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June 13, 2011
Atlantic Yards Ombudsman Forrest Taylor leaves his post
Atlantic Yards Watch
Atlantic Yards Ombudsman Forrest Taylor has left the ESDC for a job at New York State Homes and Community Renewal, (HCR). Will the ESDC simply refill his seat, or will they reform oversight to improve the way they address impacts from the project?
Forrest Taylor was personally liked by community leaders, who found him sincerely interested in resolving problems. But Mr. Taylor's position was a difficult one. He was an advocate for the community within an oversight structure that is not transparent and lacks the staff and independent board of other ESDC projects smaller than Atlantic Yards. Until the appointment of Project Director Arana Hankin in the fall of 2010, Taylor was the only public employee ever to work full-time on the project. And in an agency that has had six leaders under four governors since Atlantic Yards was announced, Mr. Taylor’s three and a half years with the project represents an unusual example of continuity.
Mr. Taylor's potential often seemed constrained by his situation because his position had little authority or decision-making capacity within the ESDC. Despite his availability, he was often frustrated by his inability to resolve problems in a way that was satisfactory to the community.
NoLandGrab: Not quite as frustrated, however, as the community was — and is.
Posted by eric at June 13, 2011 11:00 PM