Pier 40 Trust
To The Editor: Re “Honing Pier 40 plans as deadline nears” (December 14 – 20):
This past weekend marked the closing performance of Cirque du Soleil’s “Wintuk” at Madison Square Garden. A simple story about a city boy in search for snow could not have better captured the current “tuk-ing” of Pier 40, and the rest of the West Village, in the name of private development.
As the Hudson River Park Trust board of directors, chaired by Diana Taylor, prepares for an imminent vote on the development of Pier 40, the West Village must prepare itself against the possibility of a decision that will drastically alter the space we call home.
There is no need for dramatic language when the reality of what we are facing comes down to this: the private development of pier 40 will send ripple effects throughout the West Village. The Pier 40 Working Group, appointed by the Trust, hit it on the head in their recommendation: putting the needs of our community at the center will do far more than our economy and quality of life than private development will. The Trust stands at the crossroads of an important decision where they can say No to both proposals before them and say Yes to the residents, business owners, families, L.G.B.T. youth, and park goers who make up the very fabric of the West Village.
The stage is set: Related Company’s Performing Arts Center (which includes Cirque du Soleil as a main tenant) and Camp Group/Urban Dove’s People’s Pier stand lurking above a village that harbors a strong history of community involvement. The main protagonists stand on either side: the Trust, which holds the decision in their hands and the West Village residents, business owners, and community members fighting for the right to save not only a space, but a dynamic history and a vibrant people. These next few weeks before us provide a unique opportunity to urge the Trust to vote No to private development-a finale that represents a promising opening act of a community-centered development initiative that puts our home first.
Let the Trust know how important the West Village and community-centered development is to you via email: comments@hrpt.state.ny.us.
Glo Ross
A vision of 9/11 pigeons
To The Editor: Re “Feeding-ban bill has pigeons on a wing and a prayer” (news article, Dec. 7 – 13):
During the cruelty, chaos and despair of that awful morning, I rode Downtown through the East Side on my bike.
There was a man who was feeding the birds. They were perching on his arms and eating out of his hands. I had never seen anything like that. It was like sunshine coming through the smoky air. It was totally at odds with the unfolding disaster. Though surrounded by death, there was joyous life fluttering to this man’s hands.
Thank you, Michael, for your kindness.
Ruth Kuzub
W.T.C. deadline
To The Editor: I am not surprised that the Port Authority missed another deadline to meet the needs of building the new complex (news article, Jan. 4 – 10, “Port misses deadline and says ‘worst’ construction noise is almost over”). Even working nearly a whole day, they were still able to miss it. The new complex would be overbudgetted regardless of whether or not Larry Silverstein won the last number of lawsuits against the insurance firms in the last two years. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver even made the claim that without the money needed to build it or the fact that there are no tenants to fill it up, it could just be another false start like the one back in 2004 when the cornerstone was placed in. If it wasn’t for all these debates and disputes about what should go there, then the rebuilt and modified Twin Towers would have been topped out by now as a restoration for the Lower Manhattan skyline.
Tal Barzilai Pleasantville, N.Y.
Letters policy
Downtown Express welcomes letters to The Editor. They must include the writer’s first and last name, a phone number for confirmation purposes only, and any affiliation that relates directly to the letter’s subject matter. Letters should be less than 300 words. Downtown Express reserves the right to edit letters for space, clarity, civility or libel reasons. Letters should be e-mailed to news@DowntownExpress.com or can be mailed to 145 Sixth Ave., N.Y., N.Y. 10013.
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