Chinatown park plaza renamed for Dr. Sun Yat-Sen
BY TODD MAISEL
One of the most important fi gures
in Chinese history, Dr.
Sun Yat-sen, was honored with
the unveiling of a statue in Chinatown
on Tuesday, his 153rd birthday.
The sculpture of Dr. Sun Yat-sen is
now part of NYC Parks’ permanent art
and monuments collection, unveiled in
the northern plaza at Columbus Park,
renamed in his honor. The statue by Taiwanese
artist Lu Chun-Hsiung was a gift
from the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Mayor Bill de Blasio was joined by
Council Member Margaret Chin, a major
proponent of the renaming of the plaza
in the park, and members of the Chinese
Consolidated Benevolent Association.
They were also joined by Manhattan
Borough President Gale Brewer and Republic
of China (Taiwan) Overseas Community
Affairs Council Minister Hsinhsing
Wu.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen was born on Nov. 12,
1866, in China during the Qing Dynasty.
Inspired by the American Revolution,
Dr. Sun envisioned a free and democratic
China and became a pioneer in its
reform. In 1911, he and his allies overthrew
the regime, ending 5,000 years of
Chinese imperial rule.
Dr. Sun lived in Chinatown as he fi nalized
plans for the Revolution and delivered
an important speech in New York
City to the CCBA in March of 1911.
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
Mayor Bill de Blasio helped unveil the new Sun Yat-sen statue in Chinatown on Nov. 12
NYCHA tenants petition to stop East Side fl ood plan
BY GABE HERMAN
As the East Side Coastal Resiliency
(ESCR) Project begins its
process through the City Council,
there continues to be some community
pushback, including a petition
signed by over 1,800 local NYCHA
tenants who oppose the current fl ood
protection plan at East River Park.
A group called NYCHA Speaks is behind
the petition, which demands that
local offi cials, including Councilwoman
Carlina Rivera and State Senator Brian
Kavangh, reconsider the current plan,
which would raise the park by 8 to 10
feet along 2.5 miles of the park along
the East River.
“Our homes are next to the East River
Park,” the petition reads, “and we are
concerned about the impact that the
full-scale destruction of the park will
have on our health and quality of life.”
Concerns about the city’s plan, according
to Yvette Mercedes and Curtis
White of NYCHA Speaks, include
pollution from contaminants being released
into the air, and the loss of green
space, including nearly 1,000 trees. The
group said it has sent the petition to local
offi cials, including all City Council
members, state senators, assembly
members and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The petition adds, “We also demand
temporary fl ood protection measures
that can be put in place immediately to
ensure that we are safe while the City
works on a better and less destructive
plan.”
Rivera and Kavanagh did not immediately
(CITY DEPT. OF PARKS AND RECREATION)
respond to requests for comment.
Another activist group, East River
Park ACTION, has recently presented
its own petition against the plan, which
collected around 2,000 local signatures.
In response to community protests
about the park being fully shut down
for the construction process, the mayor
announced in October that work would
be done in phases, allowing for some
of East River Park to always remain
open.
On Nov. 4, the current plan passed
the City Council Subcommittee on
Landmarks, Sitings and Dispositions.
The next vote is scheduled for Nov. 12
in the Land Use Committee, and then
a full vote in the City Council on Nov.
14.
Before the plan passed the subcommittee
vote, Mayor de Blasio announced
on Nov. 4 the formation of a community
advisory group for the project. The
group will include local stakeholders,
according to the mayor, who will give
input from the community about the
project before its scheduled groundbreaking
in spring 2020 and during
construction.
“The East Side Coastal Resiliency
Project will protect New Yorkers for
years to come, and at every step of the
way, we will continue to ensure the
community is kept informed of progress
and that their voice is heard,” said
de Blasio when the advisory group was
announced.
Schneps Media DEX November 14, 2019 3