Huge Turnout at Intro. 775 Hearing;
Changes To Bill Possible
On Wednesday, opponents of Intro. 775 packed City Hall demonstrating strong opposition to this pro-demolition, anti-preservation bill. Opponents easily outnumbered supporters by more than ten-to-one at the hearing (pictures here), which lasted over six hours. Thank you to everyone who attended, and to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and City Councilmembers Ben Kallos, Rosie Mendez, Margaret Chin, Mark Levine, Helen Rosenthal, and Inez Dickens who spoke out at the hearing against Intro. 775 in its current form. Several Councilmembers present did speak strongly in favor of the bill, including several of the bill’s sponsors. Read GVSHP’s testimony here, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s testimony in opposition to the bill here.
At the hearing, the bill’s authors, Land Use Chair David Greenfield and Landmarks Chair Peter Koo, announced that in response to concerns raised by opponents of the bill, they are open to making changes to some of the bill’s provisions. However, they have not specified what those changes would be, and anything less than very substantial modifications which eliminate the bill’s most onerous provisions would still make Intro. 775 highly damaging and unacceptable. Read GVSHP’s follow up letter about potential changes to the bill here.
It’s critically important that city officials hear from the public about Intro. 775 after the hearing, and that they understand that ANY bill which contains Intro. 775’s most damaging elements must still be opposed.
HOW TO HELP:
• Send a NEW letter to City officials about Intro. 775 following Wednesday’s hearing, EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN > >
Next: 09/18/15
Previous: 09/08/15
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