Thank you to everyone who signed the Trains Before Towers petition against Gov. Hochul’s disastrous Penn Plan—we appreciate your support.

We are reaching out because we need your help at this critical moment. We need you to send a message.

On Wednesday, July 27, the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB) will meet to vote on the Penn Plan.

Let our public officials know that the current version of the plan is unacceptable and to VOTE NO.

At the bottom of this update, you have everything you need to send an email, including who it should go to and suggested text.

While there is no doubt that Penn Station needs to be revitalized, the current version of the Penn Plan does not guarantee any benefits to commuters or New York State taxpayers.

What is guaranteed is the biggest winner of the Penn Plan will be Hochul mega-donor, Vornado Realty Trust.

Vornado and other developers will receive over billions in tax breaks and permission to build skyscrapers around Penn Station—all with no commitment on their part that the profits will fund upgrades to Penn Station. Ultimately, it could leave New York State taxpayers on the hook for upgrading the station.

We need a better Penn Station, we need more trains, and we need a plan that benefits all New Yorkers. 

Please take a moment to send the message. Time is running out. 

Best,

The Trains Before Towers Team

Suggested Email to Elected Officials:

To (copy and paste these emails in the "to" field): gov.hochul@chamber.state.ny.gov, Robert.Mujica@budget.ny.gov, Paulin@nysassembly.gov, comrie@nysenate.gov, GiglioJ@nyassembly.gov, hoylman@nysenate.gov, krueger@nysenate.gov, scousins@nysenate.gov, speaker@nysassembly.gov, GottfriedR@nysassembly.gov, info@manhattanbp.nyc.gov, District3@council.nyc.gov, empirestation@esd.gov, jackson@nysenate.gov, stephen.gardner@amtrak.com

Subject Line: I Do Not Support Gov. Hochul's Penn Project.

Email Body: 

I am writing to you because I am alarmed by the lack of financial transparency around the Penn Project, and I am urging members of the Public Authorities Control Board to vote no on the Penn Project. 

There are too many unanswered questions, and the people of New York deserve to fully understand all aspects of the plan and the financial risks it poses to us as taxpayers.

I read in The New York Times that this plan is giving real estate developers an estimated $1.2 billion in tax breaks to construct ten skyscrapers around the Penn Station area with the idea they will use the profits from those building to upgrade Penn Station. But there doesn’t seem to be any guarantee from the developers to do so.

What if the developers don’t make a profit? What is the point of the tax break to developers if they are under no obligation to make station upgrades?

I am also unclear about how much this project will cost. I read that if developers don’t pay for upgrades then it’s going to cost $3-$6 billion dollars in New York State taxpayers’ money.

Who is this plan really for?

It would be beneficial to create a public forum to give everyday New Yorkers like me the opportunity to ask questions from our elected officials directly and share our thoughts and concerns.

I understand Penn Station needs to be revitalized, but there's no guarantee of that happening with what Gov. Hochul is proposing without financially burdening the people of New York while developers reap all of the benefits.

I hope the Public Authorities Control Board will vote no to the Penn Project and work on creating a plan for Penn Station that benefits the people and is fully transparent.