The operating authority for community gardens not held in trust is ending in September. New rules have been proposed by both Parks & Recreation and Housing Preservation & Development, the two city departments that control the land under the gardens.
Many gardeners and community members feel the proposed new rules just aren’t strong enough. The New York City Community Garden Coalition is spearheading the effort to get the same level of protection as the soon-to-expire rules.
Things you can do:
Show up: The NYCCGC’s press conference on the steps of City Hall is tomorrow, Wednesday, August 4th, from 9:30 -10:30 a.m. Enter the City Hall area by passing through metal detectors on the East or West entrance of City Hall.
Step up: Submit written comments on the proposed rules by August 10 if you can’t attend the August 10 public hearing in person. They’re making it complicated with two sets of rules, which you can read at these links if you have the stomach for legal argot:
For the Department of Parks and Recreation submit your comments here.
For the Department of Housing Preservation and Development submit your comments here.
Show up and step up, part II: The public hearing on the proposed rules is August 10, 2010 at the Chelsea Recreation Center at 430 West 25th Street in Manhattan at 11:00 a.m. To testify, notify Associate Counsel, Laura LaVelle via laura.lavelle@parks.nyc.gov or telephone at 212-360-1335 or email by August 9.
Step up, part III: Call 311 or e-mail the Mayor to ask that he use executive power to dedicate city land for permanent use as gardens.
And of course, make like it’s a social media disease and spread the word on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Backyard and Beyond 
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