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February 8, 2012
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City approves skating rink for VC Park
The city has approved an ice skating rink for Van Cortlandt Park, following Community Board 8’s overwhelming vote in favor of the plan. Approximately 80 members of the community, including families with young children, showed up to the CB 8 meeting at Manhattan College’s School of Engineering on Corlear Avenue Feb. 2, to express their support for the project. After hearing public testimony in support of the rink, the board debated the issue and then voted — 20 to four, with six abstentions — to use its advisory role to support the project. The city’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee held a public hearing in Manhattan on Monday and, taking CB 8’s approval into consideration, approved a 15-year contract for the rink that is slated to begin welcoming skaters next winter. But at the hearing, members of the public framed the discussion as concerning a recreational venue to spend winter nights rather than as a political controversy. “I play hockey a lot … it takes about 20 minutes to get to Westchester and about two minutes to get here,” said Jack Spencer of Netherland Avenue. “What’s better than ice skating?” said 13-year-old Skyler Hall. But just because they were children did not mean some of them weren’t politically connected. “It would be so much easier if you could just have an ice skating rink here,” said boy scout Eamon McShane, son of board member Damian McShane. Eamon said it was his first time speaking in public, but his nerves didn’t get in the way of his message. “We should all support the ice skating rink,” he said.
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Personally I think a skating rink will bomb, especially given that Loehmann's was once one of the biggest skating rinks around and it went out of business well over 25 years ago, and there has never been a real demand for another one.
But all that notwithstanding, I find it kind of shameful and disgusting that those behind this rink used their children to make a political point. I don't know if McShane is a supporter, but I know that the two other children are sons of people directly affiliated with this. Isn't using children for politcal gain what they are accusing the racist buffoon Andy Wolf of? All I'm sayin....
I think it's a great idea. The community needs something like this. It will be great for young families in the neighborhood. It's long overdue!
Manny, my son chose to get up and make a statement without any prompting from me or my wife. I am proud to say that is the kind of child I have raised. My support for this was never about politics, its about economic investment in the community and activities for local families. Sadly personal and political opponents of Cassino didn't see it that way and did everything they could to kill one of th ebest ideas flated around here in some time. Jjust look at who opposed or abstained from voting on the CB resolution (in case you don't remember abstaining is the same as voting no, a cowardly way out). Except for one, they are all tied to the BFC, our Councilman and our Assemblyman. It was shameful given the level of public support than anyone on the Board would vote no.
As for the feasibility of the facility, had you actually attended the meeting you would have heard testimony from former owner of the BWay skating rink in what is now Loeman's. She made it clear that the facility didn't close fro financial reasons, it was bought out. Ice Skating remained popular, it was out of season activities that became a burden. Make no mistake demand is very high. Those weren't politcal cronies in teh audience, they were families who don't know or case about Conservancies KRVDC or Tony Cassino. I know, they were my friends and their friends.
If you want to consider yourself informed, you need to get out a little more Manny but I guess its easier to throw stones from the sdielines.
Damian, hey I apologize if you gleaned from my post that I was talking about you. Quite the contrary. Please read it again where I exempted you specifically by name.
Here is the line
"I don't know if McShane is a supporter, but I know that the two other children are sons of people directly affiliated with this."
I was not speaking about you in this post. Sorry if you took it that way, but I still stick by my contention that it seems like kids are being used in an ill way to promote the political and/or civic aspirations of their parents. This is disgusting behavior.