Candidate Name: Jeannine Kiely

Office Campaigning for: NYS Assembly 66

HAVE YOU EVER VISITED ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN?

Yes

ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN HAS NOW OFFICIALLY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION. UNDER THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE, LAND FORMALLY DEDICATED AS PARKLAND CANNOT BE SOLD, LEASED, OR USED FOR NON-PARK PURPOSES WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE AUTHORIZATION. IF ELECTED, WOULD YOU VOTE TO REMOVE ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN AS PARKLAND IF THAT VOTE TOOK PLACE?

No

PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ABOVE

I have been fighting to save Elizabeth Street Garden since 2013 and will continue to fight alongside Elizabeth Street Garden, Inc. to ensure it remains protected parkland. I would vehemently oppose any vote to remove the Garden as parkland. I’m grateful to Elizabeth Street Garden, Inc. for keeping the Garden open, programmed and vibrant throughout Covid, and legal and political battles. I look forward to being a partner in the long-term success of the Garden. The Little Italy neighborhood only has three square feet of public green space per resident – about the size of a subway seat – making the Garden a beautiful and much needed refuge in our dense neighborhood, particularly for seniors, disabled residents and families with young children who cannot easily travel to parks farther away. The Garden provides a magical, unique and beloved park space not only for local residents and businesses, but also for NYC residents and visitors from around the nation and world. In addition, Elizabeth Street Garden provides free public programming for all ages and environmental education programming for local public school children, including those at nearby PS 130. My kids grew up enjoying and exploring the Garden, and I want to ensure that this vital green space remains public and preserved in perpetuity.

THE PLAN THAT SAVES ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN WILL DELIVER 10X THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS. IN ADDITION TO FAR MORE UNITS, THE ALTERNATIVE SITE PLAN ENSURES THAT THE AFFORDABILITY WILL BE PERMANENT, UNLIKE THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD'VE DESTROYED THE GARDEN. DO YOU PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PLAN?

Yes

PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ABOVE

I have publicly supported this win-win plan from the beginning and will continue to support any required city (and, if needed, state) action to ensure these developments are approved and built as quickly as possible.

IF ELECTED, DO YOU PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN REMAINS PRESERVED IN PERPETUITY AND CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED BY ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN, INC.?*

Yes