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April 22, 2008
EMINENT DOMAINIA: The Big Apple Bites!
The Willets Point group is a coalition of sucessful businesses, who are more capable of wielding political clout than the typical property owner fighting eminent domain abuse. It's no small wonder that there isn't very much support for Mayor Bloomberg's plan to remake Willets Point, after decades of abuse and neglect from the City of New York. There's a demonstration and protest over the Columbia University land grab on Saturday. |
WILLETS POINT, QUEENS
The NY Observer, Nearly 30 City Council Members Call Willets Point Plan 'Unacceptable'
Late last week, when the Bloomberg administration announced it would begin the process of rezoning the neighborhood of Willets Point without a developer, it did so over the objections of the City Council, including Land Use Committee Chair Melinda Katz.
So it can't be a complete surprise that today, a number of critics of the plan, led by Hiram Monserrate, the most vocal opponent, have written a letter protesting the planned redevelopment that says, “This plan is unacceptable, and we wish to inform you that without significant modifications, we will strongly oppose it, leaving no chance of it moving forward.”
MetroNY, Willets point plan called dead on arrival
Just as the Bloomberg administration set its plan for Willets Point in motion yesterday, 29 City Council members declared the mayor’s redevelopment project dead on arrival.
Crain's NY Business, City Council rebuffs Willets Point plan
Charging that the redevelopment of Willets Point would displace more than 250 businesses and provide an inadequate amount of affordable housing, a majority of the City Council today said they opposed the Bloomberg administration’s decision to advance the plan through the land review process.
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The city says it is in discussions with business owners about relocation and that it will only use eminent domain as a last resort.
NoLandGrab: The joke is that the government always says that it will use eminent domain "as a last resort."
The Campaign for Community-Based Planning, Willets Point and Hunters Point South Plans to be Certified Today
The Willets Point Plan has also been extremely controversial — it involves the taking of many industrial businesses, located along the stretch of Queens waterfront located next to Shea Stadium, by eminent domain. In their place, the City plans to construct an entirely new community, including a convention center, hotels, housing, retail, parks/open space, and a school. According to Crain’s, the area’s Council Member, Hiram Monserrate, “remains opposed, saying he wants the administration to guarantee the inclusion of middle- and low-income housing units, require livable-wage jobs and agree not to use eminent domain to take over properties.”
WEST HARLEM, MANHATTAN
A message from the Coalition to Preserve Community:
COLUMBIA SPENT $2.3 MILLION LAST YEAR TO LOBBY FOR ITS WEST HARLEM EVICTION PLAN THEY CAN BUY THE POLITICIANS, BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE COMMUNITY TO DEAL WITH
Join the Coalition to Preserve Community’s March to Columbia 4/26
JOIN TOGETHER SATURDAY, APR. 26, 08
MEET TO MARCH AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH 12:30PM (521 West 126th Street)
DEMONSTRATION WITH STUDENTS ON THE CAMPUS 1:30PM (116 St campus plaza)IT'S BEEN 40 YEARS SINCE COLUMBIA STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS STOPPED THE CU GYM IN MORNINGSIDE PARK. LET'S SHOW CU THAT HARLEM IS STILL NOT FOR SALE. NO COLUMBIA EXPANSION IN WEST HARLEM. NO DESTRUCTION OF 125TH STREET. NO FORCED DISPLACEMENT OF BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS. NO DANGEROUS BIOTECH LABS.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE “BATHTUB” CONSTRUCTION, VISIT THIS WEBSITE: www.biohazardonhudson.com
COME OUT. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
CONTACT US: Call (212) 666-6426, 646-812-5188, or (212) 234-3002 (se habla espanol) or go to www.stopcolumbia.org and sign up to be on our contact list.
Posted by lumi at April 22, 2008 4:43 AM