Oh the irony. Leticia Remauro denied access to BPCA offices

December 10, 2011

By Steven Greer

The Tribeca Tribune has a story about the recent BPC CB1 meeting whereby Leticia Remauro, former BPCA employee, met face to face with current BPCA administration (but not with CEO Gayle Horwitz, see our story Gayle Horwitz hides under her desk..”). In the story, they have a nice photo of Ms. Remauro being temporarily forbidden past the security desk at the WFC lobby and from going up to the BPCA offices for the meeting.

This event, so well documented by the Trib, has tremendous irony in it. Previously, while still media relations director for the BPCA, Ms. Remauro did the same thing to BatteryPark.TV. She told the security desk to not allow us up when we were trying to inquire about a parks related story. The saying “What goes around comes around” is fitting here.

The concerning part of this story, however, is that it reveals a pattern by the BPCA, a public office, of not allowing critics and citizens into their Ivory Tower in the WFC. We have consulted with legal experts and former BPCA senior executives, and this is illegal for the BPCA to selectively not allow certain members of the public into the offices.

Recall, the BPCA recently made important decisions about renewing the contract with the city for the PEP, and this was done at a meeting with no public input. A farce of a “Town Hall” meeting was held after the important decisions were made.

The cover up and hiding grows. Ms. Horwitz was recently a no-show at the tree lighting ceremony. There was supposed to have been a BPCA meeting on Tuesday, December 13th, to further discuss the growing scandal of the mass firings of the 19 staff ad the fate of Gayle Horwitz. It was rumored that Chairman Thompson was going to ban the public from the meeting. It seems they cancelled the entire meeting instead, according to the Tribeca Tribune.

Carl Glassman of Tribeca Tribune, Photo of Leticia Remauro being held up at WFC security

Gayle Horwitz hides under her desk as CB1 discusses her bizarre culling of the ranks

December 7, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The Community Board 1, BPC division, met last night and the main topic was the bizarre firings of 19 long-time BPCA employees, first reported by BatteryPark.TV. One of the fired employees, former media relations person Leticia Remauro, was invited to attend. The CEO of BPCA, Gayle Horwitz, did not attend the meeting, despite being the person responsible for the handling of the firings. She assigned her newly hired media relations person, Anne Fenton, to speak for the BPCA. Both Horwitz and Fenton served for BPCA Chairman Bill Thompson prior to him becoming the BPCA Chairman.

Gayle Horwitz

One member of the CB1 described the meeting as “Very awkward”. Three different members of the CB1 asked BPCA’s Fenton questions and she replied each time, “We do not discuss personnel maters.” Recall, this was the same reply that CEO Horwitz gave at the BPCA “Town Hall” last month.

BPCA’s Fenton explained that, “The reporting in the local papers was wrong.” When pressed to elaborate, she repeated, “We do not discuss personnel matters.”, further frustrating the board.

The one bit of clarity provided by Ms. Fenton was when she explained that severances were indeed provided to the fired employees, contrary to the “reporting in the papers”. At which time, fired Leticia Remauro replied, “I have a severance?”

The CB1 agreed to write letters of recommendations for the 19 fired employees. The BPCA has refused to do this for those employees.

Related to this scandal that is plaguing CEO Gayle Horwitz, BatteryPark.TV has learned that there are rumors of Ms. Horwitz being replaced. The incident has turned into a political liability for

BPCA Chairman Bill Thompson

Chairman William Thompson who is running for New York City Mayor. BatteryPark.TV is also aware of increases in Google searches for terms such as “Gayle Horwitz fired”. A member of the CB1 told us, “This story is not going away for her (Horwitz)”.

Related stories found here

Tour bus finally ticketed

July 27, 2011

The NYPD (not the PEP, managed by Gayle Horwitz and Tess Huxley, who are refusing to enforce illegal parking) finally began ticketing illegally parked behemoth tour buses dropping off people to visit the 9/11 Memorial. This photo was taken on West Thames Street in a city bus stop “no parking” zone.

As most BPC residents know, these privately operated tour realized long ago that thy can park anywhere in South BPC, even in bus stops, and not be ticketed. BatteryPark.TV has a requested an interview with the Joe Daniels, CEO of the 9/11 Memorial, but has so far been stonewalled.

