Citizens Emergency Committee To Preserve Preservation

The End Is Near!

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:53:00 +0000

No, we're not talking about the end of the world. It's nearly the end of the City's budget season. There are just a few more days left in the budget negotiations between the City Council and Mayor. As far as we know, the restoration of $300,000 in cuts to LPC's budget is still on the table.

If you haven't already, please take the time to contact members of the City Council's budget negotiation team and let them know how important these funds really are. Your calls and/or emails may make the difference!

New York City Council Budget Negotiating Committee

* Christine Quinn- Speaker
* Robert Jackson- BLA Caucus
* Maria Del Carmen Arroyo- BLA Caucus
* Tony Avella- Italian Caucus
* Mike Nelson- Jewish Caucus
* Diana Reyna- Women’s Caucus
* Helen Foster- Women’s Caucus
* Leroy Comrie- Queens Delegation Chair
* Inez Dickens- Whip
* Joel Rivera- Majority Leader
* Lew Fidler- Deputy Majority Leader
* Erik Dilan- Brooklyn Delegation
* Maria Baez- Bronx Delegation
* Melissa Mark Viverito- Manhattan Delegation
* Dan Garodnick- Manhattan Delegation
* Gale Brewer- Manhattan Delegation
* Bill de Blasio– Brooklyn Delegation
* James Oddo– Minority Leader
* Melinda Katz– Queens Delegation
* Miguel Martinez– Manhattan Delegation
* Larry B. Seabrook– Bronx Delegation
* Helen Sears– Queens Delegation
* Kendall Stewart– Brooklyn Delegation
* David I. Weprin– Chair, Finance Committee
* Vincent Ignizio– S.I. Delegation

Next Step in the Budget Process

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:32:00 +0000

Advocates and Council Members, alike, are working hard to restore funds to the Landmarks Preservation Commission's (LPC) budget. A new budget must be passed by the end of this month, so time is tight. If you support the restoration of the Mayor's proposed $300,000 in cuts to LPC, you can participate by calling and/or emailing the district offices of the members of the City Council's Budget Negotiating Committee.

For your convenience, members of the committee are listed below. Click on their names to view their individual Council Member pages, where you will find their District Office phone numbers and email addresses.

New York City Council Budget Negotiating Committee

* Christine Quinn- Speaker
* Robert Jackson- BLA Caucus
* Maria Del Carmen Arroyo- BLA Caucus
* Tony Avella- Italian Caucus
* Mike Nelson- Jewish Caucus
* Diana Reyna- Women’s Caucus
* Helen Foster- Women’s Caucus
* Leroy Comrie- Queens Delegation Chair
* Inez Dickens- Whip
* Joel Rivera- Majority Leader
* Lew Fidler- Deputy Majority Leader
* Erik Dilan- Brooklyn Delegation
* Maria Baez- Bronx Delegation
* Melissa Mark Viverito- Manhattan Delegation
* Dan Garodnick- Manhattan Delegation
* Gale Brewer- Manhattan Delegation
* Bill de Blasio– Brooklyn Delegation
* James Oddo– Minority Leader
* Melinda Katz– Queens Delegation
* Miguel Martinez– Manhattan Delegation
* Larry B. Seabrook– Bronx Delegation
* Helen Sears– Queens Delegation
* Kendall Stewart– Brooklyn Delegation
* David I. Weprin– Chair, Finance Committee
* Vincent Ignizio– S.I. Delegation

There's Still Work To Do!

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:43:00 +0000

The rally on the steps of City Hall was a huge success, with more than 60 people from dozens of organizations standing on the steps of City Hall in support of restoring the $300,000 in proposed cuts to the Landmarks Preservation Commission's budget. Council Member Jessica Lappin, the sponsor of the rally, was joined by Council Members Tony Avella and Letitia James in calling for this critical funding to be restored. Congratulations to everyone involved and a big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to come out and support the cause.

Despite the big turnout, though, there is still much work to be done! We need to reinforce the message sent at the rally with more letters and emails to the City Council. Please, if you have not done so already, take the time to contact your Council Member and let them know how important this funding really is. A sample letter from CECPP is available here. Council Member addresses and emails are available here.

