BPCA leadership downplays community concerns at March 8 meeting

March 8, 2012  By Steven Greer, MD

The BPCA held an official meeting today, with Chairman Bill Thompson and CEO Gayle Horwitz present. After discussing accounting issues related to the non-profit status of the BPC Parks Conservancy, CEO Horwitz began her “President’s Report”. She went over two issues that were of paramount importance to the community at the last town hall meeting: dog excrement on the sidewalks and the growing problem of rats in BPC.

The first astonishing thing seen in the video is that Chairman Thompson seems to have no recollection of the rat problem whatsoever.  He asked, “Is there a significant rat problem?”, to which Horwitz replied, “No.”. He then proceeded to reiterated, “There is “A” (as in singular, just one rat) rat problem?”.

Parks Conservancy Director Tess Huxley chimed in by explaining how they paid unspecified amounts to an “authority on rats” to advice the BPCA on the problem. Horwitz explained the trash compactors that BPCA has installed.

Next, Horwitz briefly addressed the dog excrement on the sidewalks issues, and downplayed it as not unique to BPC, but rather as a “citywide problem”. She held up fliers that have been passed out to people on the esplanade and implied that the dog excrement problem was under control. This is in contrast to comments posted on BatteryPark.TV and other local sources.

After the three-minute “Presidential Report”, Chairman Thompson expelled the public and press by calling an executive session. The meeting ended with everyone laughing and seeming to think that the rat and dog excrement problems were solved.

This disconnect between reality and the beliefs held by the top leadership of the BPCA are due, in part, to the fact that no one on the board of the BPCA lives in BPC. In addition, Chairman Thompson has not attended any town hall or community board meeting to date.

Photo of the Week

BPC resident Maureen Barry Somerville submitted this photo

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Photos of the Week

March 9, 2012

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Rector Park early bloomers

Photos by Steven Greer

A piece of Ireland in BPC, literally

October 26

James Gill, Chairman of the Battery Park City Authority, gives a tour of the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City. The memorial was built in 2002 and features a reconstructed ancient stone house brought over from Ireland, along with authentic flowers and grasses on a manmade hillside. Along the path are stones representing different regions in Ireland, such as Dublin and Meath. At the top, one can view the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: the first places seen in America by many Irish immigrants.

Traditional Irish music

BatteryPark.TV is pleased to feature The Craobh Naithí Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which is an organization based in Dublin, Ireland that teaches and promotes traditional Irish music. The group is on a New York tour and stopped by the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City.

For more information, contact the CCE North American Public relations Officer, Paul Keating, at 201-965-6598

The Disney Fantasy

(in full screen 1080i HD)

A Tour of the Battery Conservancy

June 21, 2011

Battery Conservancy President and Founder, Warrie Price, gives Liz Conner a tour of the Battery Conservancy

(viewable on full screen 1080iHD)

First bloomers

March 17, 2011

Congratulations. You survived the Winter of 2010-2011.

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Aconis

Outdoor sports recreation space in the winter

While all of the grass fields of BPC are shut down for the winter, the unusually warm weather is causing kids and parents to seek out sport recreational spaces. The artificial turf fields on Murray are open and have ample space.

Tess Huxley’s PEPs pass out fliers addressing dog excrement

February 16, 2012

In response to the growing problem of bad dog owners allowing their pets to defecate on the esplanade and sidewalks of BPC, then not pick up the mess, Tess Huxley’s PEPs have begun to pass out fliers. This excrement problem was discussed last year at the BPCA “town hall” meeting.

It is unclear why the problem has arisen, although Tess Huxley, and her boss Gayle Horwitz, seem to have swung the enforcement pendulum in the extreme opposite after the Adam Pratt beating scandal. Recall, the PEPs were harassing dog owners who were simply walking their dogs. Now, the PEP seem to be not enforcing rules against bad dog owners who fail to pick up after their pets. This is a new problem not seen to this extent prior to 2011, according to all residents who email BP.TV with comments.

Fliers passed out recently by the PEP of BPC

Beating Time

We found this funny. The youngsters playing on the turf fields must not have much respect for time, as they beat the clock to oblivion with soccer balls, etc.

Beating time By Steven Greer

9/11 Memorial Tour hosted by Sheldon Silver

October 2, 2011

(In full screen 1080iHD)

Exclusive: BPCA Pier A renovation delayed a year with cost overruns

January 4, 2012 by Steven Greer, MD

Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) CEO Gayle Horwitz made a surprise appearance at the Community Board 1 (CB1) last night to deliver an update on the various BPCA construction projects underway. Recall, CB1 member George Calderaro had informed the community that Pier A renovations seemed to be going slowly and that no updates had been delivered from the BPCA.

