East River Park Action protests mayor’s
proposal to move forward on resiliency plan
BY DEAN MOSES
East River Park Action and their supporters
are taking their park plight
to the very top.
For years avid East River Park-goers have
been pushing back against the controversial
flood protection plans that look to completely
upend the popular Lower Manhattan park
by removing some 1,000 trees and filling the
land with industrial soil. Although the development
is proposed to protect the East Side
from coastal torrents like that of superstorm
Sandy, critics feel the destruction outweighs
the benefits of a refurbished park.
On July 27, park advocates rallied outside
of Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office in a
plea for the former mayoral candidate to
decline signing off on the East Side Coastal
Resiliency (ESCR) project contract, and
in what was a major win for activists, he
returned the contract to the City’s Department
of Design and Construction (DDC)
unsigned requesting further information.
However, last week the City registered the
contract anyway. The East River Park Action
says the mayor has overruled Stringer’s
decision to wait for more information and
The East River Park Action takes their fight to City Hall.
the administration is attempting to move
forward with the park reconstruction
regardless.
Firing back, protesters descended upon
City Hall Park on Aug. 9 where they admonished
Mayor Bill de Blasio for continuing to
have his sights firmly set on the project despite
the Comptroller having yet to approve
the development.
For years, Emily Johnson, a Lower East
Side resident, activist, and a member of the
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
Yup’ik Nation, has opposed the ESCR plan.
“The mayor overrode the Comptroller’s
decision to take a deeper look into the
contract, so the mayor really wants to push
this through by being anti-democratic and
vetoing a very obvious process that is put in
place for safety reasons,” Johnson said.
Dozens of activists joined Johnson outside
the West gate of City Hall Park across from
250 Broadway chanting, “Save the park.”
They say they will spend the rest of the
week outside of this location pushing local
elected officials, the comptroller’s office, and
the mayor’s office to put a halt to the ESCR.
Parts of the East River Park is already
in the process of undergoing construction
and as more work ensues, it is reported by
various agencies that sections of the park
will remain open to the public during the
renovation.
According to Mitch Schwartz, the Director
of Rapid Response and Deputy Press
Secretary for the mayor’s office, the project
is a tremendous undertaking intended to
keep the East Side coastal area resilient from
flooding.
“ESCR is one of the most ambitious – and
one of the most urgent – projects this city
has ever undertaken to fight climate change
and keep the east side safe to live in. We’ve
responded to more than 50 questions from
the Comptroller about our process, and our
plan incorporates feedback we’ve worked
tirelessly to solicit from the community. It’s
the right project, at the right time, and we
look forward to continuing our progress
toward protecting all the New Yorkers who
call this area home,” Schwartz said.
Manhattan residents offer mixed reactions to Cuomo’s resignation
BY HARRY PARKER AND DEAN
JAMIESON
When Manhattan residents their
opinion on Governor Andrew
Cuomo’s resignation on Aug.
10, and the conclusion was unanimous: he
had to go.
Cuomo’s downfall was stunning in it’s
speed and scale – it’s took only eight days
from the Attorney General’s report for
Cuomo to resign. Yet, feelings on the street
in downtown Manhattan were mixed, ranging
from apathy, to anger, to cautious hope.
Most seemed disappointed; at who, however,
was far from unanimous.
“I’m happy we’re getting a female governor,
but, you know, when I went to tell my
boss, ‘Cuomo resigned,’ he just said, ‘eh,’”
David, 34, said. “And I think that’s how we
all feel.”
Others were not so blasé. “Why did it take
so long?” said Sarah, 22.
“I’m just really disappointed in this guy. I
had a lot of respect for him, but there’s just
a weak side to the guy, and it’s a shame,”
said Keith, 61.
“I’m just surprised that his ego allowed
him to resign,” said Stephanie F.
Others were not so sure of Cuomo’s guilt,
or, despite the allegations, still harbored
PHOTO BY HARRY PARKER
Manhattanite Estella Zacharia
good will for him. “I wish he wasn’t resigning,
he’s a good guy,” Arthur White, 41, said.
“He made sure we ate.”
“Honestly, as a woman, I feel bad for the
guy,” Chloe said. “I sympathize with the
women, I am that woman, but I think he
did a lot of good for the City.”
Overall, the mood seemed disappointed,
cautiously hopeful, but a little indifferent.
“I was just about to call somebody and tell
them congratulations,” said Boris. “But me?
I don’t really care.”
Joan Strauss, 84, says the resignation had
to happen, but she thinks the reasons show
a generational split.
“I’m from a different generation. I’m
pre-’Me Too’”, said Strauss. “Some of the
accusations I thought were plain BS, and
silly. But I know guys like that who are
touchy-feely and very aggressive, and it can
be very unpleasant.”
Vijay Dandapani, President & CEO of
the Hotel Association of New York City
(HANYC), said the resignation is a relief
to all.
“It is clearly the right decision as the state
and all its citizens need certainty in governance
which was increasingly becoming
difficult if not impossible In the last couple
of weeks,” Dandapani said.
Russell Squire, Chair of Community
Board 8 in Manhattan, expressed relief over
the end of the political uncertainty and gratitude
for the women who spoke out against
the Governor.
“With Governor Cuomo’s resignation,
our state government will be able to move
forward with the process of governing.
We are grateful to all of the brave women
who came forward, our elected leaders and
advocates who called for accountability, and
to the media who pressed on,” Squire said
in a statement,
Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough
president, pointed to the future of women
in leadership in New York.
“I got my start in politics helping to elect
and then working for a woman Lieutenant
Governor. I’m looking forward to working
with Kathy Hochul,” Brewer said in a tweet.
Upper East Side Assemblywoman Rebecca
Seawright gave thanks first and foremost
to the brave women who came forward and
told the stories of their abusive treatment
within the highest executive office of our
state. No amount of victim-shaming will ever
diminish their courageous actions, she said.
“Governor Cuomo was right to announce
his resignation today. ... We must, however,
take whatever steps are necessary to ensure
that the devastating findings of the Attorney
General’s report on the treatment of women
and abuse of state resources are never again
allowed to occur in New York State,” said
Seawright.
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