BPC RESIDENTS SUFFER FROM GOVERNANCE ISSUES
Battery Park City residents are governed by an unelected, Governor appointed board.
There has been a trend that that people get appointed to the board by being large donors [See NY Times article for one example] to a Governor. Hence, they tend to not have ties or connections to the local community.
twice WE HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION TO GET FAIR REPRESENTATION
In 2017, legislation passed that required two of the seven board seats be filled by Battery Park City residents. However, it did not stipulate that it has to be their primary residence. In 2022, legislation passed to increase the board to nine members and require five - a majority - to be primary Battery Park City residents. It passed with overwhelming majority.
THE AUTHORITY USES OUR MONEY TO HIRE LOBBYISTS TO DEFEAT FAIR REPRESENTATION BILLS
But, the Authority hired a lobbyist [see 2022-07 BPCNA Letter to Authority on hiring a lobbyist] to stop the Governor from signing the bills and then re-adjusted their contract on October 28, 2022, The Governor then vetoed the bills on November 21, 2022.
WE ARE HOPEFUL OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN 2023 so we can FINALLY have A VOICE
Until we, as Battery Park City residents, have an institutionalized voice in how we are governed, we will continue to face issues like #PausetheSaws and Wagner Park.
the authority's board meetings are designed to hinder public participation
The Authority's board meetings have long happened behind closed doors. Today, only 10 people are allowed to speak at the meetings for 2 minutes. You must sign up 24 hours in advance and the Authority has the right to choose the 10 people who can speak. Not being able to freely participate in the Authority's Board meetings has been an issue of contention going back decades.