In what was described as “overkill” by one CB1 member, the BPCA brought in a team of at least 12 people, comprised of architects and other officials involved in the Pier A project. What we learned was:

• The previous completion date estimates for Pier A were for “The season of 2012″. That has now been revised to “Late 2013″.
• The original $30 Million amount allotted to the project will be inadequate. The project is running over budget.
• The design team claimed that “natural drying” of the historic pier wooden architecture was the reason that the project was left windowless and to the elements.
• Despite the team of architects, no drawings of the proposed final project were presented. Recall, the project is supposed to have ample free access to the public and not be a space that requires fees or purchase of food to enjoy. In fact, John Fratta of the Seaport CB division wanted the location to entirely be an Italian heritage museum.
• CEO Horwitz claimed that not all of the architect and construction-experienced staff of the BPCA were fired when the 19 staff were abruptly fired late last year.
• The Poulakakos restaurant family and business partners claim that they now have an architect in place to design the proposed restaurant space of Pier A. However, as mentioned, no drawings were presented. There was a change in the design team.
• The stalled project of Harry’s Italian in the Conrad hotel/Goldman Sachs alley, another restaurant proposed by the Poulakakos group, was not discussed.

The Chairman of BPCA, Bill Thompson, was not present. Mr. Thompson is a 2013 New York City candidate for Mayor.

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Pier A

Polluting ferry boats to get new, less polluting, less noisy, engines

November 2, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The much anticipated BPC CB1 meeting to discuss the ongoing problem of noise and air pollution from the New York Waterway ferry boats yielded significant results for the first time in recent memory. The CEO of the BillyBey Ferry Company (DBA New York Waterway), Paul Goodman, announced that they will be using federal grants and “Nearly $1 Million of BillyBey money” to finally replace the outdated heavily-polluting diesel engines on nine of the worst offending vessels that dock often at WFC Vesey Street slip. The slip is controlled by the Port Authority.

The expected completion date will be mid-year 2012. That coincides with new regulations for marine vessels under the Clean Air Act.

Mr. Goodman elaborated, “Those 18 engines for 9 boats have been ordered. The program is fully funded…and installed over the first half of 2012.” He explained that the current engines, which so infamously now belch pure black diesel particulate smoke (see here) as they dock at the WFC Vesey Street slip fall under “Tier 0″ of the EPA classification of engines, according to Mr. Goodman. The new diesel engines with particulate filters will be “Tier 2″. (Note, our Google search of the EPA’s Tier system for engines revealed a system that did not coincide with what the BillyBey Ferry Company listed).

Given that no exhaust emission testings have ever been performed and made public, CB1 member Anthony Notaro tried to clarify whether BPC residents can expect to see, hear, and breath less pollution with the new engines promised. Goodman said, “You will see a significant reduction in pollution”. A spokesman for the DOT elaborated, “You can expect an 85% reduction in pollution (with the new engines).

Skeptics of these new promises from BillyBey Ferry Company have ample justification. The same NYSERD grant that will finally be used to convert the engines has been funded and made available to the company since at least 2006, and the only accomplishments to date from the grant money has been to install some exhaust particulate filters on a few boats and “perform tests”. Only now, after BatteryPark.TV coverage and the involvement of the NRDC, New York Times, EPA, and elected officials, is BillyBey promising to replace the outdated engines.

The Port Authority spokeswoman at the meeting said, “We were aware that the (NYSERD-funded emissions program) was ongoing, but it didn’t move as quickly as we would have liked.”

After more than 20 minutes of the BillyBey CEO and his entourage of supporting government officials speaking (i.e. NYSERD, DOT, consultant to NYSERD, and EPA), vocal residents spoke up requesting that the WFC Vesey Street slip be moved entirely away from the neighborhood. CB1 member Tom Goodkind echoed those views saying, “We should consider removing these boats (from the WFC Vesey Street slip) until these engine retrofits occur.” and received applause.

Recall, the BillyBey Ferry Company is a New Jersey company that exists almost exclusively to haul New Jersey residents to their Manhattan jobs. There is a reason one of the boats is named “U.S. Senate Frank R. Lautenberg“. For decades, this New Jersey-benefiting operation has polluted the air and disturbed the peace in Battery Park City. This might be the beginning of the beginning of a solution to this New Jersey-rooted problem. When new Caterpillar diesel engines are mounted in the boats, we will take our victory lap.

And the full unedited video of all of the different boats polluting equally from EPA Tier-0 “worst  category” engines

The Christmas Tree Lighting in Battery Park City of 2011

December 8, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

(In full screen 1080iHD)

Toy donations can be made by contacting Stockings with Care or caroline@stockingswithcare.org

Drawing in the Park

May 21, 2011

(Viewable in full-screen 1080iHD)

One of the many activities in Battery Park that is produced by the Parks Conservancy is Drawing in the Park. Free art supplies and a tutor are supplied for adults to sketch landscapes and nature.

Ed Koch discusses homeless and politics

October 29, 2009

In the second part of our interview with Ed Koch, he discussed the growing homeless problem in Battery Park and how it is similar to New York City in the late 70’s when he was Mayor and the City was near bankruptcy. He also discusses the upcoming NY Governor’s election.

