Public Hearing for Community Gardens, NYC August 10, 2010

This is documentation of the Aug. 10th "Public Hearing", the Parks Dept. had for the City's Community Gardens.

TIME'S UP! JOINS GARDEN ACTIVISTS TO PROTEST PROPOSED NEW RULES AT TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING

Proposed new rules would illegally strip away permanent status of hundreds of community gardens

Over 130 community gardens destroyed so far under Bloomberg Administration

New York, NY (August 10, 2010) -- Tuesday, August 10th, starting at 10:00 a.m.,Time's Up! and other garden supporters gathered across the street from the site of today's public hearing at Chelsea Recreation Center, 425 West 25th Street, to protest the proposed new rules that if passed would allow gardens to be illegally transferred to development, placing hundreds of gardens at risk of being bulldozed. Hundreds are also expected to testify at the hearing against the new rules. Over 130 gardens have already been destroyed under the Bloomberg Administration. Mayor Bloomberg and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe deny the permanent status granted to hundreds of gardens under the 2002 Preservation Agreement that is set to expire on September 17, 2010, even though the City's 2002 press release clearly states that hundreds of gardens are permanently protected.

"The City is in breach of contract because the 282 community gardens under the 2002 Settlement Agreement are required to be permanently preserved and the proposed new rules violate the agreement by opening them all up for development", says Susan Howard, long-time gardener. "What part of permanent do Benepe & Bloomberg not understand?"

"The Public Hearing is a sham and useless," said Ben Shepard, Time's Up! volunteer. "We don't need more hearings, we need more gardens. The city needs to support more community gardens and more green space."

"Green spaces create green job skills, food security, biodiversity protection, oxygen and peaceful places for children of all ages," said Wendy Brawer, Director, Green Map System and Time's Up! volunteer. "Any city that wants to address climate change would be thrilled to have the level and diversity of participation that community gardens have generated."

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Times Up
• More Gardens
• Community Gardens
• Bloomberg
• Benepe
• Parks department

[arsenicum30]

@afterdarkcatvpro

This was a documentation, which is different than a documentary. The video makers intentions are made clear by the clips chosen, juxtaposed and edited.

I think the message is, that the hearing was a sham. That gardners have put their heart and soul in to trying to make a difference in their lives and their communities lives. and also able to grow some pretty tasty things.

The gardens must be made permanent.. the Attorney General, needs to step up and make this happen

[afterdarkcatvpro]

The public commentary and scenes are fine but, on their own videos don't provide a direction or purpose intended by the filmmaker. Narration is a big part of sending the correct message. It gives viewers a direction of where the video & the filmmaker are coming from.

Keep up the citizen journalism and don't forget to simulcast videos on your local P.E.G. Access TV channel!!!! Create a coalition or collective of videographers who share a theme and produce programs on one subject, gardens.

[CHAVAfilms]

Awesome job! More Gardens! More Trees!

[friendsofbrookpark]

Thanks for the time and energy to make this! Well done.