By Joyce Hogi

The overwhelming vote in the City Council for the Yankee Stadium project on April 5 was yet another example of how the elected officials of this city have no interest in the needs of the community. Council members Helen Diane Foster and Charles Barron were the only members who had the integrity to vote against this project that serves only the Yankee organization and the Bronx officials who negotiated a "community benefits agreement" with the Yankees that they themselves get to control.

SaveOurParks! has always contended that no amount of community benefits could mitigate the loss of public parkland. With all the information to the contrary, the Bronx "machine," headed by Assemblyman Joel Rivera, voted to alienate our parks for the building of a new stadium and four new parking garages. The fact that the children and residents of the community will have no parks for at least five years is not a consideration for these people who were elected to serve the needs of the community.

That the needs of the residents of this city can be so ignored in favor of the Yankees is disturbing and is a lesson that all voters should not forget come Election Day. If you're not registered, now is the time to register and start to hold these people accountable for their actions.

Essentially, all agencies involved in the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) have voted to approve the project. SaveOurParks! has now petitioned the federal government to vote "no" on the final decision to alienate the parkland. Macombs Dam Park was improved in the early 1980's using approximately $420,000 of Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund money. Because of this, a federal review is required due to the conversion of public parkland to a non-parkland use. We do not believe that the Yankee organization has met the criteria established by the federal government to convert the parkland.

If the Federal Government votes to approve the conversion, SaveOurParks! is prepared to file a lawsuit to overturn its decision. We have launched a legal defense fund and are accepting contributions to mount our defense. Contributions can be made payable to: NYC Park Advocate ( a 501 ( c ) (3) organization) and mailed to ;
SaveOurParks!
Post Office Box 435
Bronx, NY 10451

Or go to www.saveourparks.info and make a contribution.

Joyce Hogi is a resident of Highbridge and a member of Save Our Parks!