Big meeting tonight to discuss the fate of the polluting NY Waterway boats

November 1, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The CB1 Battery Park City subcommittee will meet tonight to discuss the fate of the BillyBey Ferry Company’s air and noise polluting ferry boats (6:00 PM, 1 World Financial Center, 24th floor). After several meetings leading up to this one, scheduled to be in attendance tonight are the CEO of BillyBey, representatives from Senator Gillibrand and Rep. Nadler’s offices, the EPA, the DOT, the non-profit environmental watchdog group the NRDC, and The New York Times.

Key issues to be determined will be:

• What did BillyBey do with the more than $7 Million in grants provided by an arcane grant from the State and City specifically meant for cleaning up ferry boat exhaust? “The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), announces the Deployment Phase of the New York City Private Ferry Emission Reduction Program.”
• BillyBey claims that several of their boats have already been retrofitted with diesel particulate filters. However, per our filming and reporting, not a single New York Waterway ferry that docks at the Vesey Street slip seems to have any such filter.
• BillyBey also claims to be completely replacing older diesel engines with more modern “clean diesel”. When will this take place?
• What happened to the brand new super-clean and quiet Goldman Sachs ferry boats, seen briefly in April and reported by the New York Times? They seem to have disappeared and never made it into service. BillyBey CEO Goodman refused to answer that question in our previous call with him.
• What powers does the federal Clean Air Act give our local EPA to enforce pollution violations that appear to be committed by the BillyBey New York Waterway ferries? The well-funded non-profit environmental watchdog group, the NRDC, and the EPA, will shed some light onto that.
• What role will the Port Authority, operator of the Vesey Street slip and contractor with BillyBey, play in resolving this public health problem?
• What role will the city play now that the city is in contract with BillyBey for the East River new ferry services?

After decades of being subjected to noise and air pollution from the BillyBey New York Waterway ferries, our community seems to the most support ever for resolving this problem. Please attend the meeting tonight.

(unedited filming of ferry boat pollution)

Exclusive: Did Goldman Sachs buy ferry boats on TARP money and return them?

One of the ferry boats purchased by Goldman Sachs to provide less noisy less polluting service to Battery Park City, by The NY Times

October 18, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

BatteryPark.TV received call today from a reporter at a national newspaper asking whether we knew the fate of the two new Goldman Sachs ferry boats purchased to carry employees between the Vesey Street slip in Manhattan, owned by the Port Authority, and other slips in New Jersey. Recall, after the new Goldman Sachs headquarters opened on West Street and Vesey Street, BillyBey Ferry Company, owner of the New York Waterway ferry boats, began new routes crossing from Jersey City at earlier times in the morning, and the noise was a source of complaints. For decades, noise and pollution from the boats have angered BPC residents on the Hudson River.

The New York Times reported in March that two new boats had arrived from a shipyard in Washington State, and were rumored to cost $5 Million dollars. They were supposed to have gone into commission in April, but never did.

Goldman Sachs, in customary fashion, will not comment on the fate of the new boats. We called Paul Goodman, the CEO of BillyBey Ferry Company, operator of the New York Waterway branded boats and the yet-to-be commissioned Goldman Sachs boats. He said, “I have no comment one way or the other…I will see you at the November 1st Community Board meeting.”

Given the lack of clarity provided by Goldman Sachs and BillyBey Ferry, we are forced to speculate on rumor. One leading theory on the fate of the Goldman Sachs luxury ferry boats is that they were purchased with TARP funds or other federal stimulus money and have now been sold or returned in order to avoid a scandal. We will learn more at the next CB1 meeting.

The next CB1 is schedule to have speakers including the CEO of BillyBey Ferry and representatives from the EPA, Senator Gillibrand, and Rep. Nadler. For all of our previous coverage of this topic, click here.

The other dangerous crossing on Albany St

Update: October 7, 2011

A local paper is reporting that a 3-year-old was struck by a yellow cab on Greenwich and Duane Streets this week. Manhattan Borough President Stringer placed a call to the DOT about the matter. Please refer to our previous reports, below and here, for the details of this very serious problem being neglected by the State DOT.

Update: September 22, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

BatteryPark.TV has previously alerted local police and officials about the dangerous pedestrian crossing on South Albany. On September 14, 2011, according to BPC resident Matt Fenton, a pedestrian was struck by a town car as she crossed South End by Rector Place. She was treated but sustained no life-threatening injuries.

The problem on South End is caused by distracted drivers searching for parking spots and ignoring the road. The crossing guards, like the Murray Street problem, are also very ineffective. The solution is to have full NYPD officers with ticketing power stationed at the intersections. Automated red-light cameras might help as well.