Photo (above) from Alex Herrera, New York Landmarks Conservancy.

Reminder: Join Us at the LPC Budget Rally!

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:41:00 +0000

Advocates from around the city will gather on the steps of City Hall at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 28th, to ask the City Council and Mayor to restore $300,000 in proposed cuts to the Landmarks Preservation Commission's budget. We need your help! Please join us, if you can, and show your support.

To get a better idea of the importance of this effort, watch the video, below, which was created by the Municipal Art Society. We couldn't have said it better, ourselves!

Preserve Your City: Support Funding the LPC from MAS on Vimeo

Budget Rally Update

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:50:00 +0000

The rally in support of restoring cuts to the Landmarks Preservation Commission's budget has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 28th at 2:00 PM on the steps of City Hall. We hope to see you there!

If you can't make it, we hope that you will help by writing a letter to your Council Member and encourage others to do so, as well. A sample letter is available here.

Announcement: LPC Budget Rally

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:50:00 +0000

There will be a rally in support of restoring the Mayor's proposed cuts to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on May 28th on the steps of City Hall. The start time has not been set (we are still finalizing the details) but will likely be around 11:00. Save the date and please join us!

In the meantime, there is much work to be done. The Mayor has proposed more than $300,000 in cuts to LPC's budget. We need to let the City Council know how important it is that these cuts be restored. Please take the time, over the next week, to write to your Council Member (addresses are available here) and ask them to support a restoration of the Mayor's proposed cuts. This letter should be copied to Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Jessica Lappin (Chair of the council committee which oversees LPC).

A sample draft letter is available here. In writing your letter, consider describing how a stronger, well-funded LPC would help to improve your community. Including local details will help to strengthen our case.

The fight continues! Stay tuned for more details!

Executive Budget Alert

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:01:00 +0000

Mayor Bloomberg released his Executive Budget today (the second round in the city's budget process). Unfortunately, the news for the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) still appears to be bad. LPC will suffer at least $300,000 in cuts (when compared to the budget passed last year), unless we get organized and fight for more funds over the next two months.

Keep an eye on this site and on our emails for future actions that you can take to help the effort!

Preservation Summit Follow-up

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:52:00 +0000

On Thursday, April 17th, preservationists descended on the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen in Midtown Manhattan, for an update on the Citizen Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation’s (CECPP's) progress in reforming the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), and to give feedback on current initiatives.

Highlights included:

* A review of LPC's budget, which in 1991 was $3.6 Million. The Mayor has proposed a $4.3 Million budget for LPC for 2009. This is $300,000 less than their current budget and, when adjusted for inflation, represents a $1.5 Million cut to their operating budget (in 1991 dollars). CECPP updated summit attendees on their collaborative work, with other preservation organizations, to increase LPC's budget. Attendees were also given a draft letter to send to Mayor Bloomberg, requesting that the Mayor's proposed cuts be restored. If you would like to send your own letter to the Mayor, a copy of the draft is available here.

* An update on CECPP's new lawsuit to bring transparency to the landmark designation process. More information on this lawsuit to compel LPC action on longstanding Requests for Evaluation on potential landmarks and historic districts is available
here.

* A summary of CECPP's efforts to introduce legislation that will make the landmark designation process more open and fair. You can look at the legislation, which is currently being drafted by the City Council, by clicking on this link (PDF).

Right now, the legislation appears to be stalled in the drafting process at the City Council. Help encourage Council Speaker Quinn to complete the draft and introduce the legislation for public review! Download our draft letter (here) and send it!

* A new initiative for reviewing the qualifications of future landmark commissioners! Former Landmarks Commission chair, Gene Norman, announced that he was spearheading the creation of a formal, independent committee, consisting of former Landmarks Commissioners, to interview and evaluate future Commissioners. The process will be similar to the one used by the New York Bar Association in vetting judges. Details on this exciting program are available here

For photos of the summit, check out our Flickr page. For copies of handouts, click on this link and download any documents that you need.

