Randall's Island: Harlem Residents File Suit

Harlem Residents File Suit Over Randalls Island Sports Fields
WNYC Newsroom


NEW YORK, NY June 15, 2007 —East Harlem residents have filed a lawsuit to block a deal that would give 20 Manhattan private schools exclusive rights to use 2/3 of the Randalls Island sports fields.

In the suit, filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Harlem residents claim the schools would have exclusive access the the fields during the after school hours, prohibiting their kids from participating in their own after school sports.

Former head of the New York Civil Liberities Union, Norman Siegel, who represents the East Harlem residents says they feel the plan hasn't been properly reviewed by the city and that the private schools are monopolizing public park land.

The city's law department contends the plan was properly approved.


And:

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=8&aid=70782

Lawsuit Against City Claims Randall's Sports Fields Deal Is Unfair
June 15, 2007

Public school parents are among the backers of a lawsuit aiming to block the city’s Randall's Island sports fields deal.

Under the terms of the contract, the city will renovate the fields for $70 million. Twenty private schools will then pay about $2.2 million a year for the next 20 years for the up-keep of the fields.

In return, they'll get to use two-thirds of the new space.

The rest will go to the public schools and community organizations.

The lawsuit, which claims the deal is unfair, says the city didn’t follow proper procedure before inking the deal.
See also:

http://www.therealdeal.net/breaking_news/2007/06/15/1181935628.php