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August 19, 2011
Mailbag groaning over our Brooklyn Bridge Park coverage
The Brooklyn Paper, Letters to the Editor
While the mailbag was bulging because of Brooklyn Bridge "Park," Long Island's leading letter-writer weighed in wisely on Brooklyn's biggest boondoggle.
To the editor,
Why am I not surprised that Bruce Ratner and Forest City continue to act like pigs at a trough feasting on taxpayer dollars (“Workers to Ratner: Where are the jobs?,” Aug. 5)? In too many cases, projects have been heavily subsidized by taxpayers. Between direct government funding, low-interest loans, and long-term exemptions, the bills to taxpayers may be greater than the benefits.
Too many mega developers make promises to local community groups for the creation of jobs along with awarding of contracts to residents and businesses, which, just like in this case, have yet to see the light of day.
If these projects, such as Atlantic Yards, were so worthwhile, why didn’t major developers, such as Bruce Ratner, use their own funds or obtain loans from banks, rather than pick the pockets of taxpayers to pay a significant portion of the bill?
Real business people who believe in capitalism build their companies on their own. How sad that some don’t want to do it the old-fashioned way by sweat and hard work. They continue looking for shortcuts in the form of huge subsidies at the taxpayers’ expense and favors from elected officials.
Larry Penner
Great Neck, NY
Posted by eric at August 19, 2011 10:58 AM