To support CECPP and our campaign to address the landmarks emergency and preserve the places that matter most to New Yorkers, please click on the "Make a Contribution" link on our web site. We need money, not a lot, but enough to keep us going for as long as it takes to achieve our goal of a functioning, politically independent LPC!

Announcement: Preservation Summit III

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:39:00 +0000

You are invited to join the
Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation for

PRESERVATION SUMMIT III
Thursday, April 17, 2008
General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen Library
20 West 44th Street, Manhattan
(between Fifth and Sixth Avenues)

The program will begin promptly at 6:00 PM.
A wine reception and opportunity for discussion will follow.
Invite a friend—or ten!

Summary of Agenda

1)Special presentation by former Landmarks Chair Gene A. Norman on a new, independent process for evaluating candidates for appointment as Landmarks Commissioners
**CECPP’s 2007 lawsuit succeeded in getting commissioners serving on expired terms re-appointed or replaced, underscoring the importance of keeping LPC membership up to date.

2)Update on advocacy to increase the LPC budget
**Last year’s advocacy helped the LPC get resources to increase its designation and regulatory activities to the highest levels since before the Giuliani administration.

3)Report on CECPP’s new lawsuit to compel LPC action on longstanding Requests for Evaluation on potential landmarks and historic districts

This event builds on two previous Preservation Summits, each attended by over 100 New Yorkers concerned about the future of our city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). The first Summit, held on May 2, 2006, officially launched the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation to lead a strategic campaign designed to 1) ensure fairness in the LPC’s process, 2) re-establish LPC independence, and 3) secure appropriate resources so that the LPC has the budget and staff it needs to perform its crucial mandate.

Please join us!

RSVP: Send an email to citizens@savelpc.org or call 212-380-8612.

CECPP Sues to Open the City's Landmarking Process

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:19:00 +0000

On March 5th, the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation (savelpc.org) filed a lawsuit against New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in State Supreme Court.

In the suit, CECPP challenges LPC Chair Robert Tierney's absolute power over the Commission's landmarking process. Currently, Chairman Tierney makes all decisions on whether landmark requests will be brought before the full commission for consideration. CECPP believes that this practice is an "unlawful usurpation of the power of the full Commission, and is authority in excess of his jurisdiction." As stated in the arguments before the court: "If staff members or a subcommittee, or the Chair alone, can reject proposed landmarks with no input from the full commission, who will protect the public interest against political pressures, lobbying, bias or just plain ignorance?" CECPP believes that Chairman Teirney's actions violate city, state and federal law and lead to unnecessary delays in the landmarking process, while excluding the valuable input of the full roster of commissioners, whose knowledge and participation are desirable.

In addition, CECPP is challenging LPC's "standards" by which Landmark applications are judged. Many taxpaying citizens, including knowledgeable preservation experts and professionals, have submitted landmark Requests for Evaluation (RFE) to LPC requesting that specific structures or neighborhoods be considered for either individual landmark status or inclusion within/as historic districts. These applicants have received letters stating that their proposed site or structure did not meet LPC's “criteria”. However, it is not clear who created the criteria since LPC has never published them in any way that is accessible to the public. It is critical that the LPC make public and fully transparent any criteria it considers relevant to judging the merits of RFE's so that preservation professionals and members of the preservation community have full understanding of the process and practices used by LPC.

By bringing this lawsuit, CECPP hopes to bring more transparency and openness to the city's landmarking process, and to make it a fair public process free from political interference and influence, as dictated by the 1966 NYC Landmarks Law. For a full copy of CECPP's petition, click here. To review a copy of CECPP's Memorandum of Law associated with this case, click here.

If you have questions regarding this case, please email them to citizens@savelpc.org or call Mark at (646) 228-6370.

We will update you on the case over the next couple of months.

Another Budget Update

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:03:00 +0000

A quick update on our effort, and the efforts of many Landmarks advocates citywide, to restore Mayor Bloomberg's proposed budget cuts to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

On March 6th, a number of advocates attended a City Council budget hearing and gave testimony in favor of restoring the Mayor's proposed cuts to LPC. A copy of the Historic Districts Council's testimony is available here.

