Mayor Michael Bloomberg is looking ahead more than 20 years with his announced vision for New York City in 2030, but Councilmember Joseph Addabbo is stressing that many issues facing the city need to be addressed now.
These issues, according to Addabbo, include transportation, education, public safety, jobs and affordable housing.
“We are doing better financially so let’s take advantage of the opportunity,” Addabbo said. “Let’s spend it wisely dealing with the situations that will only become bigger problems down the road.”
Recently, Bloomberg held a panel discussion at the Queens Museum of Art, where he delivered a major speech talking about the sustainability challenges and goals for the City of New York through the year 2030.
“Because it’s here in Flushing Meadows, in the heart of Helen Marshall’s borough, that more than once, New Yorkers have looked beyond the present, to see the promise of the future,” Bloomberg said.
During his speech, Bloomberg identified three major issues the city will need to plan for – nearly 1 million additional people, infrastructure that will be nearly 100-years-old in some locations and environmental ramifications that will arise factoring in the increased population and stress on infrastructure.
The Queens population alone will increase 15.1 percent by 2030 bringing the population to 2.57 compared to 2.26 million in 2005, according to a population analysis conducted by the Department of City Planning.
However, the agency said it has been preparing, and will continue to prepare for the changes to the city’s neighborhoods.
“Through an unprecedented number of rezonings we have sought to channel new housing and economic development opportunities near the City’s extensive transit system while limiting growth in auto-dependent neighborhoods,” said City Planning Director Amanda Burden.
During the presentation, Bloomberg spoke about 10 goals for 2030 including having all New Yorkers living within a 10-minute walk from a park, reach a state of good repair on the city’s subways and roads for the first time in history as well as achieve the cleanest air of any big city in America.
However, Bloomberg said that this effort will continue to revolve around community input with considerations from neighborhood groups and civic associations suggested.
“Three months from now we’ll present New Yorkers with specific proposals for reaching each of our goals, explaining in full the regulation, legislation, financing mechanisms, or other measures they will require,” Bloomberg said.
For more information about the plan for 2030 or to make your own suggestions or goals for the city log onto www.nyc.gov/planyc2030.
Addabbo praises mayor's plans for 2030, stresses need for action now
By Pete Davis
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