« Ratner to sell $700M in bonds for Nets arena | Main | It Came From The Atlantic Yards Report »
October 3, 2009
Deal could give New York State power over hundreds of public authorities
Daily News
By Juan Gonzalez
Here is word that Governor David Paterson may be on his way to signing legislation that would make state authorities like the ESDC, tool of developer Bruce Ratner, more accountable. This change in law probably comes too late to correct the lack of accountability of state support for the proposed Atlantic Yards project. The prime sponsors of this legislation are Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and Harlem state Sen. William Perkins.
It's hard to believe that any meaningful reform could come out of the Legislature these days, but this could be the exception, thanks to the dogged work of Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and Harlem state Sen. William Perkins, the prime sponsors of the legislation.
The new law would:
Require appointees to authority boards to act in the interest of that authority and not simply follow instructions from the local mayor or the governor who appointed them.
Give the state Senate the power to confirm the chief executives of some of those authorities.
Set up an independent Authority Budget Office with subpoena power. That office would set operating rules and monitor the finances of the agencies.
Forbid agencies from selling public assets at below market prices unless there is a clear public purpose.
Require the state controller to review all major contracts issued by the authorities.
...
"These authorities have been Soviet-style bureaucracies for too long," Brodsky said. "We're bringing them back under the rules of American democracy."
Posted by steve at October 3, 2009 9:20 AM