NID is flawed, abuses law
To The Editor:
Re “The Hudson River Park must generate more revenue” (Talking Point, by Diana Taylor et al., April 3):
The neighborhood improvement district (NID), so blandly referred to here, is a flawed concept and an abuse of the business improvement district law.
Contrary to statements made in public meetings, the Hudson River Park maintenance money from the NID will not be passed through to the Hudson River Park Trust as a block grant, and can be held back in a reserve fund if the NID board does not approve of the Trust requests for any or all of the money in any given year.
In addition, if the NID builds pedestrian bridges over Route 9A in the park’s northern section (including perhaps to the passenger ship piers), as detailed in the draft NID district plan, the debt service for these projects takes precedence over all other budget items, even the money earmarked for park maintenance.
The NID plan also envisions “beautifying” the historically accurate industrial flavor of the western parts of Tribeca, Soho, the West Village and beyond, and could weaken local control of our neighborhoods.Before you decide you support the NID because they tell you it’s an easy, low-impact way to help Hudson River Park, read the plan (hrpnid.com/district-plan) and visit Neighbors Against the NID (nohrpnid.blogspot.com) to learn more.
Nicole Vianna
Vianna is a member of Neighbors Against the NID
