Saturday, May 5, 2007

Corona Park corruption

Letter to the editor of the Times Ledger:

When the United States Tennis Association was permitted to almost double the size of its presence in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, part of the arrangement included the creation of a fund that I recall being $8 million. It was to be used solely to enhance the integrity of an important urban park which had been for years neglected and pillaged for a host of non-park structures.

That meant improvement of the facility as a place for passive enjoyment. It was not meant to be related in any way to more non-park structures in the park. The money was not to be used for financial requirements that legitimately would and should be covered by the park's normal budgetary allotments. By any stretch of the imagination, salaries of Park Department employees fall within the normal budgetary allotments.

With its typical false bravado the city Parks Department now says that the $8 million-fund is now worth about $12 million and will be used to pay the salaries of employees at a swimming pool and ice skating facility now under construction in the park, according to the April 12 TimesLedger story, "Tennis fund will staff Flushing Meadows pool."

This is clearly a violation of the intent and spirit that prompted the creation of the fund. One need not be surprised because this is yet another example of the ongoing dumping on Flushing Meadows Corona Park by an inept and incompetent Parks Department, aided and abetted by so-called elected officials who have no comprehension of what urban parks are all about.

Benjamin M. Haber, president

Civic Association of Kew Gardens Hills

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this fund, perhaps going to be "looted" to increase the salaries of the already overpaid executive directors who hold "patronage" jobs in the parks various organizations .

They're clearly not worth what they're already getting!

Anonymous said...

What does Cooper, Rosenstock, Lacerte, etc. currently make in salaries? Anybody know?

Anonymous said...

Cooper's salary is likely public record.

Rosenstock, Lacerte don't work for Parks. Why is their salary relevant?

Anonymous said...

Maybe they hold patronage type jobs for past services rendered!

Anonymous said...

Obviously both personages are scoping this site now....good!

Anonymous said...

All enjoy "a good read"!

Anonymous said...

For instance,"Theater In The Park"....Rosenstock's baby (built on temporary pilings intended to be used only as a temporary structure for the 1964 Worlds Fair) was a dumping ground for millions of dollars from funding sources i.e. Queensborough Hall etc. for extensive renovations!

Wouldn't it have been cheaper to tear it down and build a new theater?

The wasting of money, public or private, is always an appropriate subject for inquiry!

Anonymous said...

Part of the fun of the World's Fair
is the Subway Special that takes you there.

There's a good-time feeling in the air on the Subway Special to the World's Fair.

Trains are easy to catch anywhere, any time night or day.

Just pay fifteen cents: Hop Aboard ! and you're on your way.

Yes, part of the fun of the World's Fair is the Subway Special that takes you there.