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February 25, 2009
President Obama Stresses Stimulus Spending Oversight and Accountability
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn has been seeking some significant change in the footprint of Bruce Ratner's $4 billion Atlantic Yards boondoggle. "Oversight and accountability" has been high on the community's list, which would make the arena and highrise backroom deal a poor candidate for Obamabucks.
Regarding Bruce Ratner's lobbying to use the stimulus bill as an Atlantic Yards bailout bill, these two paragraphs from President Obama's speech to Congress [Tuesday night] should make Governor Paterson think more than twice about doing such a thing (if he is considering it at all) and put an end to that nonsense:
...I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of whether this plan will work. I understand that skepticism. Here in Washington, we've all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending. And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right.
That is why I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort - because nobody messes with Joe. I have told each member of my Cabinet as well as mayors and governors across the country that they will be held accountable by me and the American people for every dollar they spend. I have appointed a proven and aggressive Inspector General to ferret out any and all cases of waste and fraud. And we have created a new website called recovery.gov so that every American can find out how and where their money is being spent...
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn asks that you please sign the petition to New York State Governor David Paterson asking that no federal bailout funds be used to bail out Bruce Ratner's ailing Atlantic Yards project.
Posted by lumi at February 25, 2009 5:25 AM