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July 4, 2007
Eminent domination without representation is...
...really great if you're Ratner!
Last year we posted an item about the "57 property/business owners [who] declared that they were fed up with King George III of England and his failure to act in the best interests of his citizen-subjects" and how they "pledged their lives and fortunes to fight against what was essentially a 'done deal:' the arbitrary rule of law and the manipulation of legislatures to serve the purposes of a despotic power."
The list of grievances that prompted these brave men to declare independence from the Crown of England portended many of the governmental abuses that surround Atlantic Yards, the poster-project for government acting in the interest of the politically connected rather than the interest of those from whose consent it derive its powers.
Last year's list included the abuse of eminent domain, NY State's override of local laws, manipulations of existing laws, use of public money for a private project that will generate little or no tax benefit, and ignoring citizens' petitions of redress.
The list has continued to grow in the past year. As we meditate on the Declaration of Independence, consider this year's list (in no particular order) of actions in which our local and state governments have exercised their powers to benefit one very powerful developer:
In August, 2006, only one "public hearing" was held for comments from the community on the Atlantic Yards Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Many were not given the chance to speak.
In September, 2006, two "community forums" were held by the State to admit additional comments on the EIS, yet one was on primary election day. They were called "community forums" to circumvent existing requirements that the comment period be held open for 10 days after the official "public hearing."
State documents held that developer Forest City Ratner controlled 90% of the project site, despite protestations from property owner Henry Weinstein, who was forced to prove in court that leases for his property were illegally assigned to Ratner.
In December, 2006, the Atlantic Yards project received last-minute State approval before Governor Pataki's administration sailed off into the sunset. One of the last-minute "concessions" was a questionable deal for a new facility for Brooklyn Tech.
Government officials frequently stonewalled Freedom of Information Law requests from lawyers, politicians and reporters concerning Atlantic Yards. State Assemblyman Jim Brennan had to take the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) to court to force the release of documents.
Borough President Marty Markowitz purged Community Board 6 of members who stood up for the communities by publicly expressing criticism of Atlantic Yards.
Pre-demolition asbestos abatement has resumed at the Ward Bakery building before the investigation of the parapet collapse has been complete and the suspend-work order lifted.
The NYC Transit Authority informed the communitiy that the B63 bus would be rerouted due to the closure and demapping of 5th Avenue. Inquiries revealed that the planned rerouting was as per the developer Forest City Ratner.
Under Governor Spitzer's new administration, the ESDC pledged to take a "hard look" at the Atlantic Yards plan. The only discernable difference is that the new ESDC now informs the public about project developments in advance.
Back in October, 2006 , Ratner had the cops throw footprint homeowner Lars Williams in jail for removing a Forest City Ratner surveillance cameras from his own building. Ratner ended up settling for a tidy sum.
$300 million from Barclays Bank for the naming rights to the "public" arena will be paid to the private development company Forest City Ratner, despite claims the new arena would be a public amenity.
Controversial works of art were excluded from the Brooklyn Public Library's presentation of the "Footprints" exhibit.
Ratner spent $2.1 million in 2006 to lobby the State, NY City Planning and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz for Atlantic Yards.
The City of New York tossed in an additional $105 million for Atlantic Yards, bringing the total City direct cash contribution to $205 million.
State Assemblyman Vito Lopez gave Ratner a big gift when he created the Ratner Clause, an exception to the 421-a reform bill that would only apply to Atlantic Yards.
This probably wasn't what the founding fathers had in mind.
Happy 4th,
"Miss Brooklyn"
Posted by lumi at July 4, 2007 10:48 AM