Biaggi and environmentalists discuss polluted LI Sound
BY JASON COHEN
A group of activists recently
got together with
elected offi cials to discuss the
heavily polluted Hutchinson
River, which fl ows into City Island
and the Bronx.
On Thursday, February
19, Senator Alessandra Biaggi
held a meeting with Mount
Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson
Howard, the Hutchinson
River Restoration Project,
City Island Oyster Reef Project,
City Island Rising and
Save the Sound to talk about
the Hutchinson River that
fl ows into Pelham Bay Park
and identity solutions.
In June 2018 the federal
government sued Mount Vernon
for allegedly violating the
Clean Water Act by failing to
comply with environmental
rules meant to stop raw sewage
from polluting local waterways.
Patterson-Howard, who
began his term in January, is
quickly addressing the pollution
problem. The senator expressed
gratitude that Patterson
Howard held the meeting.
“My constituents from
civic and environmental
groups on City Island, with
Elected offi cials and activists meet in February to discuss water pollution in the Hutchinson River.
Photo Photo Courtesy John Doyle
an interest in protecting Eastchester
Bay, the Long Island
Sound and other waterways,
expressed concerns about
sewage spillage from Mount
Vernon into the Hutchinson
River and Eastchester Bay,”
the senator said.
Biaggi explained that
Mount Vernon’s aging sewer
infrastructure and residential
pollution in the Bronx and
surrounding areas are contributing
Patterson-Howard stressed
that Mount Vernon is committed
infrastructure and welcomes
support for the city’s efforts.
Times that the consensus at
the meeting was that the concerned
see an ongoing line of communication
BRONX TIMES R 8 EPORTER, MARCH13-19, 2020 BTR
factors to the pollution
of the Eastchester Bay.
to taking all possible measures
to repair the city’s aging
Biaggi told the Bronx
parties would like to
Public Notice
New York City Department of Transportation
Grants and Fiscal Management Division
between her, Patterson
Howard and City Island
residents so that everyone is
able to share information and
resources.
Looking to the future,
Patterson-Howard is meeting
with the Mount Vernon Public
Works Department and reaching
out to the NYS Department
of Environmental Conservation.
The Mount Vernon Law
Department is also continuing
to work with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
regarding the ongoing federal
lawsuit.
City Island Rising members
John Doyle and David
Diaz attended the meeting.
Both stressed how concerned
they are about the water pollution
and while the problem
originates in Mount Vernon,
it affects their community.
Doyle feels the meeting
was productive and everyone
left in agreement.
“Everyone kind of agreed
something must be done,”
Doyle said. “The water quality
affects us all. We have to step
up and do better. People don’t
want to look out and see their
water is polluted.”
Diaz echoed Doyle’s sentiments.
He noted that companies
that dump chemicals into
the water are a huge part of
the problem.
“This is an issue that we
have been dealing with for
some time,” Diaz said. “It
really hasn’t gotten any better.
The Hutchinson River
is just so bad. The pollution
has to stop. There’s got to be
a better way to facilitate the
waste.”
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) will, upon written request, hold a public hearing on the list of projects listed below that will be the basis for Federal Fiscal Year 2020 and 2021 grant applications to the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the United States Department of Transportation for financial assistance under the Federal Transit Act. The projects will utilize funding provided under the FAST Act Bills and their extensions
covering Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2017-2021 under Section 5307, Federal Highway Administration Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (FHWA CMAQ) and Federal Highway Administration Ferry Boat Discretionary Program (FHWA
FBD) flexed to FTA, and Section 5324 Emergency Relief. Based on ongoing and completed federally assisted transportation planning activities conducted by NYCDOT, and in consultation with other interested transportation agencies
and transportation providers, a proposed Program of Projects and budget have been developed, and will form the basis for the grant application(s) to FTA. The proposed Program of Projects and Budget herein described include the
total estimated cost and the estimated Federal and local (State and City) shares.
Project FTA Section FTA $ NYS $ NYC $ Total $
Purchase 3rd Ollis Class Ferryboat Flex - FHWA FBD 2011 2,340,000 292,500 292,500 2,925,000
Edward L. Grant Highway Corridor Improvements Flex - FHWA CMAQ 614,374 76,797 76,797 767,968
SIF Preventative Maintenance 5307 6,740,988 842,624 842,624 8,426,236
Total Non-Emergency Relief Funds 9,695,362 1,211,921 1,211,921 12,119,204
EDC Ferry Landings Resilience Upgrade 5324 - CR 17,500,000 - 5,833,333 23,333,333
Staten Island Ferry Heavy Weather Moorings 5324 - R&R 1,645,740 - 182,860 1,828,600
Total Emergency Relief Funds 19,145,740 - 6,016,193 25,161,933
TOTAL FUNDS 28,841,102 1,211,921 7,228,114 37,281,137
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) Grants and Fiscal Management Division, 55 Water Street, 12th floor, New York, NY 10041, is applying for a federal grant of up to $3,982,122, under Section 5310 of Chapter
53 of Title 49, United States Code, projects within the city of New York to meet the needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. The purpose of this notice is to invite private for-profit bus, taxi, ambulette operators and
other interested parties to participate in the development of proposed grant project(s) and in the provision of enhanced transportation services to elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities.
Project Purpose FTA $ NYC $ Total $
CityBench
Installation of Benches 801,722 200,431 1,002,153
Safe Streets for Seniors
Street Safety Improvements for Seniors 800,000 200,000 1,000,000
School Safety
Safer Intersections Near Schools for Students with Disabilities 1,200,000 300,000 1,500,000
WalkNYC
Maps to Help People Navigate Neighborhoods 980,400 245,100 1,225,500
Enhanced Crossings
Safety Improvements for Intersections without Stop Signs and Lights 200,000 50,000 250,000
TOTAL FUNDS
3,982,122 995,531 4,977,653
These projects are included in the Transportation Improvement Program, which has been endorsed by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council as a product of continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative transportation
planning. Upon written request to Associate Commissioner, Yogesh Sanghvi, a public hearing will be held on the subject application(s). Please submit written request to: Yogesh Sanghvi, Associate Commissioner, Grants and Fiscal
Management Division, New York City Department of Transportation, 55 Water Street, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10041. At the hearing, if held, NYCDOT will afford interested parties the opportunity to be heard regarding the
economic and social effect of these projects, their impact on the environment, and their consistency with local planning. Requests must be received within (20) days of the publication of this notice. If a public hearing is requested, a
second notice will be published stating the date, time, and location of the hearing at least (10) days prior to the proposed hearing. Copies of the Program of Projects and the Transportation Improvement Program are available for public
inspection during regular business hours at the NYCDOT, Grants and Fiscal Management Division, 55 Water Street, 12th Floor, NY, NY 10041. If no comments are received and/or there is no request for a public hearing, the foregoing
Proposed Program of Projects will become the Final Program of Projects.