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June 3, 2009
It came from the Blogosphere...
Room 8: Hildy Johnson's Blog, FAIR, BALANCED AND WELL-SOURCED
The still-pseudonymous Room 8 blogger responds to our criticism of a recent piece with a spate of source-material links, and critiques our critique:
Were perhaps unfair aspersions cast upon City Council candidate Brad Lander?
......Lander cannot hide from his paper trail documented above. He equivocated on Atlantic Yards in a manner which often provided its supporters with cover; he failed to criticize ACORN‘s race-baiting of his potential constituents, he accepts support from its political party, and he strongly supports its tactics and its agenda.
As “No Land Grab” notes, some serious questions have been raised about the WFP's role in elections and development. They are openly and notoriously trying to game the political projects to choose the people who will decide if their projects get built and their pockets get lined. Even if we can take Brad Lander’s recent conversion on Atlantic Yards seriously, can anyone doubt where he will stand on every other ACORN project in the City, whatever its merits?
The Campaign for Community-Based Planning, Task Force Submits Testimony on Atlantic Yards
The task force headed by the Municipal Art Society Planning Center published its testimony submitted to the State Senate Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions for last Friday's hearing. The plan was to deliver oral testimony, but "because of the chaotic nature of the hearing, the... testimony was submitted in writing to the State Senators present."
Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, Breakfast-of-Candidates (33rd Edition): Ken Diamondstone
Louise Crawford talks with the candidate for the 33rd City Council district.
Diamondstone estimates that he has owned approximately 20 properties over the years and currently oversees 85 units of housing which he rents at "way below market value."
"I could have made a killing in real estate over the years," he said. But that wasn't his interest. Clearly, Diamondstone business has sustained him over the years and allowed others to live well, too. Recently he found someone to manage his real estate holdings, which gives him more time to devote to his political goals.
Affordable housing is clearly Diamondstone's passion and with his business has been able to translate his ideals into action. He is also a member of three local Democratic clubs and was an early opponent of Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project.
Pardon Me For Asking, Comment Of The Day: The Toll Brothers' PR Firm
Never would've expected this — Toll Brothers, the would-be Gowanus Canal overdevelopers, have hired Geto & deMilly, the lobbying firm that has done the Atlantic Yards bidding of Forest City Ratner.
Toll Brothers has hired the Geto/Demilly PR firm to campaign against the possible Superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal. The firm specializes in representing real estate interests. In 2007, they ranked 9 in NYC's top ten lobbyists, right before Yoswein you mention being instrumental for IKEA.
Info about them on: http://www.cityhallnews.com/news/127/ARTICLE/1218/2007-07-16.html
"Geto is a lobbyist who works with leading real estate development firms like Bruce Ratner's Forest City Ratner...He's also a .. frequent political advisor. He's worked on campaigns for George McGovern, Robert Abrams, and Howard Dean."
"Prior to becoming a lobbyist. Michele DeMilly was press secretary for the Empire State Development Corporation. She feels that her experience there largely shaped the firm’s client list, which includes some of the city’s largest developers."
NoLandGrab: Hmm, wonder if G&d had anything to do with the anonymous anti-Superfund Liar Flier that Gowanus-area residents started receiving in the mail these past few days?
CoStar Group, IN THE PIPELINE: CoStar Development News for June 1-7
Last month, In the Pipeline reported a step forward in the long effort by Forest City Ratner Cos to break ground on a new arena in Brooklyn, NY, for the New Jersey Nets in the $4 billion Atlantic Yards development. Out-of-work construction workers and neighborhood activists have faced off over plans for the arena and other building projects around the city that have been stalled by the recession and/or legal challenges.
planning to succeed, Crowd Jeers As Elected Protect Their Interest in Atlantic Yards
Hakeem Jeffries served his constituency handsomely by asking the MTA why it hadn’t collected all or most of the $100 million up front from FCR, given its recent proposal to raise fares, defer maintenance and cut bus routes. Rather, the MTA agreed to accept allotment payments and can’t commit to holding fares to the increases that go in effect June 28, 2009.
Posted by eric at June 3, 2009 2:40 PM