Figure al Fresco

May 11, 2011

The Figure al Fresco program convenes on Wednesday afternoons, starting at 2:30 PM,  on the esplanade by the South Cove. An art instructor helps guide residents as the sketch a standing model. For more information, call (212) 267-9700 or visit http://www.bpcparks.org/bpcp/home/

Did the Parks Conservancy intentionally raise the pond level that killed the ducklings?

November 18, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

Tess Huxley, head of the BPCA Parks Conservancy

Viewers will recall our previous stories from the spring following the fate of this years’ mallard duck hatchlings. A “mystery man” “Wildlife expert” had been taking the newly hatched ducks into his BPC apartment, nursing them, then transferring them into the Waterfall Pond, mistakenly thinking that the manmade ecosystem could accommodate the birds without starvation or drowning. (In fact, BatteryPark.TV intervention was required to allow the hatchlings of 2010 to survive to adult without starvation)

One of the 5 remaining ducklings that did not drown but that later disappeared

However, this year, most of the birds drowned rapidly, within a week of being transferred from the park into the pond. BatteryPark.TV was not present when the ducklings were first moved into the pond. Despite an extensive investigation with the park staff and local apartment buildings, the “mystery man” wildlife lover was unable to be located.

That man has now come forth to tell his story. The well-intentioned local resident who has been caring for a variety of struggling animals is a federal employee. We are keeping his name confidential and will call him Jerry.

Jerry’s daughter recently stumbled upon our BatteryPark.TV reporting by searching the Internet and told her father, who then contacted us. He added some crucial details to the unsolved mystery of how the ducklings were killed this year.

In our June 7 story, we reported that the hatchlings were irresponsibly placed into the Waterfall Pond when the water levels were too high and no circular islands existed to prevent drowning. According to Jerry, this was not the case.

Jerry said, “They (The Parks Conservancy headed by Tess Huxley) deliberately raised the water level of the pond on purpose to flood the birds out….When I put the ducklings in the pond, the water level was low and there were islands with tall grass, just as there had been the previous year in 2010…The Captain of the PEP officers gave me the OK to put the ducks in the pond and helped me…I have a record”

BatteryPark.TV did not begin to witness the events until after 10 of the 15 ducklings had drowned. We then reported on the one-by-one disappearance of the remaining five ducklings. A Parks Conservancy staff member at the time claimed that he saw a bird of prey and we attributed their demise to being eating by a blue heron. In light of these new testimonials by the man who actually placed the ducklings into the pond, we are not so confident that malicious human behavior was not involved.

Tess Huxley is on record for stating, essentially, that the mandate of her agency is to manage the vegetation only, and that wildlife are on their own in a survival of the fittest. She has said, Mother Nature will take its course”. The problem arises when animals are placed by humans into manmade ecosystems that require human interference to avoid animal cruelty, such as the Waterfall Pond.

The Waterfall Pond looks natural, but in reality, it is just a concrete swimming pool with decorative plants and steep sides that prohibit the ducklings from escaping until they can fly. The plant vegetation is not adequate to prevent starvation, and the round islands are inadequate to prevent drowning when the park staff raise the water levels.

To not provide human aid after the fact when the birds are placed into the pond is neglect. To intentionally flood out the birds would be a criminal act of animal cruelty.

Moreover, the Koi fish placed in the pond by the Tess Huxley’s staff require human intervention. Although the fish are resilient and can hibernate in the winter in most cases, in extreme cold as we saw this winter, the ice becomes too thick, oxygen to the water is cut off, and the fish will die. Tess Huxley’s hands-off policy of not intervening with the wildlife caused the Koi fish to die this year when the ice froze thicker than usual. Jerry told us, “I tried to crack the ice this year (realizing the fish were in jeopardy), but they (the parks staff) would not let me.” See our previous story “Who killed the Koi?”

(The BPCA did not reply to our requests)

The human intervention platform required in 2010 to avoid drowning

Jerry releasing the ducklings onto an island

Ducklings before the water levels rose and they drowned

The mother duck

A hurricane did not hit Manhattan

November 10, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

Numerous politicians have been saying recently that a hurricane hit Manhattan. The problem with those comments is that “Hurricane Irene” had fizzled out and was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit Manhattan. In fact, we barely received any rain (in contrast to western New York and New England).

Why are politicians revising history? Mayor Bloomberg needs to justify his overreaction. Others, seeking disaster relief funds, also benefit if they can claim that their regions were damaged by “The hurricane”.

Recently, the BPCA, at their September board meeting, cited the exemplary performance of the PEPs during the “hurricane response” as a justification for renewing the contract with the city and a $1.5 Million raise. In fact, their was nothing for the PEP to really during the storm. this is what the scene really looked like.

The BPCA has also embarked on repair project to the wood boardwalk along the South Cove. Jeff Hayduk, construction manager for Cashin Associates who is contracted by the BPCA for maintenance of the area, explained to BatteryPark.TV that this large-scale project is part of routine maintenance and comes out of the normal BPCA budget. It is not being funded by FEMA or hurricane relief monies. A local paper had reported today, “Recently, a tidal swell hit the planks so hard that a piece of debris cracked one of the horizontal planks.”

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Repairs underway to South Cove board walk