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March 12, 2005
City, state & Bruce agree: ‘Yards the place for Nets
Great coverage of the "MOU" and City Councilwoman Letitia James's reaction from the Brooklyn Papers.
James released a summary this week of the MOU to her colleagues in the council, in which she calls for the council to back her in asking for a series of bills, starting with mandatory council approval of any city money dedicated to the project. She said she will also introduce a mandate that any city money for property acquisition as part of the eminent domain proceedings (which is now permitted in the MOU) be subject to council approval.James is also urging the council to encourage the MTA to open the Atlantic Yards site to a competitive bidding process, and create a fair market value for the site “exclusive of the benefits proposed primarily for Forest City Ratner.”
“The legal question for me would be whether or not the mayor has the authority to basically surrender all of this property, the city property, the city streets, and usurp the role of the City Council,” said James. “I’m certain this will be subject to litigation.”
Posted by amy at March 12, 2005 9:50 AM