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November 4, 2011
More from the AY District Service Cabinet: SEIS process begins; progress on noise complaints; James's dismay at lack of public input; still waiting for demand management plan
Atlantic Yards Report
The summary:
- Empire State Development (aka Empire State Development Corporation) has begun work on a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) regarding the impacts of an extended project buildout
- In response to noise complaints, Forest City's contractors improved equipment and adjusted schedules to reduce impacts
- FCR is supervising additional nearby infrastructure work that's not connected to Atlantic Yards but must be done before the arena opens
- Council Member Letitia James expressed dismay at the lack of public input
- A transportation demand management plan will arrive slightly later than initially promised
- Rodent problems persist in some areas near the project site
- No decision has been announced on the use of modular parking
- The state has not yet hired a promised Atlantic Yards staffer
..."Not how government should work"
[James] spoke with a palpable sense of grievance. “I just don't want to be in a position where, we are a couple of months out from opening this arena, you present us with a plan, and then say you’ve got 30 days to respond to it. It's just not fair. It’s just not right. That’s not how government should work. It's not transparent. It’s government from the top down as opposed to the bottom up. It's all the things that I abhor and everything that I oppose.”
“So I would hope that you would consider not only the views of community, this is coming from me”--James pointed to herself--” who I am, what I stand for. The way we are moving toward the opening day of this arena leaves the community on the outside looking in, as evident by the fact that they're back there.”
She referenced three Prospect Heights residents sitting on chairs behind her, likely a fraction of those who might come had the meeting not been held during business hours.
Posted by eric at November 4, 2011 12:13 PM