Urge Assemblymember Deborah Glick to Publicly Support FIERCE White Paper Policy Recommendations for New Policies at Hudson River Park

updated: Monday March 09, 2009

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Dear Assemblymember Glick,

The Hudson River Park is an incredible 550-acre park, and is the largest open space in Manhattan since the completion of Central Park. Mandated by the Hudson River Park Act (HRPA), the Park is intended to expand public access to the waterfront, increase the quality of life in the community, and ensure community participation in decisions made about the Park. However, there are huge gaps between the legislation of the Act and the reality of how the Hudson River Park is being developed.

FIERCE, a community organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth of color, and the Urban Justice Center partnered to create recommendations to the Hudson River Park Act that prioritize access to safe public space and involvement in decision-making processes for the entire community that utilizes the park. Specifically, their recommendations call for:

• more public space and community-based uses on commercial revenue generating piers;
•prioritization of safe public space and uses for all New Yorkers to enjoy;
•public management of the piers by the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT)  to ensure accountability to the public;
•the Pier 40 lease term of 30 years be maintained to protect the park from over-development;
•community representation on the HRPT board be increased by two members from the surrounding community;
•and to expand the powers of the Community Boards and HRPT Advisory Council to include voting and veto power in decisions about the Park.

As a member of your constituency and/or New York City resident I am in support of creating a Hudson River Park that is a safe public space accessible to all who use it, including LGBTQ youth. Together with other community members, I am writing to you to demonstrate our commitment to accessible safe public space for all New Yorkers, and hope that you share in this pledge by taking steps to address issues of accessibility of the Hudson River Park. We agree with the objectives of the HRPA, that the park be made available for all of New York to enjoy.  We support FIERCE and the Urban Justice Center’s recommendations to the Hudson River Park Act. By sending this letter we echo your commitment to ensure that the park is fulfilling its intended purpose. 

We urge you to publicly endorse the white paper recommendations of FIERCE and the Urban Justice Center by issuing a statement of support. We ask that you use the principles and objectives outlined in this paper to draft the legislation and advocate with New York State to ensure that federal funds are used to improve access to public space at the Hudson River Park. 

It is important for elected officials to respond to the needs of the communities they serve, because you are the ones who can make these principles binding policy. To make the Hudson River Park truly reflect the community, we need your public support. We thank you for your long-time dedication and history of advocacy in preserving the Hudson River Park. We hope you will maintain your commitment to the Park and its importance as an asset for years to come, by supporting the white paper recommendation and pursuing legislation. The Hudson River Park has extraordinary potential to truly be a safe public space for all of New York. Help us ensure that the Park becomes accessible to everyone and that decision-making processes include the community. 

Thank you for your support.