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September 18, 2007
Waiting on a promise
‘Where’s Atlantic Yards ombudsman?’ groups ask
metroNY
By Amy Zimmer
In the face of criticism that after four months the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) has failed to hire an ombudsman, a spokesperson defended the quasi-governmental corporation's inaction:
Interviewing candidates has taken time, according to a statement by ESDC spokesman Errol Cockfield: “Given the prominent role the ombudsperson will play it’s important that we make the right choice, not the expedient choice.”
He added addressing neighborhood concerns has been a “chief priority.”
Ha! And it seems like we're not the only organization being dissed by the ESDC, which has declined our repeated requests to be included on the "Atlantic Yards Construction Update" email distribution list.
James Vogel, spokesman for the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods, wasn’t convinced. The organization is one of 26 local groups that sued the state to annul Atlantic Yard’s Environmental Impact Statement, alleging the necessary “hard look” at the project’s impacts and alternatives was never taken.
“The ESDC won’t talk to us because we’re one of the litigants,” Vogel said. “How can a state agency say it won’t talk to citizens exercising their civil rights?” ESDC wouldn’t even add the group to a construction update e-mail list, Vogel said.
The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods points to a growing list of problems with the early construction phase of the project as evidence that an ombudsman would have had plenty to do during the past few months:
Many residents were outraged when the ESDC announced in July it had resumed work at the Ward Bakery even though the Dept. of Buildings hadn’t yet finished its investigation. They also criticized the lack of follow-through on mitigating construction impact, claiming the ESDC hasn’t provided enough information about getting the double-paned windows and air conditioners promised by the developer.
NoLandGrab: A reader sent a note to us yesterday explaining that the State has already hired an "Environmental Monitor" — that's the person responsible for enforcing the Memorandum of Environmental Commitments between the developer, Forest City Ratner, and the Empire State Developer (sic) Corporation — but still has yet to hire an ombuddy, who would serve as a liaison to the community (i.e. people who are already living in Brooklyn).
If actions (or inaction) speak louder than words, where do the ESDC's "chief priorities" lie?
Posted by lumi at September 18, 2007 8:42 AM