« Ask Why: Enron, "the diffusion of responsibility," and the Atlantic Yards parallels (will anyone look at the Development Agreement?) | Main | Thor’s Sitt says he was "blindsided" at Coney Island, others say challenges to be expected »
June 16, 2010
Atlantic Yards YES! Parks, farm land, open space, historic preservation and recycling, NO!!
What are the only kinds of parks that don't have to fear severe cuts thanks to New York State's massive budget deficit? Ball parks!
Gotham Gazette, Pitting Parks Against Open Space
Singling out the state parks and environment for symbolic belt-tightening, Gov. David Paterson last month pressured the state legislature into accepting steep and disproportionate cuts to conservation funding in exchange for reopening 55 shuttered parks and historic sites in time for the Memorial Day weekend.
With the budget two months late and negotiations stalled, the governor chose an area representing less than one quarter of a percent of the total budget to launch his strategy of forcing cuts through temporary budget extender bills needed to keep the state operating.
In a move that has troubling implications for the future of the city and state's environment, legislators were cornered into choosing between two programs that have broad public support -- the state parks and the l Environmental Protection Fund, the state's main source of capital expenditures for open space and farmland preservation, parks and recreation, historic preservation, waterfront revitalization and recycling.
"There is no free lunch," Paterson said in a press release. "If legislators want to fully fund the parks, that money must come from a real source."
Actually, there's a free all-Bruce-can-eat buffet, at breakfast, lunch and dinner — but it's only open to real estate developers and Russian oligarchs aiming to build the metropolitan area's fourth basketball arena.
One recent analysis from New Jersey found that every dollar invested in a bond measure for conservation would return $10 in economic benefits such as farm and fish products, outdoor recreation and ecosystem services such as flood prevention.
Yet the state routinely allocates an amount almost equivalent to this year's entire Environmental Protection Fund appropriation to individual brick and mortar projects whose benefits flow primarily to a few large corporations or developers, such as $104 million for infrastructure for one private sports arena at Atlantic Yards and $63 million to subsidize parking garages for the benefit of the privately owned New York Yankees.
Posted by eric at June 16, 2010 12:19 PM