Also, this week CECPP joined a number of landmark advocacy groups in sending another letter to Mayor Bloomberg, urging him to restore the funds he proposed to cut from the Landmarks Preservation Commission's (LPC) Fiscal Year 2009 Budget. The letter's language follows below:

March 10, 2008

Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor, City of New York
City Hall
New York, New York 10007

Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

There are currently more than 50 areas, touching every borough, where citizens and community groups are asking for new historic districts. These proposed districts encompass thousands of buildings and thousands of voters. A list is attached.

Given this demand, it is imperative that the Landmarks Commission be able to operate efficiently. The Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation believes it is imperative that the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s budget be put on course for an increase of at least $1 million. This amount would restore the Commission’s 1991 highpoint funding level, adjusted for inflation. On the road to achieving this parity, we ask you, at a minimum, to restore the proposed cuts to LPC's budget, renew last year’s $300,000 increase and establish this increase as a baseline for future Landmarks budgets.

We appreciate that your plan for 2030 understands the importance of neighborhood character. Historic districts help protect that character by raising property values and providing popular places to live. Addressing the demand for additional districts is crucial to our city, even with difficult budget times ahead.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mark Caserta
Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation

cc. Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris

More updates to follow!

LPC Budget Update

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:20:00 +0000

As you may know, Mayor Bloomberg released his Fiscal Year 2009 Budget for the City of New York a couple of weeks ago. This $58 Billion budget contains many cuts to city agencies in response to projected budget shortfalls related to the ongoing mortgage crisis and an uncertain stock market.

While we had hoped that the Landmarks Preservation Commission would be spared the budget axe after receiving much-needed additional funds over the past couple of years, this did not turn out to be the case. The Mayor has proposed a $4.3 Million budget for the coming fiscal year which is nearly $300,000 less than the budget that was adopted for LPC last year and more than $650,000 less than the modified budget that LPC is currently operating under, suggesting that the gains that were won for LPC’s over the past two years have now been lost. This at a time when permit applications before LPC are at the highest levels in decades.

Please stay tuned as we continue to analyze the impact of these cuts on LPC's work. In addition, we will be meeting with other landmark advocates soon to develop our plan to fight these cuts over the next six months. Stay tuned!

LPC Budget Alert

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:49:00 +0000

As you are aware, the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation has been working with local and city-wide landmarks advocates to secure much-needed funding for the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Last year, we were successful in winning a $300,000 increase in LPC's budget. The staff hired with this funding had a positive impact, as the total number of buildings designated last year (1,160) was the highest since 1990!

On January 16th, the Mayor is expected to release his Preliminary Budget for the coming fiscal year and the news for a lot of city agencies is not expected to be good. While we accept the need for budget belt-tightening during difficult economic times, we strongly believe that LPC should be spared the cuts suffered by other agencies. At a minimum, we believe that the Mayor should make the $300,000 increase won last year a baseline part of every LPC budget, from now on. Sure, LPC needs even more funding, perhaps $2 million more, but given the difficult times ahead, baselining the $300,000 would be a tremendous victory for every landmarks advocate in the city.

What can you do? Below is a copy of a letter we sent to Mayor Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris. Please take the time to write a similar letter, in your own words. The more letters we can get on the Mayor's desk, the stronger our case will be. If you do send a letter, please send a copy to us, so that we can share it with the members of the budget advocacy group.

Thank you and keep up the fight in 2008!

The Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor
City of New York
City Hall
New York, New York 10007

Subject: Landmarks Preservation Commission Budget

Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

We are writing to ask you to support a well-funded Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in the coming Fiscal Year.

The Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation is a group of dedicated individuals who advocate for a well funded, independent and fair LPC. As you know, during last year’s budget negotiations, $300,000 was added to LPC’s budget to help fund additional positions. This funding had a positive impact on LPC’s work. The total number of buildings designated last year (1,160) was the highest since 1990! Clearly, the modest amount of funding required to keep these positions in the city’s budget is well worth the expense. We are therefore asking that you baseline a minimum of $300,000 in future fiscal years.

