August 1, 2007

Use power of the Purse

To The Editor: 
Re “Wash. Sq. funds must be pulled, critics cry” (news article, Aug. 1):

After a City Hall hearing last week on the Washington Square Park renovation plan, the Parks Department showed copies of its plan to the public and the community-based Washington Square Park Task Force. Incredibly, after two years, they are still treating the plans like top-secret government information. The Parks officials present refused to answer the simplest questions, like why they cannot find funds to improve the bathrooms and make them disabled accessible. 

The only real check we New Yorkers have on the power of our Parks Department to bulldoze our park with its enormously unpopular redesign is the City Council’s budgetary authority. During the past few years, the Council has avoided using this power over the Parks Department. Many New Yorkers, including those of us affiliated with the Open Washington Square Park Coalition, feel the time has come for our local elected officials to represent the will of thousands of people who use and love this park.  
 
Jonathan Greenberg 
Greenberg is coordinator, Open Washington Square Park Coalition

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