Kellner To The Next Mayor: Time to Reexamine the East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station
In the past year, I have sued Mayor Bloomberg and the Army Corps of Engineers to stop the proposed East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station (MTS). But my actions have not been limited to court battles.
Recently, I sent a letter - signed by all of my East Side colleagues - inviting the mayoral candidates to see the MTS site with their own eyes. The next mayor will be in a position to change the City's Solid Waste Management Plan and I want the candidates to understand why building a garbage dump in a residential neighborhood is a terrible idea.
The City's Solid Waste Management Plan - proposed by Mayor Bloomberg and approved by the City Council in 2006 - includes building the MTS right over Asphalt Green, a recreational facility used by 11,000 adults and 31,000 children every year. The cost of building the MTS has grown exponentially. While the City initially said it would cost $55 million, it is now estimated at over $200 million. The next administration will have to pay for its construction and operation. However, there is an opportunity to stop funding this unnecessary project before it is too late.
In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, locating the MTS in the middle of Flood Zone “A” is extremely dangerous and would have significant risks. During Sandy, water rose well above sea level. Asphalt Green’s playground - and the MTS site - were flooded by East River water, which traveled as far west as Second Avenue. During a future storm, the MTS would put thousands of tons of garbage on a path flowing through the East Side of Manhattan.
Asphalt Green is one of our community's most valuable resources, providing one of the few remaining recreational open spaces for children. The City's plan to build the MTS threatens the health and safety of the children and adults who use Asphalt Green every day.
Preserving the health of New York's children must be a priority for all elected officials - especially our next mayor. I urge the candidates to see firsthand the impact of building the MTS. It is not too late to protect New York City’s children.