I was wondering if you could confirm or refute some posts we've been getting saying that the RNC was leasing pier 57? I'd like to either promote it to a center-column feature or hide it as disinfo.
Here's the original post people have been working off: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/09/297083.shtml
This info provided by Ben:
For anyone that's working or thinking about working on this query:
Every building in NYC has a block and lot number assigned to it for tax and other related reasons. Pier 57 in Manhattan has block number 662, lot number 3.
The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) has an online Building Information System (BIS), where you can theoretically find out certificate of occupancy-related info on any structure in NYC: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/bis.html. The problem is, BIS has no records for Pier 57 (block 662, lot 3), so I don't know of any way to find out the information in the question without getting a hold of the right people at the DOB.
Today I've left phone messages with some people there, but haven't heard back. Perhaps others can successfully contact the DOB or another appropriate agency, or find a better way to pursue this problem?
Ben
This information provided by Lisa:
I'm not in NYC so maybe this is already widely known, but Pier 57 is part of the Hudson River Park Trust. Click here for their page about Pier 57. They own the piers and rent them out to various tenants or supply event permits for short-term gatherings. The trust is a collaboration between the state of NY and NYC -- not a private company. They should be able to tell you who held the permit for Pier 57 during the RNC:
Permit Office
Hudson River Park Trust
Pier 40
W. Houston Street
2nd floor
(phone 212-627-2020)
permits@hrpt.state.ny.us
It would also be interesting to hear who the insurance policy holder was for the event (permits require Commercial General Liability Insurance coverage of a minimum of $1million single limit per occurrence) and who paid the bill.
Lisa
The Portland IMC link in the question posted here leads to a letter from a person named Erin Starr, from Hawaii, who's daughter was arrested during the RNC. She writes "My husband called the NYPD to ask who had issued a Certificate of Occupancy or Fire Safety Inspection Certificate and who wasmanaging Pier 57. He was given the number for the Republican National Committee. Yes. My husband and I looked at each other in silent, cold horror. In America?" This may just have been a mistake on the part of the switchboard.
On the other hand, we do know that the Republican Party provided the city with money for security. Was some of this money used to lease Pier 57? Or did the Republican Party lease it?
I called the Hudson River Park Trust just now (10:30 AM Thursday, September 16th, 2004). The man I spoke with said Pier 57 was leased to the NYPD sometime in August and ended last week. He didn't have specific dates in front of him, and I didn't press further.
If the police had to pay to use the pier, then a case could be made that security money provided by the Republicans financed the Pier 57 detention center, quite a different thing from the RNC actually renting it out for the NYPD. The more significant point in all of this is Pier 57 itself, and the fact that it existed at all, the health concerns there, etc. We know that the Republicans provided security money, and that is also a significant detail, because it can be construed that police tactics were a response to the investment of the RNC in security, which turned into something quite different from security during the convention, as many would argue.
For further information or documentation, contact:
Permit Office
Hudson River Park Trust
Pier 40
W. Houston Street
2nd floor
(phone 212-627-2020)
permits@hrpt.state.ny.us
Thanks to Lisa and Ben, who did the original work for this question.
Matthew