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October 21, 2005
DDDb's Goldstein testifies before NY State Senate Committee
Dan Goldstein posted his testimony before the State Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business on the DDDb web site.
The project proposes the use of eminent domain for about 53 buildings. It would displace around 800 people and 35 businesses. Wielding the threat of eminent domain Mr. Ratner has bought out many residents and some businesses, but many still remain and will challenge condemnation when the time comes.
For nearly two years an entire neighborhood has lived under the threat of eminent domain without the state or city even having the decency to outline a timeline or explain the law to homeowners, business owners and tenants in the Ratner footprint; people and places such as Vince Bruns the fish monger who lives in an irreplaceable converted factory loft he's worked for decades to own, or Hector Gonzalez whose family has lived on my block for 60 years, or Freddy's pre-prohibition era bar (and community center), or Johnny "Seatcovers" a senior citizen who has lived on his quiet block for 40 years, or the newly renovated roofer's union headquarters around the corner from me and on and on.
Goldstein goes on to tell the story of Simon Liu, whose family was displaced by the government in China and now, faces the same fate on these shores.
The testimony ends with an appeal to the State legislature to reform the definition of "blight:"
In most cases where blight is claimed to justify eminent domain, it's a bogus claim.
Posted by lumi at October 21, 2005 8:25 AM