My Statements from last night’s rally against Forest City Echo Bay on the Steps of City Hall.
Good Evening Everyone, Thank you for coming out on this chilly evening. I am here to speak to you about a part of the Echo Bay project that some in the city hope we overlook.
Before a shovel can break ground for the Echo Bay project we will be an additional 25 million dollars in debt. That is the cost that you and I will have to pay just so that the project can begin.
What is being overlooked is the future impact of hastily moving the city yard to the west end. Keep in mind the yard has been in its current location for almost 100 years so any move would likely be for the remainder of our lifetime.
Property values in the surrounding neighborhoods will surely fall, since the current land is contaminated, we can assume that it will contaminate wherever it goes. Also instead of improving the quality of life on the west end it will be degrading it, with possible health risks and a general degradation of the appearance of the neighborhood.
If it can be said that any part of New Rochelle is getting the worst part of this terrible deal, it is the west end. Our neighborhood will be sacrificed because the mayor believes that the residents of primarily Mexican origin will not defend themselves.
However, we too are citizens and residents; we own homes and pay our taxes. Our children will also shoulder the debt incurred; their quality of education will suffer due to overcrowding of schools and lack of resources, as a result of this project.
I want the mayor to know that we have been a big part of this city for several generations, my family was the first to arrive here from Mexico and New Rochelle is our home, we refuse to be treated as second class citizens. What is detrimental for the whole of New Rochelle is likewise for us and we stand with our fellow citizens in firm opposition to this disastrous project that will only benefit a corrupt corporation at our expense.
Thank you!
En Español:
Buenas noches a todos , gracias por venir en esta noche fría. Estoy aquí para hablar con usted acerca de una parte del proyecto Echo Bay que algunos en la ciudad espera que pasamos por alto .
Antes de que una pala puede abrir camino para el proyecto Echo Bay seremos un adicional de 35 millones de dólares en deuda. Ese es el costo que usted y yo tendremos que pagar sólo para que el proyecto pueda comenzar.
¿Qué se está pasado por alto es el impacto futuro de mover rápidamente el patio de la ciudad hasta el extremo oeste . Tenga en cuenta el patio de la ciudad ha estado en su ubicación desde casi 100 años por lo que cualquier movimiento sería probablemente para el resto de nuestra vida.
Los valores de propiedad en los barrios circundantes seguramente caerá, puesto que la tierra está contaminada , se puede asumir que va a contaminar dondequiera que vaya. También en lugar de mejorar la calidad de vida en el extremo oeste será degradarlo , con posibles riesgos para la salud y la degradación general de la apariencia del vecindario.
si se puede decir que cualquier parte de New Rochelle está recibiendo la peor parte de este acuerdo , es el extremo oeste . Nuestro barrio se sacrificó porque el alcalde cree que los residentes de origen principalmente mexicano no se defenderán.
Sin embargo , somos ciudadanos y residentes también, somos dueños de casas y pagamos nuestros impuestos y nuestros hijos van a cargar con la deuda , la calidad de la educación se verá afectada debido a la superpoblación de las escuelas y la falta de recursos , debido a este proyecto
Quiero que el alcalde sepa que hemos sido una parte importante de esta ciudad durante varias generaciones, mi familia era el primero en llegar aquí desde México y New Rochelle es nuestra casa , nos negamos a ser tratados como ciudadanos de segunda clase . Lo que es malo para el conjunto de New Rochelle es malo para nosotros y estamos con nuestros conciudadanos en una firme oposición a este proyecto desastroso que sólo beneficiará una corporación corrupta a costa nuestra.
Thank you Moises….
Thank you Moises for your eloquent words on the steps of City Hall. My wife and I were thrilled to be there with you and all of the courageous folks from diverse neighborhoods of New Rochelle who feel that we ARE the voice of New Rochelle. Let’s keep up the momentum as we continue our civil disobedience against the uncivil and benign mayor.
Gracias Martin! we are living up to our duty.
I definitely share the same sentiments.. I wrote this on my Facebook status and I think it rings true.
“What we are witnessing in New Rochelle should be an example for the rest of America, the Citizens are taking their governance into their own hands, all political affiliations, cultures, & socioeconomic status have united under the common bond of citizenship. We are standing defiantly against the corrupt politicians and the corporate thieves that seek to plunder us. We are embodying what it truly means to be Americans. I have never been more hopeful that we can show the way, so that future generations can look back on what we did and say that there lived a people that saved their beloved city and our country.”
I would ad that we are really living up to the responsibility of being the home of Thomas Paine and Common Sense.