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April 16, 2009
Permission to Speak Frankly: How We Know More and Less From Breakfast Interviews With Marisa Lago
Noticing New York
Blogger Michael D. D. White goes on the record about off-the-record questions posed to Empire State Developer Development Corporation CEO Marisa Lago at last week's breakfast sponsored by City Hall News:
As noted, the Q&A session was “off the record” but since we think it is important for the public to know what was said about Atlantic Yards, here is our solution for partially informing you. We can tell you on the record what our question to Ms. Lago was. Also, because we conferred with City Council candidate Josh Skaller, we can tell you for the record the question he asked Ms. Lago about Atlantic Yards. While we can’t tell you what Ms. Lago’s answers were at the breakfast and we don’t even think we can tell you whether our questions were, in fact answered, Noticing New York submitted these questions to Ms. Lago for on the record responses which we got.
In light of her call for more stringent cost-benefit analysis for the ESDC's Empire Zone program, how does Ms. Lago justify Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards megaproject?
Although AY is a developer initiated project - we have carefully reviewed the expected impact of the project and the expected benefits to be generated from the project - in terms of jobs, fiscal benefits, the production of affordable housing and the removal of blight. We think this is a good deal for the City and State - especially now.
Atlantic Yards Report, ESDC CEO predicts AY groundbreaking in 2010 (and semi-answers other Noticing New York questions)
For those of you who don't have the opportunity to read White's entire post, Norman Oder posted crib notes, including the breaking news:
Michael D.D. White's lengthy Noticing New York post brings us some news: Empire State Development Corporation CEO Marisa Lago indicates Atlantic Yards groundbreaking won't occur until 2010, as opposed to the 2009 pledge by developer Forest City Ratner.
NoLandGrab: Lago's responses underscore the fact that a cost-benefit analysis was never done for the project, or if it was, it's being withheld from the public.
In general, it is interesting that reporters and watchdogs have to "stalk" those who are actually in the know on Atlantic Yards. Whether it is in pursuit of the ombudsman, the CEO of the ESDC, architect Frank Gehry, Forest City executives etc., these watchdogs wind up at panel discussions and on radio call-in shows hoping to get simple answers to simple questions. Folks, this is democracy through the looking glass.
Posted by lumi at April 16, 2009 5:57 AM