September 30, 2010

There is now a traffic officer stationed at Albany and South End Avenue to address the unsafe pedestrian crossing status that we first mentioned in January. (Full story below)

January 16, 2010

The dangers of the Albany St/West Side Highway crossing have been well documented. Not so well appreciated are the dangers at the other end where Albany meets South End Avenue. Drivers making turns onto Albany are too occupied by looking down South End for other cars that they neglect to yield for pedestrians crossing Albany who have the white walk sign. The problem is particularly bad in the early evening.

BatteryPark.TV spent a mere five minutes filming the problem on a crude cell phone camera. Within that time, numerous cars violated the law and could have run over a pedestrian who was not paying attention.

If the NYPD posted patrol personnel, it could possibly earn more than $100,000 in revenue per year. Rather than ticket parked cars and do nothing to improve safety, perhaps the NYPD should try targeting more dangerous areas where moving violations are concentrated. Just a friendly suggestion: earn revenue and please the community.

CB 1 Meeting October 4

October 4, 2011

By Steven Greer

The Battery Park City division of Community Board 1 met tonight. Two Hudson river complaints were discussed. The first one dealt with the annual loud speed boat race. Then, the meeting turned to the topic of diesel exhaust air pollution from the New York Waterway ferry boats on the Vesey Street slip.

In attendance were staffers from Senator Gillibrand’s and Rep. Nadler’s offices. Surprisingly, the EPA ignored the invitation to attend, despite being the agency most empowered to do something about the problem (see our previous stories).

Steven Greer began with a video from BatteryPark.TV of medical doctor expert on air pollution and the effects to children’s lung development.  A 20-year study at USC has demonstrated that air pollution increases asthma, slows lung growth in children, and increases overall mortality rates. Several local residents expressed outrage over the ferry boat noise and pollution.

The committee decided to do the following:

• Have some entity, to be determined, test the levels of air pollution by the waterfall pond near the slip
• Request the Port Authority to deal with the New York Waterway company since the Authority controls the slip
• Continue to deal with the EPA and state DEC and invite those entities to the next meeting
• Continue to engage the federal representatives for lower Manhattan, namely Rep. Nadler and Senator Gillibrand, in order to use the enforcement powers of the federal EPA via the Clean Air Act. The state and city agencies have failed to act on this problem for decades.
• Look into any financial “green” incentives that might encourage the ferry boat operator to clean up their boats

The medical consequences of ferry boat diesel exhaust pollution to children’s lungs

October 4, 2011

(In full screen 1080iHD)

The Community Board 1, BPC division, will meet tonight to discuss the problem of diesel exhaust pollution damaging the eyes and lungs of nearby children in the parks by the Vesey Street ferry boat slip. Members of Rep. Nadler and Senators Schumer’s and Gillibrand’s staff have been invited.

In this video, the Chairman of Preventive Medicine at USC, who recently authored a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine on pollution and the Clean Air Act, discusses how engine exhaust causes asthma, delays lung growth, and increases mortality.

CB1 meeting discusses New York Waterway air pollution

September 6, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

BatteryPark.TV was invited by CB1 BPC Chairwoman Linda Belfer to present the video of the New York Waterway ferry boat pollution and discuss the results of our investigation to date. During the meeting, Ms. Belfer and others announced that they will next invite Senators Schumer and Gillibrand (both D-NY), as well as Rep. Nadler (D-NY), to attend the next CB BPC meeting and discuss how the EPA might be recruited to help clean up the problem.

September 14, 2011

This is an unedited series of clips requested by the community board

Do these NY Waterway ferries look safe to you?

June 24, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

In the wake of numerous discount tour bus massacres along New Jersey highways killing dozens of passengers traveling to casinos aboard astonishingly unregulated buses, one with a convicted murderer as a bus drivers, are our waterways also vulnerable?

Interstate business such as furniture movers, trucking, busing, etc. are often unregulated as they fall outside the jurisdiction of cities and states. The NY Waterway ferries, spanning New Jersey and New York via the Hudson River, are regulated by the Port Authority mostly.

A CB1 spokesperson wrote, “What is similar (to the tour buses that crashed) is that the city can’t regulate the buses in some instances because they are inter-state and need to be regulated at a federal level. Similarly, the city can’t set rules for vessels operating on the river because it is not city jurisdiction. The Port Authority has leverage over them but we don’t always have the leverage we need with the PA in this area. We raised issues pertaining to noise and pollutants from the boats in several meetings with operators and government agencies. They made some changes including putting some new, cleaner boats into service and retiring older boats. More needs to be done and I expect that we will hold additional meetings as it is an ongoing effort. Regulations are not as stringent as they could be.

