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July 30, 2009
Atlantic Yards Hearing Attracts Politicians
The Local [Fort Greene/Clinton Hill]
by Jess Wisloski
The public hearing Wednesday afternoon on the proposed revisions to the Atlantic Yards project plan was prefaced with a protest staged by Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn outside the Klitgord Auditorium at New York City College of Technology on Jay Street. It turned into a pep rally filled with boos and cheers inside once the hearing began.
The gathering was noteworthy for the number of politicians and political hopefuls who turned out to speak against Atlantic Yards. The anti-AY bandwagon seems to be getting more crowded.
...In The Opposition Corner
Mayoral Candidates Tony Avella and Rev. Billy Talen; City Council candidates Brad Lander (39th), Evan Thies (33rd), David Pechefsky (39th), Ken Diamondstone (33rd), Ken Baer (33rd), Bob Zuckerman (39th), Josh Skaller (39th) and Doug Biviano (33rd); Norman Siegel, running for Public Advocate; SEIU local 371; Municipal Arts Society; Councilwoman Letitia James; Assemblyman Jim Brennan; State Senator Velmanette Montgomery; activist and sometime-candidate Kevin Powell.
...In the Pro-Yards Corner
Assemblyman Alan Maisel; State Senator Marty Golden; Borough Presdient Marty Markowitz; Congressman Edolphus Townes; City Council hopeful Anthony Herbert (41st); Ironworkers Local 580; Carpenters Local 79; Junior’s Restaurant; Downtown Brooklyn Alliance; BUILD; ACORN; New York Building Trades Council; Long Island University; Brooklyn Academy of Music.
NoLandGrab: Notably absent was City Councilmember and candidate for Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, but his support for the Atlantic Yards project was in evidence.
Related coverage...
City Room, Public Advocate Candidates Spar in TriBeCa Debate
The debate, hosted by the New York Civil Liberties Union, focused on civil rights and civil liberties. Juan Gonzalez, a columnist for The Daily News, moderated the event before an audience of 250 people at the New York Law School in TriBeCa.
...The debate remained polite until Mr. Gonzalez asked the candidates whether they believed there had been too much private development under the Bloomberg administration.
Mr. Green said private development could sometimes serve a public interest and supported the use of eminent domain, the right of government to seize private property for public use. He added that it was only permissible when there were substantial community benefits.
“I’d like that balanced approach rather than ‘no’ to all development,” he said.
Mr. Siegel responded sharply, arguing that too often there was a conspiracy between the developer and the government and contested the constitutionality of the legal principle. He cited the development by Columbia University and the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn.
Posted by eric at July 30, 2009 10:12 AM