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October 2, 2009
Thompson claims his AY support is "a very different position" than Bloomberg's AY support
Atlantic Yards Report
On today's Brian Lehrer Show, Democratic Mayoral candidate Comptroller Bill Thompson, eschewing the opportunity to criticize Atlantic Yards as a "boondoggle" as did 2005 Democratic candidate Freddy Ferrer, instead stuck to calling for the affordable housing to be built.
And that, he asserted, showed how he differed with Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has supported the project to the hilt.
The action begins at about 22:20
BL: Do you differ with the mayor at all on this point on what should happen next at Atlantic Yards?
BT: I supported, maybe not the mayor's original plan at Atlantic Yards, but I had supported Atlantic Yards based on two reasons. The large number of affordable units that were supposed to happen there, and the Community Benefits Agreement that also was happening at Atlantic Yards. Over a period of time, I'm not going to say that I haven't been concerned at the constant changes in Atlantic Yards. I still have a number of questions and continue to pay attention and monitor that. Because that project continues to change and morph. And I have to tell you, it continues to raise concern with me.
He's not monitoring it much. (The statement sounded as convincing as the statement July 22, by the Empire State Development Corporation Steve Matlin, that "We're constantly updating" the fiscal analysis of Atlantic Yards.). Otherwise Thompson would have noticed the mayor's criticism of CBAs, the lack of guarantees and doubts whether enough subsidies would be available, and the unenforceability of the CBA.
NoLandGrab: For an actually different position on Atlantic Yards, we suggest voters pull the lever for the unbought and unbowed (and well-coifed) Green Party candidate, Rev. Billy Talen.
Related coverage...
WNYC Radio [The Brian Lehrer Show], 30 Issues: Thompson on Development
Posted by eric at October 2, 2009 10:14 AM