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July 20, 2007
Atlantic Yards oversight under scope
NY Daily News
By Jotham Sederstrom
Almost three months after state officials promised to implement five oversight measures for the Atlantic Yards project following a partial building collapse there, only one has become a reality, the Daily News has learned.
Since unveiling the safety measures on May 7, officials have failed to appoint an ombudsman or a construction liaison, create a group to oversee transportation issues or hold regular group meetings with elected officials.
An intergovernmental group comprising four city agencies has meet three times, an Empire State Development Corp. spokesman said yesterday, but that could not immediately be confirmed.
"This basically says that the Spitzer administration, just like the Pataki administration, is giving us empty promises when it comes to transparency, oversight and accountability," said Councilwoman Letitia James, who represents the area that is to become the home of the controversial $4 billion project.
FUN WITH MATH:
The 73 days, 12 hrs, 13 mins since the ESDC promised an ombuddy is no big deal considering that it's also been 200 DAYS since "DAY ONE" of the Spitzer administration, you know, the day, according to his campaign slogan, that "everything changes."
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn just posted this response to the Daily News article:
The most important measure as far as the community is concerned is the designation of an ombudsperson available to the public. There is still no ombudsperson and therefore the public has nobody to turn to with any problems, questions or concerns about Atlantic Yards, of which there are many.
Despite the new look of this ESDC, it feels the same as the old one — the developer is running the show.
The article is also getting more play in the blogosphere:
Brownstoner, ESDC Continues To Fumble the Atlantic Yards Ball
Since making a set of five promises back in May, State officials are batting a meager .200 in their efforts to step up oversight of the Atlantic Yards project, according to The Daily News.... Is anyone really surprised?
The Real Deal, Atlantic Yards oversight lacking
The Empire State Development Corporation, which announced it would put certain oversight measures into place with respect to the Atlantic Yards project, has failed to implement most of the measures it said it would.
Posted by lumi at July 20, 2007 11:09 AM