NYCHA residents petition over resiliency project
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
Manhattan’s East River Houses have been without cooking gas since April 2019.
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.B
efore 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,
PHOTO : WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/JIM HENDERSON
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.
Runners go on a skimpy sprint for ‘Movember’
BY GABE HERMAN
If you happened to see
groups of half-naked people
running through the
streets of Lower Manhattan
this past Saturday afternoon,
there was no cause for alarm.
It was the 2019 Undie Run,
presented by the charity Movember
and the men’s underwear
company Saxx.
Hundreds of men and women
participated in the 2km
run, which started at Paragon
Sports, at 867 Broadway. The
route ended at The VNYL, at
100 Third Ave., which hosted
an after-party for the scantily
clad runners who endured the
chilly November weather.
Each runner bought a ticket
to participate, with proceeds
going toward Movember’s
fi ghts against prostate cancer,
testicular cancer and mental
health issues.
PHOTOS COURTESY MOVEMBER
Runners went through Lower Manhattan streets on Saturday for the charity run.
Schneps Media MEX November 14, 2019 3