Re: gardens in NYC

Bargyla Rateaver (brateaver@earthlink.net)
Sun, 16 May 1999 07:57:22 -0700

Is there some way to thank that lady? I was one who wrote the mayor, not figuring
it would do any good, but at least would make me feel better, but since she could
and did do something that really helped, I'd like to be one who thanks her
personally for doing something I could not do.

Sara Prout wrote:

> > It's unfortunate that the city could not see the
> > social benefit (and even crime prevention effect) that these gardens provide,
> > and that an individual had to save the day, but I guess that's the way things
> > work sometimes. Blessed be, that it has come to this resolution.
> >
> > Sara
> >
> > Erika Higgins wrote:
> >
> > > A Victory for all gardeners! Thank you divine Miss M!!!
> > >
> > > (from the New York Times - 5/13/99)
> > > A day before the Giuliani administration was to auction off city-owned
> > > lots that had been transformed into community gardens, the performer Bette
> > > Midler had her private conservation organization agree to buy dozens of the
> > > less desirable parcels, providing the final financing to preserve all 112
> > > gardens that were set for sale.
> > >
> > > The 11th-hour announcement ended a long-running dispute between city
> > > officials who said the parcels were ripe for sale and residents who viewed
> > > themselves as gardeners tending to verdant oases in neighborhoods of
> > > concrete and steel. But the fate of more than 600 other lots that were not
> > > part of the auction remains unclear.
> > >
> > > Nevertheless, the $1.2 million purchase of 51 lots by the New York
> > > Restoration Project -- arranged by a singer and actress better known for
> > > her engaging flamboyance than for her diplomatic skills -- provided a vital
> > > piece in the city's negotiations with environmental groups.
> > >
> > > The offer cleared the way for another conservation group, the Trust for
> > > Public Land, to buy the rest of the 112 parcels for $3 million, a figure
> > > that included an additional $1 million from Ms. Midler's organization.
> > >
> > > According to the deal, the two organizations are to work out plans to turn
> > > over the properties to the community groups that tend to the gardens. If
> > > the properties are ever used for anything other than gardens, ownership
> > > will revert to the city, said Deputy Mayor Randy Levine, who helped in the
> > > negotiations.
> > >
> > > -------------------------------
> > > Erika Higgins
> > > ehiggins@oxy.edu
> > > 323-259-1426
> > > Community Food Security Project
> > > Occidental College
> > >
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