JUNE 2026 – much of the info here is carried over from the Fall 2025 update .
Below:
1) Trees not Towers! Good bye sky – new school building is a reality check.
2) Distressing Urban Farm report
3) Glyphosate (‘Roundup’) on GI!
4) Crazy (?) new electric substation plan
On observing massive return of targeted mugwort on GI, M.A.G.I.C. emailed the Trust for Governors Island on May 5, 2026 seeking assurance that last season’s glyphosate (aka Roundup) contamination of the public refuge that is Governors Island would not be repeated. Public officials, press, and organizations were CCd. The Trust replied that the Trust, “does not plan to use glyphosate at this time.” More below.
M.A.G.I.C. attended a Trust for Governors Island board meeting for the first time on May 10th and spoke during the public comment period. Our comments served largely as a friendly introduction to board members unfamiliar with us and highlighted the glyphosate and building heights issues. (see below). These concerns were also presented the Manhattan Community Board 1 Waterfront and Parks committee on May 16th and the full CB1 May 25th.
Is protecting Governors Island from an ill-conceived Manhattanization all that important? A visit to this incredibly unique green urban refuge for people and wildlife should convince anyone that it is. Free of high-rise high density development and traffic GI currently serves as a safe, pastoral experience for reportedly a million visitors a year – including thousands of NYC children and their families. GI is home to an impressive array of environmental, educational, and arts projects as well as first rate fitness and recreation. Our efforts are part of a city wide resistance against greedy colonization of neighborhoods and public land.
What to do?
– For now please sign up to our email list and continue to spread the word.
– View and share The Future of Governors Island? – M.A.G.I.C. 6 minute presentation
– Share this update.
– Email signup: https://govislandcoalition.org/magic-email-list
– https://www.instagram.com/gi_coalition
– https://www.facebook.com/GovIsleCoalition
– https://www.facebook.com/groups/1295621027464162 (discussions)
– https://twitter.com/gi_coalition
Thanks,
Metro Area Governors Island Coalition (M.A.G.I.C.)
https://govislandcoalition.org
governorsislandcoalitionATgmail.com
———–
1) Trees not Towers! Reality check
It is well known that maximizing adaptive reuse and keeping development low-rise on Governors Island is a key public concern.
The new Harbor School expansion didn’t seem so bad on paper, but now seeing it shoot skyward is serving as a reality check. At an unnecessarily tall 75ft it eliminates Liggett Terrace’s piece of western vista , and reality check – this is at only ONE THIRD the height of the Trust’s planned Manhattanization of the southern portion of Governors Island. Also it is 5 feet higher than GI’s ‘Outlook Hill.’
The 2021 M.A.G.I.C. alternative visualization included a swimming pool facility for the Harbor School at that site. Apparently the Trust agreed. But M.A.G.I.C.’s version was only around 2 stories high. We were stonewalled by all who we approached for info during the new building design process. Apparently projects under the School Construction Authority do not require transparency or public input.
It is disappointing that the Harbor School has joined the cast of Governors Island bad actors with this design.
Harbor School extension 6-11-26:
3-8-2026:
4-2-2026
Earlier stages:
^^top
2) Governors Island Urban Farm Report – Putting farmers, students, visitors in harms way?
Reportedly Fall 2025 was the last season for Governors Island’s awesome under-prioritized unified urban farm. In order to make way for construction staging for a ‘Center for Climate solutions’ GrowNYC is being pushed to the site of massive glyphosate (aka ‘Roundup’) pesticide contamination and the Earth Matter relocation is to be wrapped around a new massive electrical substation. (See sections 3 and 4 below.) The Bee Conservancy was pushed out last year. In Sept 2025 M.A.G.I.C.’s proposal to push back any GI farm relocations for at least another season as planned new sites are unworkable was ignored.
Former GrowNYC location [Sept 2025 ] (It’s still there actually).
