Despite our long absence from the Web. As Co-Chairman of MSA I can assure you we
have been pondering the future of Mulberry Street. As well as maintaining contact
with our membership.
May 14th was the last time MSA met with City officials in our ongoing negotiations.
During this meeting the City backed away from the table. When MSA proposed that minutes
be taken at our meetings. And that any further agreements between MSA and City be
set in writing. In short MSA feels that the City has yet to officially recognize
the MSA negotiation team as truly representing owner/occupants of Mulberry Street.
Despite MSA's documented proof from our membership that indeed, the principal negotiation
team was elected to officially represent owner/occupant concerns regarding this mitigation.
MSA had no choice but to await word from the City when they could be ready to resume talks.
In late June MSA received word from City that a meeting should be setup where the
entire membership of MSA be present to view phase one plans. And indeed on June 22nd at
the East Trenton Community Center owner/occupants and City officials met.
The City unveiled its plan along with its Consultants. Much to the surprise of
owner/occupants they looked upon blueprints and heard from the Consultant. Realizing
that yet another study, and money that could had been put towards owner/occupants
buy out, was instead in the pocket of a Consultant!
Owner/occupants realized the City had reverted back to business as usual. The other
surprise of this meeting was that the remaining members of phase 1 had suddenly learned
they were now put into phase 2! Originally the mitigation stated that 49-69 Mulberry Street
would be bought out. Then after Hurricane Floyd of Sept. of '99. The mitigation changed,
into 3 phases. The following table shows this mitigation's progression.
|
Original mitigation - 49-69 Mulberry Street Aug 1999 |
|
phase 1 - 49-99 Mulberry Street Feb 2000 |
|
phase 2 - 45-21 Mulberry Street Feb 2000 |
|
phase 3 - business concerns retrofitting N. Clinton Ave. Feb. 2000 |
|
phase 1 - as of June 2000 61-99 Mulberry Street |
|
phase 2- 59-21 Mulberry Street |
|
phase 3 business, EPA issues, retrofitting N. Clinton Ave. |
Table 1
Table 1 illustrates what Seneca once said, "A sailor without a destination can not
tell a good wind from an ill wind!" This table also shows the inconsistency of the
City's plan for a equitable resolution of this mitigation.
Figure 1
Figure 1 simulates what Mulberry Street owner/occupants viewed at the last meeting
with City officials. This graphic shows an aerial view of what the new phase 1 plan
encompasses. The bold "L" shaped line represents an 8 foot high retaining wall designed to
prevent flooding of Mechanics and East Trenton Aves. The cross-hatch lines show
homes slated for demolition (61-99 Mulberry St). It appears the City has found
a "cost effective" means of preventing flooding of Mechanics and East Trenton Aves.
Yet still maintain there is no "cost effective" means of preventing flooding on
Mulberry Street.
When owner/occupants asked City officials if the rumors that phase 2 would be abandoned.
They received an equally uncertain answer. They cited once again money issues claiming
that if they can acquire more funding then perhaps phase 2 could be realized.
Perhaps if the City would stop the studies and get on with concrete action then the
remaining owner/occupants could be spared the threat of yet more loss as we enter into
yet another hurricane season.
Mulberry Street owner/occupants feel that because they stood up to an inequitable,
impossible negotiation position they are being punished by the ineffective and costly
bureaucracy that is attempting to comply with this Federal Mitigation. While
consultant firms are the benefactors of money that should be benefitting owner/occupants.
Mulberry Street Association is not going away, and the rumors of our demise abound
we are here and still at the ready to negotiate an equitable solution with the City
should they decide to wake up!
