Chris Pomorski

Hearing the news, neighborhood residents stirred themselves promptly into a tizzy of protest. Hundreds turned out to raise a fuss (and learn more about the facts) at meetings of Community Board 6—whose jurisdiction encompasses the neighborhood—SAC and the East River 50s Alliance, a group organized for the express purpose of blocking the tower. Nearly 1,000 people have signed a petition opposing construction circulated by Councilman Ben Kallos, who represents the Upper East Side.