We understand that the City will do some significant belt tightening in the coming Fiscal Year. However, LPC is one of the city’s smallest agencies. A small investment of $300,000 (a tiny fraction of the city’s overall budget) can generate major improvements in the amount that LPC can accomplish, as we have already seen.

We believe it is imperative that the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s budget be put on course for an increase of at least $1 million. This amount would restore the Commission’s 1991 highpoint funding level, adjusted for inflation. A $2 million increase would restore funding to a level that also takes into account the Commission’s enlarged workload reviewing modification requests since 1991, and will speed up the review process for building owners.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mark Caserta
Citizens Emergency Committee
To Preserve Preservation

cc. Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris

Thank You For Your Support!

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:21:00 +0000

Dear Friends:

Thanks so much to all of you who joined Tuesday night's festive gathering of
the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation in Everett Ortner's extraordinary Park Slope brownstone (photo right). Now if that isn't what preservation is all about, we don't know what is! Anthony C. Wood, author of the new book Preserving New York: Winning the Right to Protect a City's Landmarks, was on hand to inspire us with the untold stories of heroes and heroines who fought to establish New York's landmarks process - and why the fight must continue. For more information on this preservation must-have, click here.

Your generous contributions to CECPP are greatly appreciated. If you did
not have the opportunity to give on Tuesday, please take advantage of this
special offer: be among the first 5 people to email us a pledge of $150 or
more, and we'll send you a copy of Tony Wood's book (hot off the press!) as
thanks for your support of CECPP.

Email your pledge to citizens@savelpc.org today!

And stay tuned to our blog at www.savelpc.org. In the meantime...

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Many New Yorkers ask us what they can do to restore public accountability to
the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Here is a simple but powerful step
you can take:

Tell your elected representative in the New York City Council how you feel
about saving NYC's landmarks.

It's as easy as 1,2,3:

1. Look up your Council Member's name and District Office address on
the Council's website: nyccouncil.info [Just enter your street address
and look at your Council Member's "Contact" info].

2. Write a personal letter to your Council Member at the District
Office on your own stationery. Use your Council Member's first name and use
your own words. Convey your concern about the future of the Landmarks
Preservation Commission and ask for:

. A bigger budget and staff for the Commission so that they can keep
up with their tremendous workload

. Open public records and prompt Commission consideration of all
landmark designation requests

. City Council opposition to the Mayor's nomination of Landmarks
Preservation Commissioners who are more interested in destroying landmarks
than preserving them.

3. Send CECPP a coy of your letter for our website. [If you request,
we will protect your identity.]

KEEP INFORMED-Visit our website regularly, www.savelpc.org.

CECPP 2nd Anniversary House Party

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 01:32:00 +0000

Come Celebrate With Your Neighbors!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
6:00 PM

Hosted by
Ann Walker Gaffney and Everett Ortner
272 Berkeley Place, Park Slope
(near Grand Army Plaza)

You are invited for drinks and an update on CECPP’s campaign to save the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. It’s been nearly two years since the first “Preservation Summit” when over 150 concerned preservationists like you came together to act on the dire state of historic preservation in New York City. At risk then - and now - is a Landmarks Commission that is under-funded, under-staffed, and unable to fulfill its legal responsibility under the NYC Landmarks Law. You and your neighbors spoke out, and CECPP has been working hard to secure the LPC’s ability to protect New York’s most beloved historic places through adequate funding, operational transparency and political independence.

The enthusiastic support of people like you, who fight to preserve the landmarks and communities of our great city, keeps CECPP going strong. What better reason to celebrate, and what better place to raise your glass, than the Park Slope brownstone home so lovingly restored by Everett and Evelyn Ortner, leading pioneers of New York’s preservation movement.

