From the Daily News:Peering into the dark streets from her fourth-floor apartment during the July 2006 blackout that affected western Queens, Alyssa Bonilla would never have imagined the debacle would one day lead to the greening of her neighborhood.
But that's exactly what's underway in Sunnyside, Astoria, Woodside and Long Island City, thanks to a group called Western Queens Power for the People.
The group, which Bonilla joined in the first few days after it was formed, sued Con Edison for damages resulting from the blackout that dragged on for nine days during a heat wave. Part of the $63 million settlement included funds for community greening projects.
Power for the People and the North Star Fund, the administrator for the green projects, have scheduled two "visioning" days - the first on Saturday.
The public forums will give the community a chance to learn more about the settlement and discuss ways to use the $7.9 million available for greening projects. Half of that is designated for the planting of street trees.
Solar panels, water catchment systems, green roofs, even windmills, are just some of the ideas that come to mind for the Power for the People members.
Group members said they are also committed to green education and creating green jobs. But they noted the final decision on how to use the funds will come from public discourse.
The first visioning session will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, at Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th St., Sunnyside. The second session will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 27, at the Greater Astoria Historical Society, 35-20 Broadway, Long Island City.
5 comments:
And where in the f*k are they getting the money? From the rate payers of course.
So...you give me $100 rebate, then tack in on my bill?
Why don't they go after the developers and illegal conversions that caused the blackout instead of parroting Vallonie on Con Ed.
Oh I get it, Vallonie Senhor is a lobbiest for Keyspan.
if they didn't fight back you would have gotten zilch. I believe everyone affected got $350 for food that was spoiled.
what day is the first event? that is left out.
and if you are such a big mouth, how come you didn't come testify at the hearings?
the money is from CON EDISON
The point that #1 was trying to make is that yes, the money is from Con Edison, which gets their money from their customers (us). Which means a rate hike for us.
Yes this was a true grassroots effort of people getting petitions signed at the subway stations along the #7 and elsewhere.
Concern about overdevelopment is reasonable of course. How would this money help counter that? Use your time to think about that and maybe you'll come up with a usable idea.
I am going to ask for better maintenance of existing parks in the area. Just off the top of my head. Ask for the creation of another park somewhere in the vicinity on one of these empty lots that isn't being built up. Maybe not feasible but at least I'll put in my opinion.
Trees could already be planted under the million trees program which has not run out of trees or money yet (and some of that money is from private donations and fundraisers).
And yes, we got $350 each and then a $100 credit a year or two later. NOT a fan of Con Ed by any stretch but if people only complain about it on a website and don't show up to these meetings, then what do we achieve?
MYTH
Yes this was a true grassroots effort of people getting petitions signed at the subway stations along the #7 and elsewhere.
REALITY
You get nowhere in this city unless the machine wants you there. Everything from the Committee to Save the Keiths, which got thousands of signatures, to the repeated votes on term limits which numbered in the millions, will get ignored if it does not serve the interest of honest graft and its handmaiden, tweeding.
IMHO, if you got anywhere its because its in someone’s best interest that you get there/
MYTH
Concern about overdevelopment is reasonable of course. How would this money help counter that? Use your time to think about that and maybe you'll come up with a usable idea.
REALITY
I donno … look considering that I have been thinking long and hard about this since probably before you were born, I think I know how to use my time wisely on this issue: with your attitude, I will not waste it to explain the obvious.
MYTH
I am going to ask for better maintenance of existing parks in the area. Just off the top of my head. Ask for the creation of another park somewhere in the vicinity on one of these empty lots that isn't being built up. Maybe not feasible but at least I'll put in my opinion.
REALITY
ASK for better park maintenance? Demand it for heavens sake! Its your money! And to go after a few sorry-assed parcels that the city will inevitably forget and become another Hart Park?
Come on, get creative! Get daring!
How about using the money for starting an effort at using eminent domain for reason it is intended: for the public. Go after the East River waterfront and make it a park, like the Hudson is for Manhattan, and the lake in Chicago. Now that’s a real park. Hell, someone might even name within the park a walkway or flagpole or something after you.
MYTH
Trees could already be planted under the million trees program which has not run out of trees or money yet (and some of that money is from private donations and fundraisers).
REALITY
Nice idea.
But the reality is that the words ring hollow when we all see developers routinely tearing down trees – and then using taxpayer's money to replant them (as yes another taxpayer subsidy) for new development.
Without public education, the knuckle draggers will kill them. On my block there has been at least four efforts over 30 years to plant trees. We have all of six trees (two dead) for that work.
MYTH
And yes, we got $350 each and then a $100 credit a year or two later. NOT a fan of Con Ed by any stretch but if people only complain about it on a website and don't show up to these meetings, then what do we achieve?
REALITY
A real debate – something that you or the press will never let the public have—can take place on this blog – a place that is recognized as a forum for these kinds of things.
I am horrified that millions of dollars, money that could go into upgrading our community’s service for the first time in nearly 60 years, is being used to find empty lots for a park, planting trees that some ignorant moron will kill, and making people happy by giving them a rebate …. paid by their bills.
I DO wonder, too, how much of that huge sum is being used for overhead …
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