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For Immediate Release: March 18th, 2004 Contact: Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS
RELEASE*** Senator Liz Krueger &
Assemblymember Jonathan Bing Stand United with Residents to Oppose
Placement of Water Tunnel Distribution Shaft on East 54th Street New York, NY – On
Thursday, March 18th, State Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember
Jonathan Bing joined community residents on the steps of City Hall to oppose
the proposed placement of a water tunnel distribution shaft at East 54th
Street and Second Avenue. 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. “The water tunnel shaft
simply does not belong in the midst of a narrow, well-trafficked street in a
heavily populated neighborhood,” stated Senator Krueger. “I certainly recognize that the water
tunnel is a critical element of our future, but the proposed construction
will disrupt the community and the safety of its residents for years to
come.” While Senator Krueger and
Assemblymember Bing 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, they believe the choice of the neighborhood’s 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. Over 700 neighborhood
residents, as well as Senator Liz Krueger, Assemblymember Jonathan Bing, City
Council Speaker Gifford Miller, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney and Community
Board Six, have formally called upon DEP to find a more suitable
location. Unfortunately, DEP has
refused to engage in a constructive dialogue. 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. “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,” remarked Senator Krueger. -30- |
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