From The New York Shitty Inbox: Take The Newtown Creek Survey!

This item has been brought to my attention by a number of people and at last I have some time to pass it along to you. Here’s the deal: the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is dedicating $10,000,000 to (and I quote) “communities affected by delays constructing the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant”. Naturally Greenpoint figures foremost among the aforementioned “communities”. To this end the City Parks Foundation has created a survey to assess how we, the residents, use our public parks. This, in turn, will in some measure be used to determine how this money will be spent. I advise each and every one of you to take a moment to fill out this survey. You can do so quickly and easily online by clicking here.

In closing, I would like to tender a few thoughts:

1. I find it curious that Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Long Island City appear to be the only communities that are affected by the Waste Treatment Plant. I seriously doubt someone in, say, Maspeth or Sunnyside would agree with this assessment.

2. This survey states that these funds will be spent after consulting with local community groups. Who, may I ask, are these community groups? If Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn whose Executive Director, Stephanie Thayer, is also a Parks Department employee (READ: Adminstrator for all north Brooklyn parks and in this capacity can determine how money is spent) is one of said “groups” this strikes me as a conflict of interest.

3. I find it disturbing that these funds may very well be used for parks projects the city has already promised— and failed— to fund. In other words, this strikes me as a “bail out”. Why should the state be brought in the redress our fair city’s inability— or unwillingness— to keep its promises? Especially in regards to the ones made during the north Brooklyn 2005 re-zone? Just a thought.

Miss Heather

UPDATE: I have taken the survey. Aside from finding it curious that Cooper Park and Grand Ferry Park excluded (I mentioned them— I really like Grand Ferry and Cooper— the latter’s crappers are among the best to be found hereabouts. What’s more, Cooper Park is located closer to the Shit Tits than East River or Gantry State Park. Why the exclusion?) I found question #6 of particular interest:

What would you like to do at public parks that you cannot do now?

You can read my answer by clicking here.