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August 21, 2006
In Brooklyn, a Fierce Contest to Be Assembly Successor
The NY Times
By Jonathan Hicks
Today's Times article about the 57th Assembly District race observes:
While the three candidates concur on the need to develop low- and middle-income housing, there have been some sharp areas of disagreement, notably on the proposed Atlantic Yards project near downtown Brooklyn.
Missing Railyards
Ironically, this is probably the first article that is so careful to describe the complex mix of existing structures and uses within the footprint of the 22-acre Atlantic Yards proposal, that it forgot to mention the 8-acre Vanderbilt railyard.
The project’s developer, Forest City Ratner Companies, wants to place a sports arena and more than a dozen buildings, some as tall as 62 stories, on 22 acres where a mix of vacant lots, low-rise apartments, abandoned buildings and condominiums now sit.
[So that makes something like hundreds of articles that mention only the railyards, to one that doesn't.]
Ratner Money Accepted by Community Benefits Agreement Signatory Hamilton
There's one BIG omission in the following description of Hamilton:
Ms. Hamilton is a staunch supporter of the project, saying that it will bring jobs, economic opportunity and affordable housing to residents of the area.
“It’s the kind of project that I feel strongly will do some good in this community,” she said.
The article mentions that Hamilton "founded a nonprofit organization to provide programs for youth," but fails to mention that the organization has received $350,000 from Forest City Ratner. In light of this important fact, Hamilton's quote sounds rather self-serving.
Oder Alert: No Disclosure?
To save Norman Oder of Atlantic Yards Report the trouble, we'll attempt to "Oderize" the Times by pointing out that reporter Jonathan Hicks makes three distinctions between the candidates, (1) their views on Atlantic Yards, (2) the amount of money raised by each candidate and (3) endorsements.
In light of the difference and importance of the candidates' positions on Forest City's Atlantic Yards project, and despite the reporter's attempt to be even-handed, the Times should have printed a disclosure of the business relationship between the NY Times Company and Forest City Ratner in the development and ownership of the Times Tower.
Jeffries's Carefully Crafted Position
Just what is Hakeem Jeffries's position? Atlantic Yards Voter's Guide quotes the candidate as saying he'd, “be more inclined to support it than not," and concludes, "when push comes to shove, Hakeem stands in support of the project."
Posted by lumi at August 21, 2006 8:37 AM