Progressive Democrat Issue 115: NYC FOCUS: More Atlantic Yards Insanity

Did you know that you are buying the land for Bruce Ratner to build his Atlantic Yards' project? Yep. That is what Michael Bloomberg wants, as I have previously reported. Ratner promised to pay $100 million for the land to build his project (the low bid, but being Pataki's friend apparantly compensated for his low bid). Guess how much NYC taxpayers are being asked to pay for land acquisition for Ratner? Yep...$100 million. We are buying the land for him. Feel free to tell your City Council member what you think of that.

Oh...but wait. There is an added layer of bullshit about all this. It appears that Pataki and Bloomberg went full speed ahead with their support of Ratner, and the Empire State Development Corp. gave it glowing reviews...even though RATNER NEVER SUBMITTED A BUSINESS PLAN! That's right. The ESDC approved the project and Bloomberg is asking us to foot the bill but Ratner never submitted a business plan. Of course we only know this because Jim Brennan SUED to get access to the business plan. From Michael Bouldin over at Daily Gotham:

Lipris over at The Albany Project, quoting the barking rightwing wackjobs at the New York Sun, delivers this gem:

This is too rich. For quite some time now, many opponents of the Atlantic Yards Ratnerville project in Brooklyn, including Assemblyman James Brennan, have been trying to get a hold of the business plan one would assume the developers had submitted to the Empire State Development Corporation before the the ESDC would agree to dole out hundreds of millions in public money and other goodies to the controversial development. Brennan eventually sued ESDC last month to get his hands on the plan. There was one problem, however. The developers never submitted one and the ESDC therefore has no plan to produce. Really.

Two really simple and basic points:

One, Since FCR wants your money to build its monstrosity, the least, the absolute least they can do is tell you how they intend to spend it.

And two, this is the kind of crap that happens when you don't have a real legislature. Neither the State Assembly nor the State Senate have ever held hearings on a $4 billion development subsidized with public money and, as we're now finding out, for which the developer

Has.

Not.

Submitted.

A business plan.

If anyone can imagine a better example of a complete failure of oversight, please, I'd like to hear it.

For those who are sick and tired of this kind of crap, there is something you can do (other than write your City Council member and telling them to make Ratner pay his own bills). Listen to punk music! Yep. Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn is having a benefit concert. This comes from DDDB:

Against their better judgment, the Spunk Lads, those legends of the late-'70s London punk scene, will take the stage at Southpaw on April 4th for a reunion gig to benefit the Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn Legal Fund.

The Lads, who called it quits, seemingly for good, in 2005, were compelled to get back together for the good of their adopted home -- Brooklyn, NY.

"Ratner’s bollocks," said Lads’ singer Nick Knickers, in explaining the impetus behind the reunion concert. The Lads will be joined by three talented acts. All for just $15. Here are the details:

Wednesday, April 4th
The Spunk Lads.

11:00 -- The Spunk Lads
10:00 -- The Choke
9:00 -- Seanchai & The Unity Squad
8:00 -- Blackout Shoppers

Southpaw
125 Fifth Avenue. Brooklyn, NY
(718) 230-0236
$15 Admission -- proceeds go to DDDB's Legal Fund
Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts promptly at 8 p.m.

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