^^top
3) Highly Toxic Glyphosate on environmentally themed Governors Island!
The sprayed areas only recently have become green again, but the soil is still affected. From June to September 2025, in the epic struggle against invasive weeds on GI the Trust for Governors Island applied deadly glyphosate (aka ‘Roundup’) pesticide all around Fort Jay and in the ‘hills’ area. Glyphosate, a known carcinogen and subject of many lawsuits, is banned in New York City parks (GI is not legally dedicated parkland). Apparently environmentally friendly methods such as grazing sheep and ground coverings didn’t scale well. Pesticide Warning signs were up for only the required 24 hours after application. Weeks later, vague “restoration” signage was added for a short period after some inquiries.
The USDA requires waiting 3 years after land has been sprayed with pesticide before a farm can be re-certified organic. If nothing else, this illustrates that contamination in the soil doesn’t go away quickly. It speaks to the unacceptability of the current contaminated GrowNYC site where staff, volunteers, and children have not been prevented from working.
So far the The Trust and GrowNYC staff have refused to acknowledge any potential risk or to inform the public. The the garden should be moved. At the very least, glyphosate disclosure notices should be posted on the site and on the harvested food giving people a choice.
More info about glyphosate:
https://usrtk.org/pesticides/
Recent glyphosate legal updates:
https://www.sokolovelaw.com/
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Presses EPA re Glyphosate – currently Trump’s pet pesticide:
https://ocasio-cortez.house.
5-30-26:
5-29-26 in the hills:
Earlier images:
During ‘Pumpkin Point’ event 10/25/2025
^^top
In the hills:
Future location of GrowNYC farm? (!)
New location of GrowNYC farm – Sept 2025
Not an acceptable location for a farm or picnic tables… [Sept 2025]
Weeks later, these signs appeared [Sept 2025]
Another spraying 9-29-2025:
9-29-2025
^^top
4) Crazy(?) new electric substation plan
The development is well underway for a very powerful electric utility substation in the eastern development zone in order to supply power to planned massive development. The approved substation zoning proposal and plan documents: https://zap.planning.nyc.gov/projects/2025M0365
a) Location:
– The location is right next to the ‘park’ ( being referred to as ‘central open space’) and right on top of the new fracked gas line installed in 2022. It’s also right in the planned Earth Matter relocation.
– The ‘radius’ (power supplied area) goes well into the supposed ‘park’ (actually zoned C4-1 for high-rise commercial use)
– An apparent reason for choice of location is due to it being out of preliminary flooding area.
b) Building Design:
– Height 37ft, 50 ft including raised soil base.
– Substation on 2nd floor to avoid flooding
– TGI takes another piece of M.A.G.I.C. ‘s 2021 visualization in establishing a south island visitor center which would be on the first floor and adding a green roof.
From https://govislandcoalition.org/a-magic-plan :
“South Island Pavilion
Restrooms, snack bar, info center, first aid . . .
Low-rise, built-in-to-hill type design – or perhaps rehabilitate the building currently in that area.”
c) Some of the impacts:
– It seems irresponsible to place a visitor hub under huge transformers and to subject the park and Earth Matter to the transformer noise and electromagnetic fields etc.
– Substations generate Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), and while studies show that levels near substations are generally within safe limits, some individuals may be sensitive to EMFs and choose to live further away.
– Substations can generate noise from transformers and other equipment, particularly during peak load times.
– Visual Impact: Substations, especially larger ones, can have a visual impact on the landscape.
d) Misc
From zoning application Waterfront Revitalization Program (WRP) Assessment:
– D: Funding for Construction: FEMA Public Assistance
– F. 1.1: Encourage commercial and **residential** redevelopment in appropriate Coastal Zone areas.
[ ** potential Deed violations**]
– The Applicant seeks a Chair certification to facilitate the development (No public participation it seems.)
4-4-2026. (This is what 40ft looks like)
4-4-2026:
4-4-2026:
