Filter Fines Pile Up

As if it wasn't bad enough that there are no takers yet to fill the gaping, yawning hole in Van Cortlandt Park, where blasting has gone on for two years, now word comes via the Post that the city has been racking up heavy federal fines since Feb. 8 for each day it fails to award the contract to build the filtration plant.

"Fines began at $11,000 per day, and go up every 30 days to a higher amount. As of today, the city will owe $1,160,500, and by May 9, $1,560,000 - when the fines reach $30,000 a day."

The water rate hearing at Lehman College tomorrow takes on added importance, since water rate payers are already being asked to shell out an addition 11.5 percent. Will rate payers have to foot the bill for the fines, too? We'll let you know.

Update: The Department of Environmental Protection's press office just got back to us with the answer to the above question: a simple and direct "Yes."