Comments on: Talking About Gracie Mansion, Gracelessly

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:47:56 +0000

Mayor Bloomberg has undoubtedly reaped incalculable political rewards of a refurbished Gracie Mansion, without ever deigning to rest his head there, so his $7 million investment has garnered dividends for him during his THREE terms. You should know, however, the “real” reason why Gracie Mansion will be “off limits” to a new mayor or even for city events: Bloomberg is backing a proposal to build a MONSTER garbage dump, to be open 24 hours a day, 6 days a week, to the tune of $245 million of YOUR hard-earned tax dollars, just a stone’s throw from Gracie Mansion. This garbage facility — that will lure hundreds of garbage trucks, spewing fumes and odors, daily to the Yorkville/East Harlem area — is the only trash facility to be located in the midst of a highly-populated residential neighborhood, which includes being directly in the middle of a playground and athletic fields used by thousands of children city-wide, and less than 600 feet from public housing towers. What future mayor would choose to live, much less hold city functions, at Gracie Mansion under these circumstances? While a new mayor may have the luxury of choosing to reside, or not, in this area left despoiled by Bloomberg, the residents of Yorkville and East Harlem do not. During his THREE terms, the Mayor has repeatedly acted in a self-interested fashion, without respect to history or tradition. And “grouchy,” you say? This mayor is truly the “Onceler,” of the Lorax fame. And his plan must be stopped, in this regard, by every New Yorker who knows that garbage dumps do not belong next to playgrounds and residences — mayoral and otherwise — and that $245 million is much better spent on schools, teachers, libraries, police and firefighters, and other basic services.

By: Howard Garland

Howard Garland — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:22:45 +0000

Mayor Bloomberg is leaving a surprise for his successor in Gracie Mansion’s backyard. He is pushing ahead to build a $250 million, 10 story garbage transfer station right on the East River at 91st street. I suppose this is his way of discouraging any future mayor from living at this property.
Even if the next mayor does not want to live next door to the new garbage dump, the city will need to include gas masks in it’s budget for visitors to the historic landmark.

By: Michael Cannell

Michael Cannell — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:54:33 +0000

It would be a disgrace to have the gracious Gracie Mansion, a point of pride for the city, overlooking the proposed garbage transfer station at East 91st Street. What a legacy for Bloomberg to leave his successors: a home that belongs to the people next to a toxic rat-infested industrial facility where residents of East Harlem now fish and parents now push strollers.

By: Ana Mahoney

Ana Mahoney — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:35:01 +0000

The next mayor will probably decide for themselves that they don’t WANT to live at Gracie Mansion after Bloomberg’s Garbage transfer station is right outside their window!