With that in mind, we have been noticing the decrepit conditions of these NY Waterway ferries that dock by Vesey Street and the Irish Memorial.

You decide for yourself. Do these boats, filthy in diesel soot, paint peeling from all surfaces, do they look safe to you?

(Click images to expand and fully appreciate the dilapidated status of the boats)

George Washington has seen better days

The real Senator Lautenberg looks younger than this boat

Brooklyn given a bad name here?

Community Board 1 discusses NY Waterway ferry boat pollution and the grass field

September 27, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The monthly joint meeting of all of the divisions of Community Board 1 met tonight. NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver made an appearance to invite people to join him in a tour of the 9/11 Memorial this Sunday.

BPC’s Linda Belfer discussed BatteryPark.TV’s story on NY Waterway ferry boat pollution that resulted in her staff making a report. She said that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as Rep. Nadler, will be invited to the next meeting.

The final rules for the West Thames Park grass field were also approved. The committee for this was initiated after BatteryPark.TV conducted a survey of local residents on how they desired the field to be used.

The people have spoken: No organized sports on the grass field

Update September 28, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The Parks Conservancy is now aerating the field and placing barrier fences to rest trampled areas of the lawn.

Update: September 16, 2011

Since our notes from September 14, a coach for the Downtown Soccer League, John Chow, said that the BPCA has been in talks with them and that they, “Will not be using the field after this week.”. The Principal from PS 276 was very responsive, and she informed her staff and after school programs partners about the tenuous status of the field. Also, the Parks Conservancy aerated the field on the 15th.

If you see organized soccer being played on the field, particularly by adults as we saw last year, the local PEPs should be called at once, (212) 417-3100, or email us info@batterypark.tv

Update September 14, 2011

By Steven Greer

Shortly after opening, the grass field is being allowed by the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy to be used in ways that the local residents do not want to see it used (see survey results below). Namely, the Downtown Soccer League organization is bringing groups of 30 or more children to play organized soccer and baseball. The parks staff is also failing to close the field as needed to allow for grass renewal.

As a result, portions of the grass field have already been trampled to death (see photos at bottom). The most recent community board meeting addressed these issues, but no conclusions or final rules were made. Moreover, at the meeting, The BPCA announced that they are still refusing to assign Battery Park PEP to patrol the area.

July 1, 2011

BatteryPark.TV recently conducted a survey of local residents asking thier opinion on how the newly sodded grass field in the West Thames Park should be used when it re-opens soon. Recall, the first attempt last year resulted in a mud field as soccer teams trampled the turf.

The survey will be discussed at an upcoming CB1 meeting. The results of the survey are as follows:

Question #1: Should organized soccer with 7 or more people be allowed on the new grass field of West Thames Park?

Yes: 22%
No : 78%

Question #2: Should organized baseball of more than 3 people be allowed on the grass field?

Yes: 39%
No: 61%

Question #3: Should the Parks Conservancy close the grass field as needed in order to protect the grass, in the same manner they do the other surrounding lawns?

Yes: 78%
No: 22%

Comments: How would you like to see the new grass field optimally used?

· Picnics, lounging, sleeping, resting, etc.
· like the great lawn in Central Park
· small family groups having picnics and playing games with their children…and no danger to passersby and people sitting at the tables on the southern edge from flying projectiles!!!
· As a tennis court or something that better fits the demographic of the area. Basketball is fine for men between 15 and 25: and we have so many courts, but it’s so obviously not the correct choice for BPC. CB1′s Battery Park City Committee was wrong on this choice for our community.
· picnics, sunbathing, decorative area
· Informally by local residents but without organized sports activity which will tend to destroy the grass
· while I would like the grass to look beautiful, I object to the conservancy’s attempt to take away traditional usage of the grass in order to create much finer manicured gardens. While we all want something beautiful to look at – - we all need somewhere to play with our children and our pets. It seems difficult for the conservancy to compromise their lovely plans in order to take into consideration the resident’s feelings that they need lawns downtown similar to Central Park where we can lounge, etc.
· Picnics, just sitting
· passive, low intensity recreation eg Frisbee, informal ball toss, etc
· For parents to spend time with their children teaching them to play ball or young kids playing together. I don’t have children and I play soccer but the grass cannot survive the traffic and the neighborhood would suffer. I would love to use the space but I can play soccer on either of the piers to the north. Everyone who walks from the trains walks by the field and if it were a mud hole like before that makes it unpleasant.
· They should invest in putting an artificial grass field instead of natural grass, like the one at Pier 25.
· Picnic type and enjoyment of the grass and park area for BPC residents.
· As a place for non-organized activities
· Full blown Recreational field. Astroturf and a track around it that could host events.

