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** Dear Neighbors,
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I was thrilled to join community members and local electeds this week in celebrating the New York State Supreme Court decision on the 200 Amsterdam project. The judge confirmed what we have argued all along -- that the 52-story, 668-foot tower is simply not in compliance with the city's Zoning Resolution.
The ruling has clear significance beyond the Upper West Side. At a June 2018 Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) hearing, I presented a letter ([link removed]) signed by 26 of my Council colleagues explaining how the use of gerrymandered zoning lots, as exemplified by 200 Amsterdam, has the potential to negatively impact the land use process for the entire city. The BSA subsequently denied the community's application to halt the proposal, but we fought on, and were joined by a growing coalition in support of a more transparent and predictable land use process.
It is worth noting that the Dept of Buildings had already acknowledged that they should not have issued permits for the project, but it has taken a judge's order to force the City to rescind the permits.
Special congratulations to the Committee for Environmentally Sound Development and the Municipal Art Society for leading the way on the court case. The developer is very likely to appeal the decision and fight against having to remove up to 20 already constructed floors but we won't back down. Last week's decision is an important step for our community and for requiring that all developers play by the rules.
Free Citizenship Assistance this Saturday!
Experienced lawyers and immigration professionals will be available this Saturday (2/22) to assist with citizenship applications. Location: West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd Street. All services are free but applicants pay a $725 filing fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unless they qualify for a fee waiver. Learn more here ([link removed]) .
For appointments and more information, please call (646) 664-9400 or visit cuny.edu/citizenshipnow ([link removed]) . Please spread the word!
FREE Reusable Bags & Composting Event
As of March 1st, plastic bags will no longer be available from most retailers. Together with the NYC Dept of Sanitation and the office of Assembly Member Danny O'Donnell, we will be distributing free, reusable bags on Saturday, March 7th, between 11am and 3pm. Location: 96th and Broadway. Join the effort to remove plastic pollution from our waterways!
We'll also be providing information about how your building can join the City's compost program ([link removed]) . By participating, you can help to reduce rodents and street litter, slash the volume of trash sent to landfills, and turn your food waste into compost for local farms and clean energy. Join us on March 7th to learn more!
NEWS FROM CITY HALL
Earlier this week I joined advocates on the steps of City Hall to call for desperately needed reform of the NYPD Special Victims Division. The NYPD's ongoing neglect of the SVD has had rippling consequences for other sexual assault survivors. Watch my remarks here ([link removed]) .
On Monday the New York Times detailed the terrible aftermath ([link removed]) of a 2019 sexual assault of an NYU student in her apartment by a complete stranger. The student reported the assault immediately and fully cooperated with the NYPD, but she and her family allege that the SVD detective assigned to the case openly expressed doubt of her story, and talked her out of moving forward.
Nonetheless, fingerprint evidence from the crime scene was matched to a felon who had already been arrested for a series of burglaries with similarities to the NYU attack. Unfortunately, SVD took no further action, including not notifying the Brooklyn DA's office which was prosecuting the burglary cases. After receiving a lenient plea deal, the assailant was out again within 6 months and subsequently attacked three more women, the third of whom he strangled unconscious before he sexually assaulted her.
NYPD leadership has simply not done enough to address what a 2018 Dept of Investigation report ([link removed]) and our 2018 City Council hearing ([link removed]) made abundantly clear -- the SVD needs more resources and a culture shift.
We’ve heard story after story about SVD detectives, officers, and supervisors re-traumatizing survivors, and having completely unmanageable caseloads. We are demanding that City Hall and the NYPD double the number of SVD detectives, assign many more 1st and 2nd grade experienced detectives to the division, and extensively train all SVD personnel with the newest trauma-informed methods.
As always, don't hesitate to contact my District Office at (212) 873-0282 or my City Hall office at (212) 788-6975 with any questions.
Warmly,
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