We, the undersigned elected officials representing communities across New York City, write to express our serious concerns regarding the Hudson River Park Trust’s existing contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for parking at Pier 40, and to urge the Trust to take immediate steps to terminate this agreement prior to its scheduled expiration.

We appreciate the Trust’s public acknowledgment that the current contract will expire in June and that it does not intend to renew or enter into future agreements with ICE. At the same time, we believe that every day this relationship continues has real consequences for the communities we serve. The continued presence of ICE vehicles at Pier 40 has caused fear and distress among immigrant families and neighbors throughout the city and undermines public confidence that Hudson River Park is a safe and welcoming space for all.

Although the contract is described as limited to the provision of parking spaces, the visible association between this public park and a federal enforcement agency engaged in aggressive and often traumatic immigration operations has heightened concerns among constituents. Recent incidents elsewhere in the country, including the fatal shooting in Minneapolis during a federal enforcement operation, have further underscored the risks and anxieties tied to ICE’s tactics.

It is also troubling that this arrangement has persisted for many years. Reporting shows that ICE’s use of Pier 40 dates back well before the most recent renewal of the contract in 2021, at a time when serious concerns about the agency’s conduct were already widely known. Given this history, we believe stronger action should have been taken sooner to end this relationship.

Hudson River Park is widely understood as a space dedicated to recreation, community, and public well-being. It should reflect the values of openness, safety, and trust that New Yorkers expect from their public institutions. Ending the ICE parking contract as soon as possible would reinforce those values and help restore confidence that the park’s facilities are being used in a manner consistent with the interests of all New Yorkers.

For these reasons, we urge the Hudson River Park Trust to review the contract expeditiously and make every effort to terminate it prior to its scheduled expiration.

Sincerely,

Christopher Marte – New York City Council Member, District 1

Erik Bottcher – New York City Council Member, District 3
 

Dan Goldman – Representative, Congressional District 10
 

Brian Kavanagh – New York State Senator, District 27
 

Deborah Glick – New York State Assembly Member, District 66
 

Brad Hoylman-Sigal – Borough President, Manhattan
 

Harvey Epstein – New York City Council Member, District 2
 

Grace Lee – New York State Assembly Member, District 65
 

Charles Fall – New York State Assembly Member, District 61
 

Linda Rosenthal – New York State Assembly Member, District 67
 

Jerrold Nadler – Representative, Congressional District 12
 

Gale Brewer – New York City Council Member, District 6
 

Tony Simone – New York State Assembly Member, District 75