Photo prior to the field opening in 2011

Photo on September 14 of significant damage to field

The deadly crossing

Construction on Route 9A, also known as The West Side Highway, and closure of the pedestrian bridge south of Albany Street have created a very dangerous situation. The ground-level crossing of The West Side Highway at Albany Street can be a death trap.

In February of 2009, Battery Park City resident Marilyn Feng was killed and her boyfriend seriously injured when a drunk driver struck the couple. Ms. Feng was an intern in Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer’s office. In late September of 2009, another pedestrian was struck by a motorist, but he survived.

Funding for the permanent pedestrian overpass has been cancelled. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer discusses the problem.

NYPD 9/11 bagpipe parade 2007

Over 118,000 views and counting

(This is the file with the 100,00 views originally posted on YouTube at another location of ours)

Rockrose allows pedophile to move into 41 River Terrace

August 26, 2011

A few weeks ago, a resident of the northern part of Battery Park, a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon with young children, approached BatteryPark.TV with a concern over a registered sex offender

Registered pedophile Phillip Riback, now living in Battery Park

who had been allowed to move into a nearby high-rise condo directly adjacent to Stuyvesant High School: 41 River Terrace. In our preparation to cover the story, we became aware of some nice reporting already made by the Tribeca Tribune. We refer you to their articles for the details.

According to the Tribeca Tribune, Rockrose Development mistakenly allowed the registered sex offender, former pediatric neurologist Phillip Riback, to sign the lease without properly checking his background. The paper updated the story on August 18. Riback’s lawyer, famed defense attorney Paul Shechtman, a Tribeca resident, stated that Rockrose had terminated his lease and that Riback was not contesting he matter. It is unknown when Riback plans to move out, or whether these facts are correct at all.

41 River Terrace, by Carl Glassman

The Tribeca Tribune also reports that the New York City Department of Probation, charged with tracking sex offenders, was not answering any of their questions.

During our own investigation, Rockrose management completely stonewalled us. Our calls were not returned and the names of the managers, such as Richard Edmonds (listed by the Tribeca Tribune) were withheld from us.

To inquire for yourself as to whether the sex-offender Riback actually moves out, and to where, you can call Rockrose at (212) 847-3700. The Rockrose offices are at 666 5th Avenue if they do not return your calls. Riback’s attorney, Shechtman, can be reached at (212) 223-0200.

Attorney Paul Shechtman

Please send us an email if you have any updates to this story that you think should be covered.

West Thames Park grass field not opened, committee decides usage rules

Update: August 2, 2011

In what exemplifies the disconnect between the bureaucrats governing lower Manhattan and the what best serves the citizens, the still-squabbling DOT and BPCA delayed the opening of the coveted grass field for a full week to allow for small areas to regrow after crabgrass was removed. The new opening date is set for August 8th.

August 1, 2011

Despite signs promising an August 1 opening of the West Thames Park grass field, the BPCA, managed by Gayle Horwitz and Tess Huxley, failed to take down the chain link fence. No explanation was given or any new dates set for the opening.

On the same day, the Battery Park City division of Community Board 1 convened the “West Thames Park Task Force”, led by Jeff Galloway and Anthony Notaro, to decide what activities to recommend to the BPC CB1 meeting in September. The Task Force decided:

• No more than 50% of the field should be used by any organized team
• No cleated shows allowed
• Activities should be as safe as possible

These guidelines are somewhat consistent with the opinions of the local residents expressed in our online survey.

Whither the swing of Tire Swing Park?

Update: August 16, 2011

Over the weekend, the DOT replaced the infamous tire within the tire swing frame.

Update: June 28, 2011

One year after opening, the “Tire Swing Park” still has no tire swing

July 1, 2010

The new “Tire Swing Park” has ironically been without the iconic rubber swing since some children bumped their head on the first day of the park. The tire swing was replaced on July 1^st for the ribbon cutting ceremony and is supposed to stay in place. Some warning signs have been posted for liability reasons.

