A coalition of community-based civic and environmental groups 
opposed to the commercial encroachment of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
SAVE FLUSHING MEADOWS-CORONA PARK!
  • Home
  • Press/Media
  • Blog
  • About Us

An open letter to City Council Member Julissa Ferreras

2/8/2013

 
(An Open Letter to City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras)

Over 100 years ago Frederick Law Olmstead, the genius who created Central and Prospect parks in this city and many other parks elsewhere, said, “The first duty of our park trustees is to hand down from one generation to the next the treasure of scenery which the city has placed in their care.” That requirement rests squarely upon the shoulders of all elected officials in this state and city, and, with due respect, it includes you.

While Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens is the second most-used park in our city, primarily by the poor and middle class, it is also the most abused, littered with all sorts of illegitimate nonpark structures that would not and should not be allowed in Central, Bronx, Prospect or Clove Lake parks. This has occurred over decades through the malfeasance of many elected officials, primarily in Queens, who viewed their constituency as real estate moguls and businesses and not the little people who are the users of the park.

The claim that FMCP is different from other parks is nonsense and a ploy to justify the constant attempts to trespass on it. There is nothing in the City Charter that designates FMCP as being different than any other park. And the abuse is not justified for economic reasons. Apart from how the claimed economic benefits are, in terms of the city’s gross economy, paltry and of little or no significance, a civilized society does not sell or barter public parkland.

In the depths of the Great Depression of the 1930s, this city did not sell or barter parkland. Indeed, if you believe parks should be for sale, you should state publicly you would support what has occurred in FMCP happening in Central Park. Of course you would not, and the time has come for you to insist on similar treatment for FMCP.

Your attention is directed to the Queens Chronicle Jan. 31 edition and its comprehensive, well-thought out editorial opposing Major League Soccer’s attempt to construct a stadium in FMCP (“Flushing Meadows soccer stadium must be stopped”). It is clear there is no justification for yet another assault on the integrity on FMCP, and the proposed stadium must be rejected. Like most private for-profit businesses, MLS is free to purchase property on the open market. Enough is enough, and the desecration of FMCP must stop.

In using your good offices to reject the stadium you will be making it clear you understand the importance of parkland not just for current residents, but for generations as yet unborn. Let right be done, oppose the MLS stadium in our park and earn an important legacy as a public official.

Benjamin M. Haber
Flushing

Comments are closed.

    Save FMCP

    We are dedicated to stopping private development of Queens' flagship public park.

    Archives

    January 2023
    June 2017
    July 2015
    April 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    February 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Al Centola
    Alex Rosa
    Alienation Of Parkland
    Andrew Hevesi
    Aqueduct
    Arboricide
    Ben Haber
    Berm
    Bill Deblasio
    Borough Board
    Borough President
    Casino
    Central Park
    Citifield
    City Club
    City Council
    City Planning Commission
    College Point
    Comments
    Committee
    Community Boards
    Construction
    Contamination
    Daniel Zausner
    Deis
    Disney
    Editorial
    Eminent Domain
    Fairness Coalition
    Flooding
    Flushing Meadows
    Flushing Meadows Corona Park
    Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
    Flushing River
    Francisco Moya
    Gambling
    Garages
    Geoffrey Croft
    Helen Marshall
    History
    Jobs
    Joe Lhota
    Jose Peralta
    Joseph Ardizzone
    Julissa Ferreras
    Landmarks Preservation Commission
    Lawsuit
    Major League Soccer
    Mall
    Melinda Katz
    Mets
    New Yorkers For Parks
    Nyc Park Advocates
    Parks Committee
    Pat Dolan
    Paul Graziano
    Peter Vallone
    Phil Konigsberg
    Pool Of Industry
    Power Plant
    Press Conference
    Public Hearing
    Public-private Partnership
    Public Use
    Queens Chronicle
    Queens Civic Congress
    Queens Housing Coalition
    Queens Museum
    Queens Preservation Council
    Rally
    Restoration
    Robert Loscalzo
    Shop Architects
    Soccer
    Stadium
    Sterling/related
    Tennis Center
    Testify
    The City Club Of New York
    Tony Avella
    Traffic
    Trees
    Ulurp
    Usta
    Vote
    Water Table
    Willets Point
    World's Fair

    RSS Feed