Have you been to Union Square lately and wondered what the hell all the construction is at the north end of the park?
Well, the construction is for a new, large upscale restaurant which will extend itself into the northern part of Union Square Park. Go figure.
Below are the details for Tomorrows action to protest the privatizing our city parks.
SAVE UNION SQUARE 2008
PRESS ADVISORY
Contacts: Savitri Durkee, (347) 693-8857; Eric Laursen, (917) 806-6452
LOCAL ACTIVISTS CALL UPON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO STAND UP AGAINST UNION
SQUARE PRIVATIZATION; MAJOR DEMONSTRATION SET FOR THURS., JUNE 5, 5:30 P.M.
NEW YORK – Save Union Square 2008 is demanding that City Council Member
Rosie Mendez take a stand against the privatization of a historic
portion of Manhattan's Union Square. The group of concerned New Yorkers
has sparked a letter-writing and phone-in campaign urging Mendez to use
her position on the City Council to stop the city and private interests
from converting the historic Pavilion at the north end of Union Square
into a private, upscale restaurant.
Save Union Square 2008 is taking its campaign to the streets this Thursday at 5:30 p.m., with a major demonstration at the north end of Union Square. Thereafter, every Wed. at 5pm, Save Union Square 2008 will be in the park, performing, recruiting, and urging passersby to contact Mendez. By tradition, City Council Members have veto power over redevelopment projects in their respective districts. Mendez, however, has had a close relationship with the Union Square Partnership, the organization of merchants and real estate interests that has taken charge – with Mayor Bloomberg's help – of redeveloping the 150-year-old park, having received an award from the Partnership last year.
“How independent is Rosie Mendez? We're asking her to make a public
statement to the people living in her district, regarding the plans of
the Union Square Partnership for the Pavilion,” says Savitri Durkee, a
member of Save Union Square 2008. The Pavilion has traditionally been
used as a children's indoor playground and community space.
Press are invited to attend the rally on Thurs. and learn more about the
campaign to save a portion of Union Square that has long been dedicated
to free speech and community service.
Who: Save Union Square 2008 What: Rally against privatization of Union Square Where: NE corner of Union Square Park, at E17th Street, Manhattan When: Thurs., June 5; press call at 5:30 p.m.
3 comments:
I've been watching this closely. Unfortunately, they've already chopped down many of the ancient elm trees in that area that give the park some of it's charm. The north end is a construction pit, as I type this.
It's typical of New York under Bloomberg. Everything you love will disappear.
I hate hearing that. Even here in green Portland, the capitalists can hardly stand it whenever they pass any and every park. They can only see MONEY they aren't getting from the development they'd rape the land with. GLAD you're trying to do the right thing there.
Great meeting you in NY........
Go get 'em urban activist puppy!
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