To explore this ultra-local-news controversy, BatteryPark.TV interviewed a local resident concerned about the swing safety and Leticia Remauro of BPCA.

July 8 update:

Local journalist Matthew Fenton is reporting that the tire swing has been removed yet again after more children hit their head on the horizontal overhead support beam. According to Fenton, the topic was brought up during a CB1 meeting and member Anthony Notaro testified the personally witnessed two children bump their head on the first day the tire swing was replaced on July 1. The swing will remain down until design changes can be studied.

The PEP welcome homeless to stay in our parks

June 28, 2011

On June 28, a local resident once again informed BatteryPark.TV of a homeless man in Rector Park. The same man has encamped himself in the park. He had a large cluster of trash bags and scared away a father and son playing on the lawn.

We called the Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) offices and documented the interaction. As suspected, they did nothing to enforce the laws and the homeless man laughed in their face, literally. The PEP sergeant we spoke with (who was not disciplined and relocated this winter and is a holdover of the old crew) was belligerent, interruptive, and accused us as “having a problem” with homeless, as if they are normal citizens enjoying the park. These are the same PEP who will find the energy and will to harass law abiding citizens simply walking their dogs.

To volunteer or donate money to the nearest homeless shelter, contact (212) 226-6214 or go to http://www.nycrescue.org/

About this story, Tess Huxley manages the PEP, and once again refused to comment, as did the BPCA who employs Ms. Huxley and contracts with the city for the PEP “security” to our neighborhood.

Watch the video and audio exchange for yourself.

(Viewable in full screen 1080iHD)

Bombshell: Parks Conservancy still not agreeing to assume control of the West Thames grass field

July 5, 2011

The Battery Park Community Board met tonight to discuss how the newly-sodded grass field in West Thames “Tire Swing” Park should be used. BatteryPark.TV presented results of the survey that indicated the overwhelming majority of residents do not want organized soccer to be allowed on the field.

At the end of discussion, there seemed to be agreement on the following:

· The working committee previously formed would be revived to make specific rules for the grass field
· Young children doing pretty much any activity are not a problem to the grass
· Mature adults in organized groups playing soccer with cleats, like the ones that formed unapproved groups last Fall and destroyed the field, will likely not be allowed
· The field needs to be protected by the Parks Enforcement Patrol and be mowed/fertilized/rested by the Parks Conservancy

It was when the last bullet point topic was discussed that the meeting yielded a bombshell. To the astonishment of CB1 member Anthony Notaro and others, Anne Fenton and Tess Huxley of the BPCA and Parks Conservancy respectively, announced that Parks Conservancy has indeed NOT yet agreed to assume control and responsibility for the field.

Mr. Notaro said, “We all assumed that when the DOT agreed to re-sod the field, that it was because the DOT and Parks had formed an agreement and (settled the disputes that caused the grass field to be neglected forming a mud pasture)”.

Ms. Fenton replied, “We are still in negotiations”.

When pressed further for the nature of the unsettled items, an estimated date that the Parks would make a decision, or which entity would be caring for the grass once the July 22 “ready date” for the field to be opened comes around, the BPCA would not give any details. The stonewalling was consistent with the BPCA’s refusal to answer dozens of requests from BatteryPark.TV.

Mr. Notaro asked the representative of the DOT whether they would open up the grass field on July 22nd if Tess Huxley and the Parks Conservancy had still not agreed to take care of the lawn, risking a repeat of the destruction of 2010, and he replied that the grass field would not be opened to the public. Therefore, at the moment, the residents of Battery Park, who pay the highest taxes in the city, will be unable to enjoy a major portion of the park real estate in their neighborhood thanks to two feuding bureaucracies. This is in addition to the eight weeks of prime summer time use already lost due to the re-sodding that was caused by bureaucratic neglect.

Should organized sports be allowed on the new West Thames grass field?

June 3, 2011

Please complete this brief survey expressing your opinion on how the grass field should be used. Please click here to take the survey. It takes 20-seconds.

The “mud field” of West Thames Park is now sodded. In approximately eight weeks, a decision by someone will have to be made: should organized sports be allowed?

It was the cleats of soccer players that caused the most grass destruction. Surrounding lawns do not allow such activity, and are well protected by the Parks Conservancy crew, resulting in nice assets for the area. However, “decision by committee” often results in poor decisions. Who will decide the fate of the lawn: CB1, BPCA, DOT, or a “Lawn Czar”?