Governors Island Getting No Money from Governor Paterson

Courtesy Lewisnyc.

Given the blush of excitement that followed news of a Water Taxi Beach on Governors Island this summer, it's worth recalling that the island's future as a weekend recreation destination remains very much in doubt. The Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation [GIPEC] requested $7.4 million from both the state and city for the 2009-2010 fiscal year that starts July 1st, 2009; the combined $14.8 million would be about 10 percent less than the island got this year.

A/N blog notes that Governor Paterson's proposed budget includes no operating money for the island at all, leaving this summer's plans up in the air. (So far, it seems, that $500 million makeover plan is still proceeding, because that's funded by the GIPEC capital budget.)

Anyway, you'd think the governor would find a way to keep his own island open, but maybe he's trying to send a message that we all have to make sacrifices in these tough times? (In solidarity, we've decided to slash funding for Bloggers Island this summer.) Water Taxi Beach president Tom Fox tells the Tribeca Trib he hopes the privately-funded beach will "breathe new life" into the state’s interest in the island. And it's not just a giant sandbox with burgers, beer, and volleyball in the works—Fox is talking Ferris Wheel. He also says there's a carousel in Brooklyn Heights that needs a home. (We think he means the one in DUMBO.)

The Governors Island Alliance will be having a rally at City Hall tomorrow to call on the state and city to keep the island open this summer. Ken Fisher, chair of the Alliance, had this to say in a recent interview: “My assessment is this is one of those situations where everyone thinks it will get worked out because it ought to get worked out. But it won’t. It’s one of those things that could wind up without a chair when the music stops." [Via Curbed.]

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By John Del Signore in News on February 26, 2009 4:18 PM

Comments [rss]

bill doble

Use the island to process nyc waste.

Combine nyc biosolids with nyc food waste/msw.

Sell the by-products to local/international markets.

Give back a % on the sale of the by-products back to

the City gov.

www.gaiasolutions.net

ANGRYGOD11

The casino idea is beginning to make sense. It could an adult only island with a Boston-like combat zone/casino resort. The public get a slice of the profits and the problem of teen gamblers/drinkers is avoided. Something more visionary would have been nice, but it's been years and no one in government has come up with anything.

Snoopy

For the most part Las Vegas type casinos are family friendly, so excluding the little Johnnies and Daquans would be out of the question.

Heh how about a cirgue de soleil or whatever they call it?

Snoopy

Here's two ways to make money from that island. First. Sell it back to the indians for $24 and second, allow them to put a casino on same.

VW

This Island can sustain itself with two words:

Greens Fees.

Toby von Meistersinger

Just think that $4 million he threw away on renaming the Triborough Bridge after some lousy dead Kennedy (and not the good kind) could have gone here for something that would actually benefit people instead of some sort of strange political honorific.

Gregoire

Unacceptable. They can't close Governors Island! It was really starting to get some momentum with more people going out there last year and great concerts and programs.

Gothampc

Hello Governor Patterson??? Your party is throwing around money like it grows on trees. You can't get any stimulus money for this project? Think of the jobs that this project could create.