Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Landmark Q & A: How to write your elected official(s)?

In less than two weeks, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) will be holding the second of three public hearings to consider historic district extensions, stretching from West 70th Street all the way up to West 109th Street, anchored by West End Avenue.

Support for expanded landmark protection received early support from Upper West Side elected officials in whose districts landmarking would occur, thanks to the
West End Preservation Society (WEPS).  As the continued support of your elected representatives remains essential, LANDMARK WEST! urges each of our Upper West Side neighbors to put their pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!).

Landmark Q & A: How to write your elected official(s)

Q: Who are my elected officials?
A: Determining in whose district you reside is easy; just click here and type in your address.  Once you know, below are quick links to email our Upper West Side representatives.

          Congressmen Jerrold Nadler and Charles Rangel
          State Senators Thomas K. Duane, Adriano Espaillat and Bill Perkins.
          State Assembly Members Linda Rosenthal and Daniel O'Donnell
          City Council Members Gale Brewer, Inez Dickens and Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Q: What are recommended points to touch upon in my email or letter?
A: First, offer your thanks to them for their early backing of this important issue.  Then, request their continued commitment at the public hearing on June 28th.  Consider visiting the LW! YouTube Channel to watch video from the first hearing in March for a refresher on each representatives' comments.  Let them know that the community is looking to them for continued leadership at this second--and the third, coming in October!--public hearing.

Q: Is there any other agency or organization who I should forward my email or letter to?
A: YES!  Be sure to send a copy to the LPC!  The Chair, Robert Tierney, needs to know that the community supports his agency's work on this issue.  Please copy Chair Tierney on your email to your elected representatives at comments@lpc.nyc.gov.  And w
hether you're emailing or corresponding via postal mail, LW! asks that you copy us, so that we may have a record of your support for this issue as well (landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org).

Need some help getting started?  Here's a sample letter, as well as a copy of LW's statement from the March 22nd public hearing (the first of the three hearings regarding expanded landmark protection along West End Avenue).

Writing to your elected official can take as little as 5 minutes, and will make an incredible difference for the whole of the West End Avenue neighborhood!  For more information on the community's campaign for increased landmark protection along West End Avenue and its row house sidestreets via our blog updates, click here.

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