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Carlina Rivera, all in on resiliency project, is focused on issues not ‘gossip and misinformation’

BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | Entering Tuesday’s general election, Councilmember Carlina Rivera sounded a confident note.

The Village Sun asked Rivera for a statement on her thoughts about the District 2 campaign and also if, despite the constant criticism of the East Side Coastal Resiliency plan and her support for it, she still feels the megaproject is the right call.

Carlina Rivera meeting with future voters. (Courtesy Carlina Rivera)

“It is the honor of my life to represent the district that raised me in City Council, and I am excited for the opportunity to continue to do so in the next term,” Rivera responded. “When I’m out in the community meeting with neighbors, they’re not interested in the gossip and misinformation — they want to know if their job will be secure, their favorite bodega will be open, their family will be fed, their healthcare will be affordable, and their homes will be protected.

Carlina Rivera campaigned with Pierina Sanchez, who is running for election in the Bronx. (Courtesy Carlina Rivera)

“Every single day, I’m fighting for a better, brighter future for the people of District 2,” she said. “The East Side Coastal Resiliency project is part of that effort. We’re ensuring access to green open spaces for generations to come, while also maintaining what neighbors love about the park now. East River Park will never fully close [during construction for the E.S.C.R. project], additional green recreational spaces will open in the community, and most importantly, we will protect our neighbors from the most devastating consequences of the climate crisis.”

Carlina Rivera and supporters, including Downtown District Leader Dennis Gault, far left. (Courtesy Carlina Rivera)

One of her election opponents, Allie Ryan, got arrested Monday trying to block the demolition of East River Park’s tennis courts, the opening salvo of the city’s total-demolition plan for the 82-year-old, 60-acre waterfront park.

Talking with a voter. (Courtesy Carlina Rivera)

Rivera did not respond when asked for further comment on issues that Ryan had raised in an interview with The Village Sun on Sunday — such as conditions in Tompkins Square Park and the city’s alleged “inaction” on the homeless crisis — though the questions were admittedly posed around 6 p.m. on the eve of the election.

“Pawsing” to greet a constituent on the campaign trail. (Courtesy Carlina Rivera)

In the Campaign Finance Board’s Voter Guide, Rivera lists her top three issues as “healthcare crisis, affordable housing, small business survival.”

In her Voter Guide statement, Rivera says, “As a lifelong New Yorker, I’ve spent my entire career fighting to improve the lives, resources and well-being of my neighbors. I’m running for reelection to continue to address inequities in healthcare access, expand and protect affordable housing, combat sexual harassment, reform our criminal justice system, and ensure small businesses thrive in our city.”

City Council District 2 stretches from part of the Lower East Side, through the East Village, Union Square and Gramercy up to Kips Bay.

Should she win reelection, Rivera is one of the councilmembers in the running to be the next City Council speaker. Others include Justin Brannan and Gale Brewer.

6 Comments

  1. Jane Doe Jane Doe November 4, 2021

    The city claims that all the mature trees in East River Park are sick.
    Are they?
    https://zuzannna.github.io/Healthy-Trees/
    “Dead trees have a smaller diameter than alive ones! Hah, but there could be something in there – it could mean, for example, that freshly planted trees which have a small diameter are in highest risk. This makes more sense when we look at the rightmost figure – it turns out that trees labeled in “good” health have also higher diameter.”

    The city is going to replace the large diameter healthy trees with small ones? Those that are at high risk of dying (according to the above study).

  2. Carol Yost Carol Yost November 3, 2021

    Carlina Rivera was at the center of controversy surrounding the Union Square Tech Hub. I don’t know whether or not that was ever resolved.

    I wish she’d oppose the ESCR. It doesn’t look right, with the loss of all those trees, and all those counter-arguments that have not been explained away.

  3. Tonto Cabrera Tonto Cabrera November 2, 2021

    Look at Tompkins Square Park with homeless homemade tents, water staying in the park, want to put Astroturf where skateboarders use and street hockey. It was never like that before. Thank you, Carlina, the Astroturf Queen.

  4. Marcella Marcella November 2, 2021

    Her definition of “green spaces” is green astroturf on concrete. And we all see how the environment or access to real nature is not even on her list of priorities. All fine and well, but we’re facing a major climate crisis and every tree now counts. There was a better flood plan and she could have compromised or mitigated the ESCR for the benefit of all. We didn’t need to cut down every mature tree that makes our air better in order to build a flood wall.

  5. Jane Doe Jane Doe November 2, 2021

    Mr. President, please help us conserve and restore our forests for future generations on the lower east side of NYC
    https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/news-updates/2021/06/24/taking-action-to-conserve-and-restore-the-lands-and-waters-upon-which-we-all-depend/

    Astroturf rugs and green painted asphalt are not green spaces. Please help!

    “Con Edison’s Post-Sandy Fortifications Prove Wise $1 Billion Investment For Customers”
    https://www.coned.com/en/about-us/media-center/news/20171019/post-sandy-fortifications-prove-wise-1-billion-investment-customers

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