SAMPLE #4:
Dear CB1 Members,
My wife and I live in Lower Manhattan with our two daughters. We are part of the Lower Manhattan Coaltion for Proposal 3R and against Proposal 2. We have accumulated over 1000 signatures (and counting) from all corners of Lower Manhattan, including Financial District/ Seaport (with full backing of the PS397 PTA), North and South Battery Park City and Tribeca in favor of Propsal 3R and opposing Proposal 2. I would like to emphasize three very important points:
1) This concerns all of Lower Manhattan not just Tribeca
I hope you all agree that the issue is one that affects the whole of Lower Manhattan, not just a corner of Tribeca.
Proposal 3R maintains the natural boundaries of existing (Tribeca) and burgeoning communities (FiDi/Seaport, North and South BPC) and by doing so serves the greater good of all of Lower Manhattan. Proposal 2 tears apart the fabric of all of Lower Manhattan for the sake of a few buildings in a small section of SW Tribeca.
2) The issue of overcrowding
Please let's not forget that the initial problem is one of overcrowding and how best to distribute school children among the 4 great schools equitably and in a long term viable way; all the while preserving the integrity of our comminities.
Proposal 3R is the most effective in reducing overcrowding at PS 234 and makes better use of available seats in PS 89 then Proposal 2. This is a view shared by Ms. Elizabeth Rose of the DOE.
3) "If the concern is safety around West Street, then let's address it, but not re-zone around it"
Under Proposal 2, the journey is not safer for a child in Financial District to travel to South Battery Park City (PS 276), nor is it for a child in NE Tribeca to travel beyond Park Row to Spruce Street (PS 397), nor is it convenient for Gateway Plaza children to travel to North BPC (PS 89).
If the concern is safety around West Street at Warren and Chambers for parents having to take a foot-bridge or cross walk to PS 89, then let's please fix it, but not re-zone around it. Let's enforce the 35MPH speed limit, let's slow down the traffic lights, add more crossing guards and speed bumps.
Dividing the communities that have been built and are being built in Lower Manhattan, rather then enforcing safety around West Street at Warren and Chambers street, would be a huge disservice to all of Lower Manhattan. If people don't feel a part of their communities, they will leave.
We understand there is no easy solution and I greatly appreciate the work you are doing. I simply want to say that we can all work together to resolve the safety concerns around West street at Warren and Chambers and keep the majority of children within their communities. Let's build for the future.
Please voice your support for Proposal #3R.