Lawsuit on Randall's Island Filed Today

This afternoon, a lawsuit was filed in the State Supreme Court to block the city from handing over the sports fields on Randall’s Island to the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, which in turn intends to grant a group of 20 elite private schools exclusive rights to 66% of the fields during after school hours for the next twenty years.  The Franchise and Concession Review Committee approved this controversial no-bid contract on February 14, with the sole dissenting vote from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
 
The lawsuit, being filed by famed civil rights attorney Norman Siegel and attorney Alan Klinger of the firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP on behalf of public school parents and community residents, maintains that the city failed to follow the review process known as ULURP, as set down in the City Charter and the City Planning regulations. ULURP, or the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, requires that all major projects of this kind must be properly reviewed by the local Community Board, the Borough President, and the City Council.  None of this occurred in this case.
 
Comments from the plaintiffs are below:

Eugenia Simmons-Taylor, PTA President of the Young Women’s Leadership School and President of the President’s Council in District 4 (in which Randall’s Island is located):  “The Parks Department never met with the parent associations of District 4 in East Harlem to discuss their plans.  Our PTA presidents voted unanimously to be part of this lawsuit because it’s wrong to deprive public school children of these fields, in their own district, for the next twenty years. Also, I faithfully follow the Chancellor’s regulations and Robert’s rules of order as a PTA president.  The Parks Department should have to abide by the law, like everyone else.”  
 
Marina Ortiz, an East Harlem community advocate, joined the suit in response to the City’s failure to undergo the required ULURP process. “East Harlem schools and youth agencies were ignored during the entire planning process. As a result, thousands of children are being denied full use of public park land in their own district,” said Ortiz.
 
David Bloomfield, President of the Citywide Council on High schools, an elected body that represents all the parents of public high schools in the city: “The Citywide Council on High Schools unanimously voted to join in the litigation as petitioner on behalf of the thousands of public school students who are disenfranchised by the present agreement between the City and private schools. .  What does this say about our city that despite a $4 billion surplus, we are willing to sell out our public school students, just because the private schools were willing to cover a small portion of the cost?”

Matthew Washington, community activist: “I joined this lawsuit because the Randall's Island deal is unjust.  It sends a dangerous message to all children that money is what makes the difference and not the best interest of the public.”

Verified Petition

Memorandum of Law

For print copies of the legal submissions, or contact information for the plaintiffs, please contact Alan Klinger at the phone number above or at aklinger@stroock.com.

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