Welcoming Remarks By

Anthony C. Wood, author of

Preserving New York: Winning the Right to Protect a City’s Landmarks
Copies will be available of this hot-off-the-press story of the people and places, the buildings and battles, and the policies and politics that led to New York’s historic Landmarks Law

“Vigilance is the price of preservation.” Edward R. Finch, Jr., 1965
~
Drinks and light food will be served. There is no charge for this event (but please bring your checkbook – it’s a fund-raiser for CECPP, in case you’re inspired…)

RSVP citizens@savelpc.org, 212-380-8612

CECPP Steering Committee

Eric Allison Educator
Hal Bromm Real Estate Consultant
Jeffrey Kroessler Historian
Anthony C. Wood Preservation Historian
William E. Davis, Jr. Architect Acting Chair
W.N. Seymour, Jr. Lawyer Acting Secretary
Kate Wood Preservationist Acting Treasurer

It's That Time of the Year Again

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:30:00 +0000

No, we're not talking about Thanksgiving, Chanukah, or even Christmas. Yes, all of those holidays are coming soon but what we are really talking about is City Budget Season. If you follow the Independent Budget Office's Budget Roadmap, you will see that the Mayor will introduce his Preliminary Budget by January 16th. Already, the news for the city's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009) looks pretty grim. Mayor Bloomberg has asked his agency heads to prepare 2.5% cuts for the coming year and has imposed a hiring freeze on all agencies.

Given the relatively low priority enjoyed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) during the city's budget process, it is critical that preservation advocates, citywide, play a strong role in this coming year's "budget dance." As you may recall, earlier this year a group of advocates (including CECPP) worked with Council Member Jessica Lappin to secure a $1 Million increase in LPC's budget. Despite our best efforts, the City Council was only able to secure $300,000, in part thanks to some negative lobbying by LPC Chair John Tierney.

Unfortunately, things are only going to get more difficult. That's why it's time for all of us to put on our armor, sharpen our swords and get ready to fight hard to protect the gains we have already secured for LPC while advocating for additional, badly needed funds. Stay tuned to this blog for updates on the fight and for ways that you can participate.

City Council Alert: Hearing on Int. 542

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:42:00 +0000

Today (Tuesday, October 23rd) at 11:00 A.M., the City Council's committee on Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses will hear testimony on Intro. 542, a bill proposed by Council Member Rosie Mendez and sponsored by 23 members of the Council, which would improve communications between the Department of Buildings and the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Specifically, it requires:

...the landmarks preservation commission to issue notice to the department of buildings when a property is under consideration for designation as a landmark, requiring the department of buildings to issue notice to the landmarks preservation commission when permit applications for buildings under consideration for designation as a landmark are received, and revoking permits previously issued by the department of buildings when a property is designated as a landmark.

The use of Department of Buildings permits to modify and/or tear down buildings being considered for landmark status has been a controversial practice for years. The question is, does this bill go far enough? What is your opinion? Feel free to comment (below) or email your comments to Citizens@savelpc.org.

October 2nd Fundraiser

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 02:33:00 +0000

Preservation advocates and interested citizens gathered on the Upper East Side of Manhattan for an update on CECPP's programs and to raise funds for our future efforts. We were pleased to be joined by former Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Gene Norman, City Council Member Tony Avella and author and preservation advocate, Tom Wolfe. Many thanks to Katherine Forer (CECPP's dedicated summer intern) and the Forer family for hosting this wonderful event.

As you know, even though CECPP is a small group of individuals rather than a large non-profit organization, it takes funding to move our advocacy efforts forward. We have accomplished a lot over the past year but we need your help to keep it going. If you would like to contribute funds to CECPP's campaign, you can do so online by clicking on the Make a Contribution button on the bottom-left portion of our website or by mailing a check to: CECPP, Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11th Street, New York, NY 10003

Photos of our October 2nd event are available here.

Photo (Right):Left to Right: Council Member Avella, Mike Seymour, Tony Wood, Former Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Gene Norman, Author Tom Wolfe

Jane Jacobs on Exhibit

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:11:00 +0000

As we are sure you are all aware, the Municipal Art Society and the Rockefeller Foundation are presenting Jane Jacobs and the Future of New York, an exhibit which "aims to encourage New Yorkers to observe the city closely and to empower them, with a combination of tools and resources, to take an active role in advocating for a more livable city."

