tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850750806594927202.post4695259714428810125..comments2023-10-30T05:45:18.219-04:00Comments on Bronx News Network: Dinowitz Blames Filtration Plant Problems on BloombergBronx News Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03022201181076163457noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850750806594927202.post-91733487269338731882009-11-03T10:44:24.804-05:002009-11-03T10:44:24.804-05:00I tried to preview it and it was published so ther...I tried to preview it and it was published so there are some editorial errors.<br /><br />Now (not Not) for the comments. <br />Westphal) (space) questionsKarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883729018095695618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850750806594927202.post-58588367026029193192009-11-03T10:40:22.945-05:002009-11-03T10:40:22.945-05:00To the Editor:
First some corrections.
1. Deput...To the Editor:<br /><br />First some corrections. <br /><br />1. Deputy Comptroller John Graham (not Brown)<br /><br />2. At the meeting, residents displayed outrage at the project, not at the Comptroller's findings. They were outraged that no one is monitoring the project, and that it took so many years for the findings to be public.<br /><br />3. These findings were absolutely stunning. They verify what many of us, including Assemblyman Dinowitz have been saying, that the project is too big, too costly and in the wrong place.<br /><br />4. Assemblyman Dinowitz is not blaming filtration plant problems on Bloomberg, as your headine states. While that may be true and due to poor management, the blog states that the "project" is one of the Mayor's worst failures!<br /><br />Not for my comment. <br /><br />All sides are not equal. While I would love to think that community residents (and its groups and community boards) are powerful, they do not come close to the power and the staffing of the Mayor of the City of New York. Even adding the staffing and the offices of our elected officials, it does not even approach 5%. Compared to the power of the richest man in the city, we just do not get to equal.<br /><br />Why do I say this? Well, I guess I expect the community to be given the benefit of the doubt. Local media do not have to side with the community and its elected officials, but the benefit of the doubt ........well, in lieu of actual investigation, should go to the public.<br /><br />I am upset with your comment in the middle of Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz blog. The fact is that the reporting on this issue is not as investigative as the community needs. The fact is that the DEP did try to avoid and was successful in suppressing inquiries on the audit of this horrible project.<br /><br />Why did the community members of the FMC call a meeting? Why did they arrange for a presentation of the two month old audits from the Comptroller?<br /><br />I can assure you that no one wanted to be at the meeting on the first day of the world series, and would much rather that the official committee and the officials of the DEP arrange for the meeting in September and/or mid October (as all the meetings are held). Think about it.<br /><br />Last June, I personally presented the DEP with 22 questions about the project and begged them to answer them at a meeting in the summer. Some of the FMC members were asking for the same.<br /><br />No meeting in July.<br /><br />No meeting in August.<br /><br />They did schedule a meeting in September, and they answered some of my questions and others (Jane Sokolow and Dart Westphal)questions in writing, but it was not on the agenda. The Comptroller's Audits were not on the agenda. More importantly, the report concerning access inside the fence of the Jerome Park Reservoir was not ready. Finally, the DEP blasting schedule across the street from the Bronx High School of Science was not public. The meeting was cancelled because the DEP was not prepared. They blamed it on someone else, but basically, they were not going to be in control. All of this information should have been investigated and reported by someone in the media.<br /><br />The October meeting is a comedy of errors. On October 5th Greg Faulkner told me that the DEP had completed its Jerome Park Reservoir Access report, but wanted to hold a secret meeting of the FMC members ONLY. The issue concerned security. On October 9th I sent an email to Martha Holstein asking about the FMC meeting and she replied that she knew nothing about it and have a nice weekend. On October 13th she sent out a notice of a meeting for the 15th. They planned to hold the secret part of the meeting before the public part. By the next day it was cancelled. All of this information should have been investigated and reported by someone in the media.<br /><br />The last straw was that there was only one reporter at the meeting held last October 29. We do not really mind, as the public got to speak out about the travestry of this project which should be called BLOOMBERG's FOLLY.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883729018095695618noreply@blogger.com