PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION

Bloomberg Bullish on Plant
Calls it 'Godsend' for Bronx 

By JORDAN MOSS

Mayor Bloomberg met with Bronx reporters at the Riverdale Diner last week, including Norwood News editor Jordan Moss. Here's what he said when asked about the filtration plant planned for Van Cortlandt Park:

"I think it's one of the best things that ever happened to the Bronx. We will get $200 million for parks in the Bronx and I can tell you categorically: you won't find that sizable amount of money for parks in the city budget in the foreseeable future. It's a once-in-a-lifetime godsend for the Bronx. 

"You are putting it underground. Which do you want? To leave it and not have the $200 million for parks, or do you want it in [a] park? No one is going to come up to you and give you $200 million in small, unmarked bills to use the way you want. 

"There is a cost of everything. The cost here is so minimal -- it's not getting to use a [golf] driving range for 4 or 5 years.

"I would love to tell you there will never be any inconvenience. If the Bronx needs more parks, $200 million is an enormous amount of money. And the only reason it works is because of the water fees. If we build this in Westchester, it would be terrible. We would lose the jobs and we wouldn't get anything.

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