A chance to defend nature

To the editor:

(re: “Vannie nature lovers mourn Putnam Trail paving,” Aug. 15)

The parks department seems to defy common sense by replacing the Putnam Nature Trail with an environmentally harmful, pedestrian-endangering paved bike speedway.

Why? For millions in government funds and a master plan including bike rentals and other recreation development. The plan has stoked real estate visions of a Putnam “Highline North” and North Broadway gentrification.

It’s not just the Bronx. A Central Park meadow hosts a corporate festival. A grove in Fort Greene Park will be paved. A gas pipeline will cross Jamaica Bay. Across the city, our environmental rights are sold for development and “access.”

Parks officials and the politicians who control our natural areas won’t fight for public funding of these or any vital social needs. They answer to an owning class that will wring profit from our work and from nature — Bears Ears to Brazil — until we stop it.

Only working people can defend the social rights won with struggle and strike. Only our united action can protect our most basic common good: nature.

Rita Freed

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