Although most of us haven't had the opportunity to see it yet, there is much to like about an active, living exhibit on Jacobs' work which could help to educate and inspire future activists. The members of the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation (CECPP) have all been inspired by Jacobs' courage and desire to fight for what was right. Strangely enough, even our long organization name was inspired by Jacobs. During our early formation, we received a piece of advice from Norman Redlich, a villager involved in the effort to remove traffic from Washington Square. He recounted: "Among Jane Jacob's many brilliant organizing techniques, one of them was always put what you're trying to achieve in the name of the committee, because most people will read no further than that. So it was called the Joint Emergency Committee to Close Washington Square Park to Traffic." That episode from the 1960's was in our minds as we named the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation.

Of course, we have chosen to name our website savelpc.org, to avoid a lengthy, confusing URL. Can you imagine Jacobs setting up a website called "www.jointemergencycommitteetoclosewashingtonsquareparktotraffic.org"?

Wow!

Details on the exhibit are available here .

So, What Have We Accomplished?

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:03:00 +0000

For just over a year, the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation (CECPP) has worked to bring reform to the city’s landmarking process and our efforts are showing positive signs of making a difference. The downward spiral seems to have slowed. Perhaps the most visible sign is the Commission’s significantly increased designation activity, enabling formal discussion at public hearings of such places as Sunnyside Gardens in Queens that preservationists have long known were worthy of landmark status but, without action by the Commission, seemed surely headed for destruction.

So what have we been up to? What have accomplished thus far?

CECPP Goal #1: Support the LPC with adequate staff and funding to meet the mandates spelled out in the Landmarks Law. In May 2007, CECPP was part of a core group of key preservationists from all five boroughs that coordinated the first-ever, widely attended Preservation Lobby day at City Hall, focusing on increasing the Landmarks Commission’s budget by $1 million. CECPP consultant, Mark Caserta, compiled meticulous research on LPC budget trends since the early 1990s, showing that at least $1 million was needed to help the LPC recoup the buying power that it had lost during the past two mayoral administrations. The City Council was ready to give the Commission an extra $500,000, until, incredible as it seems, Chair Robert B. Tierney gave a last-minute call to Council Member Jessica Lappin (Chair of the Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks) saying all the Agency could use was $300,000! Clearly, the audience for next year’s budget appeal is Mayor Bloomberg, who calls the shots when it comes to letting the Commission have the budget it needs to do its job.

CECPP Goal #2: Amend LPC procedures to improve transparency and responsiveness to the public. Despite more hearings leading to more designations in the past year, the Landmarks Commission continues to sit on many Requests for Evaluation (RFE) that it receives, refusing to give members of the public—or the 11 members of the full Commission—the opportunity to formally discuss the buildings’ merits for landmark protection. CECPP filed Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests in order to get to the bottom of the “black hole” that some RFE’s seem to fall into. We found there are over 500 RFEs that have never been presented to the full Commission! We are now exploring legislative and legal remedies to this persistent problem.

CECPP Goal #3: Ensure qualifications of Landmarks commissioners to carry out the LPC mission. In response to litigation filed by CECPP, Mayor Bloomberg finally acted to re-appoint or replace 7 out of the 8 Landmarks Commissioners whose terms had long expired, thus restoring their independence. We are also pleased to report that the Fine Arts Federation is jumpstarting its Charter-provided process for formally recommending candidates to the Mayor to serve on the Commission. CECPP is now at work exploring the creation of a new mechanism to independently evaluate the candidates the Mayor ultimately recommends to the City Council for appointment to the Commission.

Despite the progress, the emergency isn’t over. Now is the time to press harder than ever before. We know you are already supporting other preservation groups doing good work. The effectiveness of those contributions will be dramatically enhanced if CECPP is successful in advancing much-needed reforms. Our needs are modest but very real. We’re not tax exempt. We talk truth to power. We look to the day that we can fold up our tent because the mandates of the Landmarks Law are being fully advanced by the Landmarks Commission.

If you can help us with a contribution, please send it to CECPP, Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11th Street, New York, NY 10003. You can also donate online by clicking on the "Make a Contribution" button on this page.

Thanks! We look forward to working with you in this important fight!

