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September 22, 2005
Pataki's Shanghai Noon
NY Newsday, Politarazzi
by Chuck Bennett
Gov. Pataki had a very private lunch date with Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng yesterday. Though no one knows what they discussed, maybe they chatted about large-scale development projects that are reshaping neighborhoods and displacing residents.
Shanghai is experiencing a real estate development boom and is gearing up for the 2010 World Expo. It has reshaped entire neighorhoods in the name of development.
More than 55,000 Shanghai families were relocated from their homes last year alone under Mayor Han’s watch as part of this development. Evictions are expected to grow this year.
Pataki, in his role as governor, is overseeing the rebuilding of Ground Zero. He also has thrown his support behind the proposed Nets arena in downtown Brooklyn -- a development project under fire for its use of eminant domain.
"Clearly Gov. Pataki found a kindred political spirit with the mayor of Shangahi," quipped Daniel Goldstein, spokesman for the anti-Nets arena group Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn.
Posted by lumi at September 22, 2005 7:40 AM