... All they have to do now is tack on some park-related excuse to whatever they're doing and it will not need to go through alienation or state oversight. They could put a building in a park and say it's for environmental research for the park and it will be ok. Thank you for your support. We are in mourning.
East River Park Action and other activists have said some alternatives could preserve much of the park and protect the Lower East Side and surrounding neighborhoods from a 100-year-flood event and sea-level rise — one that doesn't cause 1,000 mature trees to be chopped down.
In late 2018, the city surprised community stakeholders by announcing a complete overhaul of a plan discussed over four years of local meetings. As Gothamist reported: "City officials cited fears about maintaining a floodable green space, as well the disruption to motorists on the FDR Drive and potential dangers to Con Ed's power lines under the previous proposal."
The current plans call for gutting East River Park — burying the existing 57.5-acre park under fill and elevating it by 8-to-10 feet above sea level.
The city shut down East River Park below Stanton Street on Dec. 6 and has been working — sometimes around the clock — to cut down trees and remove park amenities. Workers are currently demolishing the amphitheater.
East River Park remains open above Houston Street. The city has previously estimated that work will be complete by the end of 2026.
"ESCR is one of many critical life-saving infrastructure projects needed to protect NYC residents from the devastating impacts of climate change. Without the completion of ESCR to provide flood protection, a resilient park, and improved drainage systems, Lower East Side including NYCHA's infrastructure will remain susceptible to deterioration, putting the future of residents at great risk of loss of life, evacuation, and potential loss of homes. "
ReplyDeletePer usual ZERO mention of the community inputted alternative plan that was thrown to the wind by BdB and the CC, especially Rivera. These organizations are not honest brokers here.
I am so disgusted with this city. The greed, corruption and pure disregard for residents. Our representatives don't care about us, and the rest of the city doesn't care because it's not their neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteThe is devastating. Wiping out an entire park would cause outrage in any other part of the city, but no one cares about the LES.
It's disappointing to see GOLES, which I think of as a good organization, siding with the city on this one and backing the dishonest "If you're against our plan, you must not want flood protection" narrative.
ReplyDeleteLocal residents and organizations like East River Park Action have been very clear: the LES needs flood protection. In fact, the activists have repeatedly pushed the city to say how they plan to provide interim flood protection in case another superstorm hits while the rebuilding work is going on. The city has not been very forthcoming on this point.
But the activists' argument is that you can provide effective flood protection without destroying everything in sight. The city's evasiveness, secretiveness and actual dishonesty suggests that they also know this to be true, but for reasons of their own (which have never been made entirely clear), they are determined to proceed with the 'scorched earth' approach.
It's just such a weird, weird plan. Removing so much deep rooted nature... and then adding dirt to raise the area. It's just so weird. Build a wall. What I hate is that I know it's just gonna be another bullshit Domino park with no actual feeling of nature.
ReplyDeleteOk...nothing useful to add. I'm just another local resident really angry about this, chiming in.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised and disappointed that GOLES is supporting this. They are smart and were very helpful for a neighbor of mine. Surprised they are supporting this bullshit plan, which will open the door to real estate development, and deny us a shady park for decades. This is just a doorway to gentrification; why support this? EVERYONE WANTS FLOOD CONTROL. The only question is whether it will be with or without a park. Sorry, but you are on the wrong side here.
ReplyDeleteGiven that they city continued the destruction during the court's stay order, I have a feeling it had the inside track that it would ultimately prevail in court. It was all a show!
ReplyDeleteLOL @ real estate development. You people are so obnoxious. It will remain a park. I can't STAND this plan and the way they did this but stfu about real estate, it Is still parkland, just a shitty plastic one.
ReplyDelete12:06 the inside track was that this specific suit was meritless.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that this is not a real estate scheme. The ruling by the court now allows a broad interpretation of the use of the park. That opens the door for "public-private partnership" and god knows what else. Governors Island is about to be developed/destroyed by commercial interest (another City Council gift to real estate) in this way: the original intended use is being twisted to allow commercial development. Just wait until this project is way over-budget, and there are calls for real-estate dollars to "rescue" the project. East River Park is too much prime and unprofitable (to the city and real estate) land to just be and enjoyed by poor people.
ReplyDeleteAgree, long term they will do something similar to what is about to happen on governor's island
DeleteWhich our local Councilmember voted for!
DeleteMayor Robber
ReplyDeleteThe pointless demolition of Manhattan’s East River Park
December 17, 2021 • Eileen Myles
https://www.artforum.com/slant/the-pointless-demolition-of-manhattan-s-east-river-park-87431