Endorse FIERCE White Paper Policy Recommendations for New Policies on the Pier

updated: Monday January 26, 2009

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Dear FIERCE ally:

FIERCE is a membership-based organization building the leadership and power of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth of color in New York City.  Since 2000, we have organized campaigns to preserve and create safe public space for LGBTQ youth in the West Village and on the Piers of the Hudson River Park – a historically safe space for our community who disproportionately face the fear and threat of violence. The Hudson River Park is mandated by the Hudson River Park Act (HRPA), to expand public access to the waterfront, increase the quality of life in the community, and ensure community participation in decisions made about the Park. However, there are huge gaps between the legislation of the Act and the reality of how the Hudson River Park is being developed and LGBTQ youth know this well.

This legislation was designed to facilitate broad public access to safe public space that is available to all people regardless of age, income, or identity. However, once translated into practice, this has not been the case for many in the surrounding community, including LGBTQ youth, who are in need of the safe space provided by the Hudson River Park and its piers. Despite the critical need for safe space for all New Yorkers, the HRPT has rejected the development proposals that would create such space. FIERCE and the Urban Justice Center drafted a White Paper policy recommendation that would create the conditions needed for the services and recreation that the community identified to exist. These services range from an LGBTQ youth community center, dog runs, passive recreation space, and more benches for reading. Access to a park that responds to the needs of the surrounding community is imperative.

In order to create a Hudson River Park that all of New York can enjoy, there must be amendments made to the Hudson River Park Act. Our White Paper calls for more community involvement in the decision-making processes concerning development on the park, as well as asking for more transparency between the HRPT and the community, among other proposals. We are committed to accessible safe public space for all communities, and hope that you share in this pledge.

We are asking our allies to endorse our policy recommendations that are outlined in our White Paper Executive Summary. Endorsement means that the name of your organization would join the growing list of other allies who support our recommendations. This list will be included in a letter sent to Assemblymember Deborah Glick and other elected officials. Our elected officials have the leverage to help draft legislation based on the principles of the White Paper, and support its passage through the State Assembly.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter. We appreciate your endorsement and support of FIERCE.

Please sign the petition and provide in the comment box the name of your organization as you would like it listed in our endorsement list.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact our Lead Organizer Desiree Marshall.

Thank you for all of your support,

FIERCE and the Urban Justice Center