SAVE EAST RIVER PARK!!
Sixth Street Community Center is fighting for a more sustainable, more resilient future for New York City. That includes advocating for resiliency plans that concretely address the root causes of the climate crisis.
With support from the Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment, Sixth Street Community Center made a short film about our community’s struggle to Save East River Park. Featuring interviews with local residents, community leaders and activists who will be impacted by the City’s Plans to destroy East River Park, the film identifies key issues about the City’s approach to resiliency planning for our vulnerable waterfront communities in the face of climate change.
Film Description: As New Yorkers endure the challenges of COVID-19, they are fighting to stay housed, fighting to stay fed and fighting to keep their park— East River Park. East River Park spans 58 acres- it is the largest green space in lower Manhattan, has nearly 1000 mature trees, more than 375 plant, insect, bird, and animal species, and borders New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)— some of the largest stock of public housing in NYC. The city is demolishing the entire waterfront park and rebuilding it on 8-10 feet of landfill claiming it will make our waterfront more resilient in the face of climate change. But what is the city doing to address the root causes of the climate crisis? And how does the FDR Drive, with 136,000 cars traveling daily alongside the park and NYCHA developments, contribute to this crisis and impact our health? Will reconstructing the park on landfill really ensure a resilient and sustainable future for our community?
Featuring: Jasmin Sanchez, Howard Brandstein, Tony Queylin & Yvette Mercedes
Shot and Edited by: Sean Pheanis
Produced and Narrated by: Jen Chantrtanapichate
CONTEXT FOR THE STRUGGLE TO SAVE EAST RIVER PARK:
In a misguided effort to make the Lower East Side Coast of Manhattan more resilient in the face of climate change and rising sea levels— the City of New York plans to spend 1.5 billion dollars to bulldoze the entire East River Park.
The park has long been the oasis for our extremely diverse Lower East Side Community.
Many residents consider a loss of the park as an essential loss to their quality of life and well being. The demolition of the East River Park is a climate justice issue, as it will inequitably cut off access to 58 acres of green space.
Demolishing the park would cut down almost 1000 mature trees, and destroy the biodiversity that currently exists there. This includes 82 bird species, 96 insect species, and more than 200 plant species.
If you are familiar with this climate justice fight, you may have already read about the City’s plan to bulldoze the entire East River Park in the August issue of the Indypendent.
The community in collaboration with Rebuild By Design developed an earlier plan which was more reflective of our diverse community and our diverse needs. The community plan was more comprehensive in providing flood protection without destroying the entire park. This community plan was fully trashed by the city and they are now planning to bring in the bulldozers next March. But together we can stop this misguided and destructive scheme.
The park would be closed for a minimum of 3.5 years, but given the city’s track record of projects in the past— the community is concerned that this timeline isn’t realistic given the size of the proposed project and that the park will be closed for much, much longer. During those years of closure, there will be no access to playing fields, no family picnics, and gatherings, no trees, no plants, and no animals…
We are encouraging all to learn more about these issues with us and to join our efforts to support this local climate justice fight. We’ve been teaming up with East River Park Action to make sure that the city rebuilds our park in a way that addresses temporary and long-term flood protection, park preservation and climate justice.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENTIRE EAST RIVER PARK:
Call Council Member Rivera at 212-677-1077, email district2@council.nyc.gov or your Council Member. Tell them:
§ Vote NO to option 4 of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project
§ We want true independent experts to assess the City’s plan, including the impact of destroying 60 acres of land on nature and people!
§ We want the City to revisit the options preferred by the community and to re-envision the FDR Drive now: Build the flood wall in or along the FDR Drive, expand our park with decking over the FDR and have dedicated bus lanes for non-polluting electric buses!
NYC COUNCIL MEMBER CARLINA RIVERA CAN STOP THIS BAD FLOOD PROTECTION PLAN! The City Council and even the Mayor usually defer to local Council Members on issues affecting their districts.
With support from the Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment, Sixth Street Community Center made a short film about our community’s struggle to Save East River Park. Featuring interviews with local residents, community leaders and activists who will be impacted by the City’s Plans to destroy East River Park, the film identifies key issues about the City’s approach to resiliency planning for our vulnerable waterfront communities in the face of climate change.
Film Description: As New Yorkers endure the challenges of COVID-19, they are fighting to stay housed, fighting to stay fed and fighting to keep their park— East River Park. East River Park spans 58 acres- it is the largest green space in lower Manhattan, has nearly 1000 mature trees, more than 375 plant, insect, bird, and animal species, and borders New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)— some of the largest stock of public housing in NYC. The city is demolishing the entire waterfront park and rebuilding it on 8-10 feet of landfill claiming it will make our waterfront more resilient in the face of climate change. But what is the city doing to address the root causes of the climate crisis? And how does the FDR Drive, with 136,000 cars traveling daily alongside the park and NYCHA developments, contribute to this crisis and impact our health? Will reconstructing the park on landfill really ensure a resilient and sustainable future for our community?
Featuring: Jasmin Sanchez, Howard Brandstein, Tony Queylin & Yvette Mercedes
Shot and Edited by: Sean Pheanis
Produced and Narrated by: Jen Chantrtanapichate
CONTEXT FOR THE STRUGGLE TO SAVE EAST RIVER PARK:
In a misguided effort to make the Lower East Side Coast of Manhattan more resilient in the face of climate change and rising sea levels— the City of New York plans to spend 1.5 billion dollars to bulldoze the entire East River Park.
The park has long been the oasis for our extremely diverse Lower East Side Community.
Many residents consider a loss of the park as an essential loss to their quality of life and well being. The demolition of the East River Park is a climate justice issue, as it will inequitably cut off access to 58 acres of green space.
Demolishing the park would cut down almost 1000 mature trees, and destroy the biodiversity that currently exists there. This includes 82 bird species, 96 insect species, and more than 200 plant species.
If you are familiar with this climate justice fight, you may have already read about the City’s plan to bulldoze the entire East River Park in the August issue of the Indypendent.
The community in collaboration with Rebuild By Design developed an earlier plan which was more reflective of our diverse community and our diverse needs. The community plan was more comprehensive in providing flood protection without destroying the entire park. This community plan was fully trashed by the city and they are now planning to bring in the bulldozers next March. But together we can stop this misguided and destructive scheme.
The park would be closed for a minimum of 3.5 years, but given the city’s track record of projects in the past— the community is concerned that this timeline isn’t realistic given the size of the proposed project and that the park will be closed for much, much longer. During those years of closure, there will be no access to playing fields, no family picnics, and gatherings, no trees, no plants, and no animals…
We are encouraging all to learn more about these issues with us and to join our efforts to support this local climate justice fight. We’ve been teaming up with East River Park Action to make sure that the city rebuilds our park in a way that addresses temporary and long-term flood protection, park preservation and climate justice.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENTIRE EAST RIVER PARK:
Call Council Member Rivera at 212-677-1077, email district2@council.nyc.gov or your Council Member. Tell them:
§ Vote NO to option 4 of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project
§ We want true independent experts to assess the City’s plan, including the impact of destroying 60 acres of land on nature and people!
§ We want the City to revisit the options preferred by the community and to re-envision the FDR Drive now: Build the flood wall in or along the FDR Drive, expand our park with decking over the FDR and have dedicated bus lanes for non-polluting electric buses!
NYC COUNCIL MEMBER CARLINA RIVERA CAN STOP THIS BAD FLOOD PROTECTION PLAN! The City Council and even the Mayor usually defer to local Council Members on issues affecting their districts.
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