With the recent Coney Island Development Corporation's e-mail announcement alerting that the New York Times editorial endorses the City's Coney Island rezoning plan is not an accurate statement. (See full CIDC e-mail below).
The New York times specifically states, "The Council should approve the new zoning while also improving the plan". The NY Times also believes that the Municipal Art Society's recommendation of expanding not shrinking the amusement area is an idea they like.
We like the Municipal Art Society’s idea of doubling the size of the amusement area and removing hotels from the south side of Surf Avenue. This way, when visitors get off the subway, they will meet sunlight and open air, not a high-rise barricade.
The CIDC and the city have, as of yet, not addressed the overwhelming concerns of the public that they have been completely ignoring. Where are their statements or retorts to the pleas by all the amusement advocates from 'Save Coney Island' coalition, Coney Island USA's 'Mayor' Dick Zigun, and posters from the forums and blogosphere? We haven't seen them anywhere. Yesterday, Council Speaker Christine Quinn commented on the Coney Island rezoning issue in regards to the protection of the amusement size during her speech at the Jane Jacobs street naming ceremony saying, "We're very happy that the Coney Island folks are here today. And if anybody thinks Jane Jacobs tradition is dead, they can go to the city council phone lines, where Coney Island folks have been calling on a regular...regular basis. And it certainly is not dead".Other than Quinn's statement, there is little or no word from the city or the CIDC about the pleas. Since they have not addressed us and instead are sending out false statements and continue to ignore the big flaw in their plan it is safe to say the city is bullying us!
Below is the full e-mail announcement from the CIDC:
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IN THE NEWS...The New York Times endorses City's Coney Island Plan!
"This is the year [Coney Island] could get moving again, if the City Council approves an ambitious redevelopment proposal from the Bloomberg administration. ...We hope the Council steps up and gets the job done."- New York Times editorial, Monday, July 13, 2009
Dear Friends:
As we approach the City Council's upcoming vote on the proposed Coney Island rezoning and redevelopment plan, we just wanted to make sure you had seen the editorial in today's New York Times urging a "yes" vote for the future of Coney Island. The Times editorial -- which follows a similar strongly supportive editorial in the NY Daily News -- says of the plan:
"It calls for revitalized year-round amusements, badly needed apartments and new retail and commercial development. Coney Island is not just a decrepit carnival -- it's a community starving for civic amenities, affordable housing and jobs, all of which could flourish amid the tacky splendor of a reborn seaside paradise."
We remain extremely proud of all of the work we have done together with the community and local leaders to arrive at this important moment and we join the Times in believing that Coney Island can, and will, flourish once again. Thank you for all of your continued support and assistance.
Sincerely,
Lynn Kelly
