There’s a new push to protect the Lower East Side’s community gardens. Here’s the note that went out yesterday from Bill LoSasso, a garden activist and member of Community Board 3:
As you may know, a Coalition has formed to pursue permanence of the community gardens within the boundaries of Community Board 3 (East Village, Lower East Side, Chinatown, Two Bridges). Our community has an wonderful abundance of community gardens which provide numerous environmental, ecological, cultural, social, historical, aesthetic, and economic benefits, and more, to our neighborhoods. If you believe that these gardens are valuable assets to our community that deserve every type of protection possible, please take 20 seconds to sign the petition below as we pursue the cause of having all gardens declared parklands and designated as part of a designated Community Gardens District. Once designated as parklands, it would take an act of the New York State legislature to alienate the land for a use other than open space. And, please consider coming out (Thursday evening) at 6:30 as the Parks Committee of Community Board 3 votes on whether to support this proposal. You can write a letter of support too, and I’ll send it along.
Here’s a link to the petition. That community board meeting takes place tonight at the BRC Senior Center, 30 Delancey St. .
it’s been my experience that theses so called community gardens are not for the whole community. A select few get to rule and decide the what goes on at these gardens. Until they become truly for the community I’m not willing to sign a petition.
what was the result of the vote?