Senator Klein, Assemblyman Dinowitz & Council Member Cohen pen letter to DOT requesting lighting study at Riverdale site where 9/11 memorial plaque was stolen
Five American flags have also been taken from Endor Community Garden
Bronx, NY – Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Council Member Andrew Cohen wrote a joint letter to the city Department of Transportation requesting the agency conduct a lighting study in a Riverdale community garden where numerous 9/11 memorials have been stolen since June.
“To steal a memorial honoring local police officers and firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 is unthinkable. The Endor Community Garden is a proven crime target, and one simple way to help combat this is by providing light to the area. I urge the DOT to do the right thing and get this process started by initiating a lighting survey immediately,” said Senator Klein.
“The Endor Community Garden is a beautiful nook in our neighborhood that local residents have worked very hard to maintain and preserve to honor police officers and firefighters killed in the 9/11 attacks. This beautiful memorial has been vandalized on more than one occasion and we must take action to make sure this does not happen again. Providing better lighting discourages vandalism and so I urge the DOT to take the necessary steps to make this happen immediately,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz
“The thefts were disrespectful to the victims of 9/11, all those who grieve them, and to our community,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen. “Conducting a lighting study in the area will help us understand what measures need to be taken to put an end to theft and vandalism in Endor Community Garden.”
The thefts occurred at Endor Community Garden near West 253rd Street and Fieldston Avenue over a span of several weeks this summer. A plaque honoring local local police officers and firefighters killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks was the first memorial taken. A local resident temporary replaced the plaque with American flags, but those too were taken on five separate occasions.
Nobody has yet been found responsible for the thefts and some community members have expressed concern over the lack of lighting in the the area surrounding the garden. To help deter another senseless theft, the Bronx lawmakers urge the city DOT to perform a lighting survey of the location. New lighting would increase safety and help prevent thefts to any future memorials at the site.
Cover photo courtesy of NY Daily News
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