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For Immediate Release: May 7th, 2004 Contact: Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS
RELEASE*** State Senator Liz Krueger
Stands United with Residents to Oppose Placement of Water
Tunnel Distribution Shaft on East 54th Street New York, NY – On
Thursday, May 6th, State Senator Liz Krueger joined 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. Over 100 protestors walked
from corner to corner with signs inscribed with statements such as, “Shift
the Shaft”, “Don’t Shaft 54th Street” and “Mayor Bloomberg – Can
you Hear us Now?” 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 thru-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. We must engage in a
constructive dialogue now.” 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. 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 discuss changing their plans.
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. |
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