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December 12, 2006
Atlantic Yards foes pin hopes on pol
amNY
Reporter Michael Clancy covered the City Hall press conference and put in a couple of calls to Gov.-elect Spitzer's transition team and Assembly Speaker Silver's office:
Opponents of Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn are hoping that the "Silver bullet" can strike for a third time and at least delay the 22-acre, $4.2 billion megadevelopment.
Through his vote on the Public Authorities Control Board, a little-known state agency, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) killed the Jets arena that the city wanted to build on Manhattan's West Side and delayed the proposed Moynihan Station in the James A. Farley Post Office Building.
For many Brooklynites, Silver represents one of the last hopes for delaying the project until Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer takes office in January.
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The five-member authorities board -- which is controlled by Silver, Gov. Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) -- meets on Dec. 20 and must unanimously approve the project for it to go forward.A spokesman for Silver said he was not sure whether the project was even on the agenda and was unable to comment on the matter.
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Spitzer has praised the project, but also raised questions about the its financing. Last week, the Empire State Development Corp. voted to approve the overall project, its environmental impact statement and its use of eminent domain.
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A spokeswoman for Spitzer said the incoming administration was waiting to see the final proposal, which should be ready some time this week."Clearly, if we have concerns, we will make them known, but it's all a little premature right now," said Christine Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Spitzer transition team.
Posted by lumi at December 12, 2006 10:09 AM