The Fine Arts Federation Steps In

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 02:19:00 +0000

If you missed this story during the blissful months of summer, the Fine Arts Federation of New York (FAFNY) recently announced their plans to launch a Landmarks Preservation Commission Nominating Committee. The committee will operate in a similar way to their nominations committee for the Art Commission of the City of New York; acting as a clearing house for LPC Commissioner nominations that are put forward by FAFNY member organizations or interested preservationists.

This is great news on two accounts:

1) Chapter 74, Section 3020 2b of the New York City Charter says that the Mayor "may consult with the Fine Arts Federation..." when considering names for LPC Commissioner nominations. Of course, the Mayor doesn't have to take their recommendations, but this new committee will be an effective tool for getting quality candidates in for consideration, early in the process.

2) As you may know, CECPP has taken an interest in LPC Commissioner Qualification and Commission Independence. We believe that FAFNY's committee can play an important role in restoring independence to the LPC

So, put those thinking caps on and start putting that list of potential commissioner names together and send them to the Fine Arts Federation at reginas@tiac.net.

Words to Live By

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:22:00 +0000

Here's a phrase that the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation tries to live by. It comes to you via Harold Warp, plastics tycoon and enthusiast of early American pioneer life:

"It's surprising how much can get done if you don't care who gets the credit."

Happy Fourth of July!

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 11:22:00 +0000

From the gang at the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation.

LPC Budget Rumor

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:18:00 +0000

As you all know, despite the hard work of landmarks advocates and our allies in the City Council, the Landmarks Preservation Commission received only $300,000 of the $1 Million we asked for in the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget. The increase was disappointing, but a step in the right direction (hey, at least their budget increased). What you may not have heard is that during the final budget process, LPC Chair Robert Tierney and his staff informed the City Council that LPC had no use for an additional $1 Million, essentially undercutting our collective efforts. Our friends on the City Council were undermined by the very agency they were trying to help!

This was especially strange, since Chairman Tierney gave his initial support for the $1 Million increase and largely stayed out of the process, altogether, until the last minute. Others in the administration had also previously indicated a willingness to go along with the increase if advanced by the City Council. We certainly know how the LPC could spend an additional $1 million dollars if they had it! If you find this disappointing, you have a chance to have your voice heard tomorrow, June 27th, (or today, June 28th, if you are reading this on Wednesday) as Chairman Tierney's appointment will be considered by the City Council's Committee on Privileges & Elections. The meeting details are as follows:

Committee(s) on: Rules, Privileges & Elections
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Council Chambers - City Hall
Chairperson(s): Diana Reyna
Details:

M 638 - Communication from the Mayor - Submitting the name of Thomas Tsang, M.D. to the Council for its advice and consent regarding his appointment to the Board of Health, Pursuant to Sections 31 and 553 of the City Charter.

M 640 - Communication from the Mayor - Submitting the name of Roberta Washington to the Council for its advice and consent regarding her appointment to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Pursuant to Sections 31 and 3020 of the City Charter.

M 641 - Communication from the Mayor - Submitting the name of Robert B. Tierney to the Council for its advice and consent regarding his reappointment to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Pursuant to Sections 31 and 3020 of the City Charter.

LPC's Budget for 2008

noreply@blogger.com (CECCP) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:39:00 +0000

Well, the yearly budget dance has come to an end as the City Council and Mayor agreed on a $59 Billion Budget for the City of New York for Fiscal Year 2008 (starting July 1st, 2007).

While the budget hasn't been published yet, we hear that the Landmarks Preservation Commission will receive an additional $300,000; $250,000 of which represents the increases won in Fiscal Year 2007, baselined for 2008. While this is far short of our $1 Million goal and we are disappointed that more could not be done during this strong budget year, we should all be pleased with the positive progress that LPC's budget made this year. Thanks to all of you for your emails and phone calls during this effort. For the first year of organized LPC budget advocacy, things turned out really well.

Also, if you get a chance, contact Council Member Jessica Lappin and thank her for her efforts. She really worked hard for the $1 Million increase. Her contact information can be found here .

Keep up the fight!