Good Old Lower East Side

Up-date -MTA Fan Plant 10 Stanton Street by Deborah Gonzalez

May 15, 2001

As many of you probably are already aware of, we at 10 Stanton Street have organized our building and have challenged the Metropolitan Transit Authority?’s proposed plan to construct an underground exhaust fan just 50 feet away from the foundation of our building. This plan will mean that a hole must be dug about 70 feet deep so that the MTA can take advantage of a pre-existing structure that was put there years ago. We at 10 Stanton Street recognize the necessity for the emergency air exhaust system, but we have stood firm with our position that this project can not be built here, right on top of our homes!
Our organized Tenant Association showed how we empowered ourselves by speaking out at the MTA offices on Madison Avenue, followed by a picket demonstration there. We made our voices be heard! We let them know that we will fight them back for what is right and just for ourselves and for our community. The dangers of the fan plant being right on top of us could mean for increased dangers to our health safety, particularly asthma. The pollutants that might come from the plant are not able to be determined precisely. Who needs this just outside of our windows?
As of the writing of this report, MTA has entered into a 90- day deliberation period to reconsider an alternative site for the plan. They will give their decision sometime in the beginning of June. It has been rumored that MTA will change their minds about constructing the project at our ?“backdoor?” and is now considering to construct in the park directly across the street in Sara Roosevelt. (This was our suggestion months ago!)
The results of our efforts are paying off! But until MTA gives us the official word that they are vacating the plan at 10 Stanton Street, we will not let up. We will keep the pressure on!
And this is our message to our community. Organize to win! Stand together and we will accomplish what we will!