Midtown march ahead of Floyd trial
BY DEAN MOSES
With the murder trial of Derek
Chauvin set to begin this
week in Minneapolis with jury
selection, Black Lives Matter protesters
hit the streets of New York Monday night
to ensure the world remembers the name
George Floyd and the knee that led to his
death.
Chauvin is accused of putting that knee
on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46
seconds on the night of May 25, 2020
during a incident on a Minneapolis street.
Floyd’s death was recorded on camera and
quickly went viral, setting off a wave of
protests across the country.
Monday was just another day in what
has become a year-long battle for justice
for many of the over 200 protesters who
assembled in Bryant Park on the evening of
March 8; for others, it was a return to the
fight after a cold winter hiatus.
Amidst the sea of megaphones and
George Floyd signs, there was almost an
atmosphere of reunion among activists
as they hugged one another. Although
the event began jovially, speakers swiftly
reminded those in attendance that they had
gathered for a serious matter.
“On March 29, 2021, opening statements
will begin in the Derek Chauvin
trial, and it is very intentional when I say,
Derek Chauvin’s trial. This is not George
Floyd’s trial. George Floyd did not commit
murder, he was murdered! We are going to
be outside and, on their f**king asses from
Demonstrators marched in Manhattan on March 8, 2021, on the cusp of the
trial of the officer who killed Minneapolis man George Floyd.
start to finish. We are not just out here for
George Floyd, we are out here for all Black
Lives,” one protester exclaimed.
Before the march even got underway,
protesters engaged in a face-off with NYPD
officers who had wandered through the
protest line. Police officials retreated in
hopes of maintaining order.
Individuals flooded the roadway in front
of Bryant Park, where a flurry of expletives
were flung at the on-duty officers. After
several minutes of high tensions, cooler
heads prevailed, the situation diffused and
no arrests were made.
At about 7:45 p.m., the march got
underway proper with a deluge of protesters
waving flags, brandishing signs
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
condemning Chauvin, and chanting as
they left Bryant Park and headed downtown.
In addition to calling Floyd’s name
to attention, marchers also made it known
they were rallying for black women and
transgender lives.
The protest proceeded unimpeded until
the group reached 27th street where they
invaded an outside dining area along Madison
Avenue. The group surrounded diners
with photos of Chauvin, heckling them for
enjoying meals with one protester yelling:
“Stop eating while my people are dying!”
Members of NYPD swiftly responded,
clearing out the alcove of the New York
Life Insurance building. Again, no arrests
were made.
State seeks builders for Javits parcel
BY AIDAN GRAHAM
The state is soliciting proposals from
developers looking to build atop
a now-vacant lot across from the
Javits Center — hoping to accelerate the
area’s growth as they begin the bidding
on one of the few remaining empty land
parcels in Midtown Manhattan’s West Side,
said Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“The site will bring even more opportunities
to this flourishing New York
neighborhood, with improved transit, new
outdoor spaces and affordable housing
opportunities — a true testament to our
commitment to build back better,” the
state’s chief executive said in a statement
on Thursday.
The 1.2 acre plot of land, known as “Site
K,” is located along 11th Avenue between
35th and 36th streets, and is currently
owned by a subsidiary of New York’s Empire
State Development Corporation.
Now, the state’s business-promoting arm
PHOTO VIA GOOGLE MAPS
is seeking a private builder to construct
either a commercial or mixed-use development
— possibly including hotel, which
would augment the adjacent convention
center.
Any development that includes residential
housing would be required to permanently
earmark 30% of the apartments
as affordable, with rents correlated to the
area’s median income.
“As we continue to advance our work
on the Javits Center expansion, this project
presents a unique development opportunity
at the front door of one of New York’s most
highly trafficked destinations, hosting
world-famous events and industry gatherings
attended by hundreds of thousands of
visitors, convention-goers and New Yorkers
annually,” said ESD’s acting commissioner,
Eric Gertler.
Cuomo lauded the potential development
on the site as an integral part of his
wide-ranging $51 billion Midtown West
redevelopment plan, which also includes
replacing the Port Authority Bus Terminal,
expanding the Javits Center and the High
Line, and overhauling Pier 76 from a tow
pound into a waterfront park.
“We are creating a vibrant, transitoriented
Midtown West that is designed
to fuel significant economic growth as we
restart our state’s economy,” Cuomo said.
Proposals for the site are due by May 6,
2021, and can be submitted on the ESD
website, esdn.ny.gov.
Hudson
River
Pk. gets
$5M for
bike lane
overhaul
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
The Hudson River Park Trust will
be getting $5 million in state
funding to build a two-block
bicycle and pedestrian path along the
West Side Highway to help close a gap
between the waterfront greenspace and
Riverside Park.
It may not sound like a great deal
of distance, but Governor Andrew
Cuomo said the project is a big deal for
the Empire State Trail — the 750-mile
network of space for bicyclists, hikers,
runners and others to safely experience
New York state. In this case, the new
path would seamlessly connect the trail
between Pier 97 and Riverside Park.
“In line with the ambitious goals we
have set for a greener, cleaner future,
we are investing in sustainable infrastructure
to support economic growth
and encourage the use of emissions-free
transportation options,” Cuomo said
in a statement Friday. “The pedestrian
and bicycle access improvements along
the busy Route 9A West Side Highway
corridor will make commutes and
recreation more enjoyable for both the
local community and thousands of
visitors.”
The new bike and pedestrian path
would improve upon a bikeway and
buffered lanes already in existence at
the location, which is also the point
where the West Side Highway transitions
into the Henry Hudson Parkway.
The new pathway, which will be as
wide as 40 feet in some spots, will
also be compliant with provisions in
the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA).
Once completed, the new pathway
will provide increased access to ferries
along the Hudson River as well as tourist
attractions and cultural centers such
as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and
Columbus Circle.
4 MMaarrcchh 1 111, ,2 2002211 SScchhnneeppss Meeddiiaa
/esdn.ny.gov
