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For Immediate Release: June 14th, 2004 Contact: Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS RELEASE*** Sutton Area Community To
Protest Placement of Water Tunnel Shaft and Demands That Their
Community Remain Safe Approximately 400 protesters from the Sutton Place
Neighborhood will take to the streets to protest Mayor Bloomberg and the DEP’s controversial
Water Tunnel Access Shaft New York, NY – On Thursday, June 17th, from
6:30-7:30 PM, State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) will join community
residents on the corner of 54th Street and 2nd Avenue
to oppose the proposed placement of a water tunnel distribution shaft at that
site. The protestors will also be joined by City Council Speaker
Gifford Miller, Assemblymember Jonathan Bing and community activists who
believe that 54th Street is not a safe location for the
shaft. The New York City Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) is proposing to locate Shaft #33b of Water
Tunnel #3 in 7,000 sq. ft. of the bed of the street on East 54th
Street and 2nd Avenue. “The water tunnel shaft simply does not belong in the
midst of a narrow, well-trafficked through-street in a heavily populated
neighborhood,” said Senator Krueger,
who will join the June 17th protest.
“I certainly recognize that the water tunnel is a critical element of
our future, but the proposed construction will impede the safety of its
residents. We urge New York City and
DEP to expand their search for a site and to find a new location that will
affect less people.” While
Senator Krueger does support the construction of the water tunnel, which will
play a crucial role in ensuring the future reliability of the city’s water
delivery system, she believes the choice of the neighborhoods most densely
populated and heavily trafficked street to be entirely inappropriate. The proposed site would jeopardize the safety
of residents by restricting accessibility for emergency vehicles, exacerbate
the area’s already severe traffic problems and conflicts with DEP’s own
stated criteria for site selection. There are more than 1,700 residential units within 300 feet of
the proposed site in addition to a school, theatre and recreation
center. Construction of the crucial
third water tunnel has been ongoing for over three decades and is expected to
reach the East Side in about two years.
“Fifty-fourth Street is a narrow, heavily trafficked
street with 800 residential units, a community center and neighborhood
theater,” said City Council Speaker
Gifford Miller. “Reducing the
street to one lane raises serious safety concerns, as evidenced by a recent
fire at this location that required multiple fire trucks. It appears as if a shaft construction site
could impede emergency vehicle access on this busy street.” “There are more than 1,700 residential units within 300
feet of the proposed site, as well as a school, community theater, restaurants
and a recreation center for children,” said Assemblymember Jonathan Bing.
“I am going to do everything possible to help move the shaft to a
safer location for the community.” Neighbors in the community say Thursday’s protest is only
the beginning, and plan to fight hard and loud over the next few months. Gregory Cranford, a resident of
Connaught Tower on 54th Street says, “We are going to fight the
proposed water tunnel every step of the way so Mayor Bloomberg does not
compromise the safety of our families.”
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