NEW YORK (WCB S880) — Plans to erect a monument to essential workers in Battery Park City have been put on hold following weeks of protests by residents.
Tammy Meltzer, chairwoman of Community Board 1, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed design and possible locations for the "Circle of Heroes Monument to Essential Workers" were rushed.
"For him it's just a large plot of land, for us this is our front yard, our backyard, a place to read a book. In an ideal situation it would be a far larger public process," she said.
Residents held protests, rallies and even an overnight sleepout at Rockefeller Park, where a corner of recreational greenspace was to be dug up for the concrete memorial.
Two other proposed locations, including one just 15 feet away from a memorial to the victims of the Irish famine, were also met with pushback.
Residents also raised concerns about the design of the essential workers memorial, which features an eternal flame.
"An eternal open flame that's 10 inches high in a location in Lower Manhattan with a gas supply? Lower Manhattan is already a target," said resident Ibtesam Khurshid.
The governor had hoped to dedicated the essential workers monument on Labor Day, but the project has now been postponed indefinitely.
"It's what we can do when we work together, we speak to each other and we use common sense," said resident Gregory Sheindlin of the Battery Park City Neighborhood Association, which was formed out of opposition to the governor's plan. "We let our voices be heard, but they weren't loud voices, they were reasonable, they were unified, they were consistent, they were persistent, and they were effective."
Residents found a sympathetic ear in Congressman Jerry Nadler, who called for more input from stakeholders at a Monday rally.
"Community leaders and essential workers should guide us to the right place," Nadler said.