Cohen should fight rezoning

To the editor:

With reference to “Activists mobilize against rezoning proposal” (Aug. 27, 2015):

I am puzzled and dismayed by Councilman Andrew Cohen’s decision to “wait until the legislation comes out” before he decides to support or to oppose the rezoning proposal. By the time that the proposed legislation is presented to the City Council, it will be more difficult to change those parts of the plan which will negatively impact our community (and communities all over New York City). The councilman’s saying that opposition is “premature” due to lack of information puzzles me because the purpose of the June 25 Community Board 8 Land Use Committee meeting was the presentation by the Department of City Planning of the elements of the plan; there is also information on the website of the Department of City Planning. 

After listening to the Department of City Planning’s presentation and based upon their prior study of the proposed plans, other representatives of our community (Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Sen. Jeff Klein) as well as the members of Community Board’s Land Use Committee evidently had enough information to raise many specific objections and either spoke in opposition or sent messages to be read at the meeting. Many members of the Riverdale community who attended and whom Councilman Cohen was elected to represent also listened attentively to the presentation and were not shy about voicing their opposition to the City Planning representatives.

Councilman Cohen, I understand that it seems logical to wait for the final legislation so that you can base your decision upon what is actually being proposed. However, in order for the final legislation to help rather than to hurt Riverdale, it behooves you to examine the current proposal and to then communicate your objections to the City Planning Commission in advance of the drafting of the final legislation. Riverdale needs a preemptive strike to prevent the inclusion of the worst elements of this ill-advised rezoning proposal. In fact, the City Planning people who made the presentation told us that one of their objectives in making these presentations to community boards around the city is to learn what the community boards support and what they oppose so that the final legislation be drafted accordingly. 

Councilman, you have a vote!  Please listen to your constituents and voice your objections now.

Vivian J. Oleen