Privatization

One Week From Today, Wednesday, June 5, Community Board 2 to Hold Public Hearing Regarding Private Conservancy at Washington Square Park

One Week From Today, Wednesday, June 5, Community Board 2 to Hold Public Hearing Regarding Private Conservancy at Washington Square Park

May 29, 2013

Mark your calendars. Next Wednesday, June 5th, 6:30 p.m., the Parks Committee of Community Board 2 will at last meet to “discuss” and hold a public hearing around the installation of a private Conservancy at Washington Square Park. Location to be announced. Public comment welcomed. At the May 1st Parks Committee meeting, Committee Chair Rich [...]

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New York Times looks at City Parks' Privatization

New York Times looks at City Parks’ Privatization

May 28, 2013

In today’s New York Times, an excellent piece by Michael Powell: Reducing some City Parks to the Status of Beggars. A few notable excerpts but worth reading the whole piece: “Someone should really blow the whistle for what’s happened to parks,” [Brooklyn Brewery's Steve] Hindy notes. “People should let their elected officials know that they have [...]

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WSP Private Conservancy Watch: Separate Community Board Public Meeting - When? | What You Can Do

WSP Private Conservancy Watch: Separate Community Board Public Meeting – When? | What You Can Do

May 7, 2013

After last week’s Community Board 2 Parks Committee meeting, I posted a report back on the performance issue (one of the topics of discussion) at Washington Square Park. Part II with latest updates on the park is next. But, as I wrote previously, the fact remains that the Parks Department is stalling a discussion of a private Conservancy [...]

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Parks Department Stalling Public Discussion of Private Conservancy at Washington Square Park | Community Board 2 Parks Committee Meets Wed. May 1st

Parks Department Stalling Public Discussion of Private Conservancy at Washington Square Park | Community Board 2 Parks Committee Meets Wed. May 1st

April 30, 2013

Last Wednesday, April 24th, a special notice came from Community Board 2 Chair David Gruber outlining the agenda for the next meeting of the Parks/Waterfront Committee on Wednesday, May 1st, stating topics of discussion including: Washington Square Park: Introduction to the new Administrator, Sarah Nielson, for discussion of park-related projects and issues, including status of [...]

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New York Post: Wash Park goes 'square': Private Conservancy

New York Post: Wash Park goes ‘square’: Private Conservancy

April 28, 2013

Updated 4:04 p.m. Today’s Sunday New York Post: Wash. Park goes ‘square’ Private conservancy By KATE BRIQUELET April 28, 2013 The city’s famed bohemian playground is about to conform. The Parks Department has secretly formed a private conservancy to help fund Washington Square Park with the help of actor John Leguizamo’s wife, Justine, and socialite [...]

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Now, Villager ... Here's my "Talking Point" on Private Conservancy At Washington Square Park

Now, Villager … Here’s my “Talking Point” on Private Conservancy At Washington Square Park

April 28, 2013

William Castro, Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner, has a featured “Talking Point” in this week’s Villager proclaiming why a Conservancy will keep Washington Square Park “looking good.” There is no mention of problems with funding for the park or why it suddenly became necessary, despite the fact that the park has managed well enough run by [...]

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My second Huffington Post piece: "Privatization of the Commons in Mayor Bloomberg's NY -- Part II: Who has Control?"

My second Huffington Post piece: “Privatization of the Commons in Mayor Bloomberg’s NY — Part II: Who has Control?”

April 28, 2013

My second Huffington Post piece, Privatization of the Commons in Mayor Bloomberg’s New York — Part II: Who has Control?: Greg Miller is Executive Director and Founder of Dance Parade, a not-for-profit cultural organization which organizes an annual event in New York City. Seven years ago, he held his first event in Washington Square Park. [...]

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Private Conservancy Looms at Washington Square Park | Will City Privatize this Public Space Against Community Wishes? (Part I)

Private Conservancy Looms at Washington Square Park | Will City Privatize this Public Space Against Community Wishes? (Part I)

April 22, 2013

So, I first mentioned this in my Huffington Post piece, Privatization of the Commons in Mayor Bloomberg’s New York (Part I) last Monday, the fact that a private conservancy has been formed at Washington Square Park to run the park. I’ve covered the privatization of public space almost since the beginning of this blog. It [...]

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NY Times Says "New York Parks in Less Affluent Areas Lack Big Gifts" but Doesn't Mention Other Lack -- Lack of Funds From City Budget

NY Times Says “New York Parks in Less Affluent Areas Lack Big Gifts” but Doesn’t Mention Other Lack — Lack of Funds From City Budget

February 18, 2013

Updated 2/19, 9:25 a.m. — Yesterday’s New York Times featured an article by Lisa Foderaro titled: New York Parks in Less Affluent Areas Lack Big Gifts. A key thing missing from the piece was any analysis or historical perspective of the allocation of funds from the city’s budget for our public parks and spaces. The piece seems to [...]

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Jackson Square Park, Then & Now (Privatization)

Jackson Square Park, Then & Now (Privatization)

January 23, 2013

Jackson Square Park, in the West Village off 8th Avenue, used to be a really quiet, sleepy park that not too many people went into and mostly homeless or people down on their luck, so to speak, utilized. I wasn’t a ‘park goer’ at the time I lived near by but the park has been refashioned [...]

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