I just discovered a very cool feature of Google's News search. It will show a timeline of news articles related to a particular topic search. Here is the result of Ridgewood Reservoir articles that extends from 1858 to present.
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The New York City Council's Environmental Protection Committee is meeting next week to discuss:
"A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the creation of a comprehensive wetlands protection policy for New York city. Preconsidered Int____ - By Council Member - A Local Law - To amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to coordination between the department of buildings and other governmental agencies when development is proposed for the city’s coastal zone..."
I'm not a lawyer, so it's hard to determine if it will actually give more protection to our city's wetlands. You can read the calendar event here and Int 0506-2007 here.
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Our friends at the Natural Resources Protective Association just sent the following information. The issue relates to the Ridgewood Reservoir plans in that it shows a total lack of responsibility, both environmentally and fiscally, by our city leaders:
Attached is a flyer about something that hasn't been widely publicized: Plans to build a $64 million amphitheater in a small park in Brooklyn, near Coney Island. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2009. Outside of the fact that a lot better things can be done with $64 million, especially in these times, this thing is smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood. To add insult to injury, it will chop down a number of ancient trees and basically ruin the only parkland in a gray zone.
Currently, there is a small bandshell in the park. There are a few very small scale concerts held there as well as 6 larger events that attract a few thousand people. After the larger concerts, the chairs are picked up and it's back to being open space. I don't think that anyone would object to a concert venue within the Coney Island amusement area. Keyspan Park is another area that can be used for concerts.
Please distribute the attached flyer. We're going to set up a meeting in the near future to let people know what's going on.
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New York City Audubon is backing our efforts to save the reservoir. In the November-December 2008 "Urban Audubon" newsletter they mention the Ridgewood Reservoir in the president's column. Peter Rhoades Mott writes, "We have advocated for preserving Ridgewood Reservoir as a unique natural area in Queens..."
NYCAS is another important voice in our rapidly growing list of supporters.
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The following is from the New York City Audubon Society lecture series:
Friday, January 23, 2009
Liquid Assets: A History of New York City's Water System
By Diane Galusha
Presented in partnership with New York State Marine Education Association
This will be an illustrated presentation that will cover the construction of the reservoirs and aqueducts that collect and transport water from a 2,000-square-mile watershed to serve 9 million people in New York City and its upstate suburbs. These public works projects, completed between 1842 and 1965, were engineering marvels that helped make New York the preeminent city in the nation. But they had a dark side -- the elimination of dozens of communities and the displacement of thousands of people.
7:00pm at the Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street
RSVP with Lisa Breslof at AMNH at 212-769-5169.
All lectures are open to the public and free of charge.
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Just a reminder that there will be a meeting this Friday, January 9th, 7pm at the Ridgewood Democratic Club. All are invited.
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