GOVERNMENT IN THE DARK!
We can’t make this stuff up.
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In a surprise move, City Council fast-tracked its vote on Intro. 775-A, the developer-driven bill to change the NYC Landmarks Law and make it harder than ever to protect the places that matter most to New Yorkers. The vote – originally scheduled for tomorrow, June 9 – was rescheduled for this morning, June 8, without public notice. The bill passed, which comes as no surprise, given the refusal of its sponsors – led by Council Member David Greenfield – to listen to reasonable proposals from preservationists to improve the Landmarks process.
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Please join us in thanking Council Members Mark Levine, Helen Rosenthal, Corey Johnson, Rosie Mendez, Ben Kallos, Inez Barron, Dan Garodnick, Margaret Chin, Daniel Dromm, and Stephen Levin for standing with their communities and voting against this destructive bill. Unfortunately, like Mayor de Blasio’s zoning overhaul (approved by City Council earlier this year) and other legislation still in the pipeline (stay tuned), Intro. 775-A is just one more tool to help developers exploit New York’s neighborhoods.
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Intro. 775-A imposes arbitrary timelines on the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s process for considering potential landmarks and historic districts.
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Five major preservation organizations joined together in signing a June 3, 2016, letter to City Council members opposing Intro. 775-A.