Protests
Council Hearings Starting Soon
The City Council will hold its hearings this morning regarding Willets Point.
Word is both sides of the contentious plan will have people outside rallying before the hearings begin. For full coverage and blogging of the hearing itself, be sure to stay tuned to the Iron Triangle Tracker, where Stephen Sterling will be reporting from City Hall.
Mets Fans, Speak Out Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning is (still) the time that the City Council will hold its hearing on the Willets Point proposal. Supporters of the plan are strongly encouraged to attend the hearing if at all possible.
The City Council vote on this plan is fast approaching, and it is of the utmost importance to let the Council know that people are concerned about the future of Willets Point and would love to see the Mayor’s plan come to fruition.
Council Hearing Could be Postponed
Stephen Sterling continues to be on top of the City Council hearing schedule for Willets Point. He’s reporting today that the hearing, which is tentatively set for Friday morning, could very well be in flux. The thing that could mess up that schedule is the hearing set to begin on Thursday afternoon regarding term limits.
If you’re interested in the whole term limits thing, by the way, be sure to check out Let NYC Vote if you’re opposed to changing them or the message from a Bloomberg supporter.
Regardless of what happens with term limits, if these hearings go very late into the night, I’m sure the Council would push back the Willets Point hearing.
Stephen also reports on the various groups that will be protesting the Willets Point plan or rallying in favor of development.
Anti-Bloomberg Activists on a Bus
If you happen to have been anywhere near Willets Point or some of the other major development/rezoning areas, there was a bus touring these areas protesting pretty much every major project Mayor Bloomberg supports.
Yawn.
Update: Here’s a photo, presumably taken on 126th Street next to Citi Field. Can’t see inside the bus, but the trailer certainly doesn’t look very crowded. Imagine how much nicer this photo would look if it were taken in the surroundings on 126th Street which you can see on the right side of this site.
NYDN: A “Retraining Revolt” at Willets Point
According to the Daily News, a small group of workers in Willets Point stormed the bus brought in by LaGuardia Community College. The bus was there for a test run in preparation for the City’s program to provide job training to workers who may need it as a result of the development project.
The protesters are quoted as saying that they want relocation, not re-training, and that they consider re-training an insult. They also claim that the city has not dealt with small businesses directly.
The City maintains that the job re-training program is an essential piece of the project. And for its part, the city stated that it can only negotiate with landowners in Willets Point.
I’d have to say I agree that the option of re-training is a must. No one will be forced to change their job if they don’t want to, but providing some kind of program for workers who may be displaced is definitely necessary. Although the workers say it’s a farce, the City is clearly providing a service that can be used to help the people who may be negatively affected by its plans at Willets Points.
Welcome to Develop Willets Point
