Results tagged “dec”

The $150 million reconstruction project on the two mile esplanade between East River park and Battery Park was supposed to be done last year, but you know the drill. Two thirds of the promenade still have a long way to go, and last year the state Department of Environmental Conservation fined the city and contractor Pile Foundation Construction Company $200,000 because workers were allowing the shoreline to erode into the water. Now a DEC spokesman says the company hasn't fixed the problem and the agency wants to revoke the work permit. When asked by the Villager when the project is now expected to be completed, the foreman laughed and said he didn’t know: "New York City isn’t exactly the fastest people in the world."

Newsday reports that the "elusive alligator" that has been seen in Hewlett creek for weeks was caught by Ron Settino, a 63-year-old bass fisherman. He said, "I've been hunting this guy for a while now. Considering the fact that he doesn't belong here, I really wanted to get him out." Apparently the 33-inch (but very dangerous) alligator bit an artificial lure, and another fisherman helped pick it up. Settino added, "The alligator was good. He really cooperated big time." The Department of Environmental Conservation, which had been trying to catch the reptile for weeks, picked up the alligator and it will be taken to an animal sanctuary. It's believed that the alligator was an illegal pet that escaped or was released.