Salt of the Earth
To the Editor:
Re: “Anne Compccia, fearless community voice, dies at 62” (news article, March 2)
Thank you for Albert Amateau’s moving piece memorializing Anne Compoccia. I had only one or two opportunities to interact with Anne many years ago and, though we were strangers, I remember having her complete attention in a way that is still vivid. She was “real” people, the salt-of-the-earth type that we certainly could use more of in the Downtown political climate. Now image and connections, not genuine interest in people, characterize our political representatives.
Amateau’s article about Anne reminded me that PR glitz and the superficial motions of Community Board and Committee meetings was not always the way politics was done in Downtown Manhattan. For example, I have not seen Margaret Chin in Battery Park City since she was elected to the City Council – though I supported her when she had little support in the neighborhood. As for committees of the Community Board, they do not represent residents but rather the self-interest of the politician who in some mysterious way put them in place. They strike me as a combination of cronyism and out-sized egos. Rest in peace, Anne. Maybe it is time for the San Gennaro Festival to be re-named.
Dolores D’Agostino
Save the stairs
To the Editor:
Re: “Battery Park City Beat: Brookfield Promotes World Financial Center Plans” (news article, March 2)
As most people are aware by now, Brookfield Properties is planning to demolish the Winter Garden staircase as part of its redevelopment of the Winter Garden and in light of the new tunnel that is being built under West Street that will connect the World Trade Center area to the Winter Garden. While all of us, I think, will welcome the return of stores and restaurants to our-getting-emptier-by-the-day-it-seems Winter Garden and the return of passage through the World Trade Center site, we maintain that this does not have to be done at the expense of the iconic Winter Garden staircase. We can have both!
A group of us – residents and workers — are putting together a petition to let Brookfield know that there is grassroots opposition to the demolition of the Winter Garden staircase.
We are asking that people who are against the destruction of the staircase send us an e-mail at SaveTheStairs@gmail.com letting us know that you want Brookfield to Save the Stairs. If you are willing to put your name, building address and zip code in the e-mail as well, I will add your name to our petition, which presently has over 250 signatures.
I am encouraged by the suggestion that the stairs be designated as a landmark by Roger Byrom, who chairs Community Board 1’s Landmarks Committee as well as the support for the staircase from Julie Menin, chair of Community Board 1 and Amanda Burden, the City’s Planning Commissioner. Let’s let them know that we, the people who live in, work in and visit Lower Manhattan, are behind them and agree that the staircase must be saved.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world… it is the only thing that ever has!” quoting Margaret Mead. We don’t need to change the world… just a small piece of our world. Thank you for taking the time to get involved!
Justine Cuccia
Battery Park City resident since 1997; member of Save Our Staircase
