Monday, December 28, 2009

Why the City Council's Rejection of Related's Plan to Re-Develop the Armory Matters

The recent decision of the New York City Council to reject plans to re-develop the Armory holds important implications for the city's future beyond just development. The pressing issue of how to create and maintain jobs as neighborhoods are being reshaped and re-developed is probably one of the biggest facing New York City at the moment. The most recent battle over living-wage jobs took place on Saturday December 19th at the Queens Center Mall, as community and labor organizations gathered together to have their voices heard.


Read the Daily News Article here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/12/20/2009-12-20_growing_rage_against_low_wage.html

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Controversial Brooklyn Triangle Project Halted

On December 22nd, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Emily Goodman ordered a temporary restraining order on the development of the 31-acre Brooklyn Triangle site. The plan was set to allow for 1,851 units of housing, 800 of which were to be set aside for low to moderate income families. However, the project has remained controversial since its outset with community groups claiming that the rezoning had led to the discrimination and exclusion of minority groups. As with many of the current rezonings taking place all over our city, much of the decision-making has been kept secretive and remains in the hands of wealthy and well-connected corporations. It is a big step that the courts are finally starting to recognize the injustices that have happened and force the development corporations to be more responsible.

Read the NYTimes Article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/nyregion/24triangle.html

Friday, December 18, 2009

Mayor Has Submitted Veto of City Councils Decision Not to Pass the Armory Plan without a CBA

Call your City Council Members and thank them for opposing a development deal that was bad for the Bronx and NYC!

Don't let the Mayor override this historic City Council decision which could pave the way for responsible development in NYC.

Find out who your City Council representative is at:

Speaker Christine Quinn:
(212) 788-7210
Ask to speak with Ramon Martinez or ask to leave a message for the speaker.

Tony Avella (chair of the Land Use Subcommittee)

718-747-2137

BRONX COUNCIL MEMBERS:


Oliver Koppell
718-549-7300 (district)
212-788-7080 (city hall)
Ask to speak directly with Koppell or with Arlene

Larry Seabrook:
District Office Phone: 718-994-9900
212-788-6873 city hall
Ask to speak directly with Mr. Seabrook

Maria del Carmen Arroyo
District Office Phone: 718-402-6130
212-788-7384 city hall
Ask to speak with Ms Arroyo or with Joanne, her Chief of Staff

Helen Foster
District Office Phone
; 718-588-7500
212-788-6856 city hall
Ask to Speak with Foster or her Chief of Staff Jim Faibanks

Annabel Palma
District Office Phone
: 718-792-1140
212-788-6853 city hall
Ask to Speak to Annabel Palma or to Megan Lynch, her Chief of Staff or Jeffrey Lauffer, her legislative aide.

Joel Rivera
District Office Phone
: 718-842-8100
212-788-6966 city hall
Ask to speak with Joel Rivera or Albert Alvarez, his Chief of Staff

James Vacca
District Office Phone
: 718-931-1721
212-788-7375 city hall
Ask to speak with James Vacca or with Jeff Lynch his Chief of Staff

Fernando Cabrera:
914-588-2634

Bloomberg Threatens Attorney General Cuomo over his efforts to subpoena records from the NYCEDC on WIllet's Point Plan

Here is the official news release from Willets Point United Inc.:

"Willets Point United Inc. commends NYS Attorney General Cuomo's decision to investigate NYCEDC's financing of unlawful lobbying done by Claire Shulman's local development corporation, to enable the proposed Willets Point redevelopment. Willets Point United Inc. had requested such an investigation on June 30, 2009. Since that date, Shulman's LDC has not only continued its unlawful operations with impunity, but has been awarded an additional state grant in excess of $1.5 million.

Today's New York Times report – about how the City's chief lawyer has stonewalled Cuomo's investigation by attempting to withhold documents, and how the Bloomberg administration attempted to blackmail Cuomo to influence his investigation, by threatening Cuomo's candidacy for governor – is a wake-up call for all New Yorkers concerning the illegal tactics that have been used by the Mayor and NYCEDC in their attempt to
acquire Willets Point land. If the Mayor's administration has resorted to using such tactics against AG Cuomo, there should be no doubt that it has used similarly despicable tactics against the people of Willets
Point throughout the attempt to acquire their property.

Mayor Bloomberg took an oath to uphold the rule of law. But not only has Bloomberg looked the other way concerning the unlawful lobbying activities of local development corporations – even telling the TimesLedger newspapers "These groups are designed to lobby. I don't know if they technically broke the law" (Duke, Nathan and Gustafson, Anna. 2009. Mayor doubts Shulman lobby broke law. TimesLedger, August 27.) – now, as reported by the New York Times, his administration has attempted to impede an investigation by the NYS Attorney General concerning those same unlawful acts. All New Yorkers must hold Mayor Bloomberg accountable for his failure to uphold the rule of law, and to impede an investigation by AG Cuomo. These may be impeachable offenses.

The unlawful use of City funds for lobbying by Shulman's LDC, and the City's attempt to stonewall Cuomo's investigation of it, are part of a pattern of disturbing behavior that has corrupted key aspects of the proposed Willets Point redevelopment, and which now includes NYCEDC's refusal to publicly disclose the details of its plan to install new Van Wyck access ramps as part of the project. Engineers have already determined that the ramps and development will cause severe adverse traffic impacts that threaten the quality of life of surrounding communities, and NYCEDC is keeping secret its records relating to the roadway modifications and traffic analyses. Just as AG Cuomo has insisted that there be no secrets concerning the transfers of funds by NYCEDC to facilitate unlawful lobbying, so too should there be no secrets concerning NYCEDC's disruptive plans for Queens roadways.

Willets Point United Inc. considers the investigation by AG Cuomo to be the breath of fresh air that may finally begin to impose law and order on a corrupt City-driven process that will otherwise continue to violate the rights of Willets Point property owners. Willets Point United Inc. is hopeful that the proposed Willets Point redevelopment now will be seen to be the fraud that it truly is; and that AG Cuomo's investigation will inspire both reform of New York City's "shadow government" which includes NYCEDC and other local development corporations, as well as the resignations of NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky, Deputy Mayor (and former NYCEDC President) Robert Leiber, and all others who have had oversight authority concerning the corrupt Willets Point project."


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Stay Updated on Armory Developments

Stay posted on the redevelopment issues of the Kingsbridge Armory:

City Council Decision May Create a More Responsible Blueprint for Future Development

For the first time in the history of the Bloomberg Administration, the New York City Council has voted down a proposal for a development sponsored by the Mayor's administration. The City Council voted to disapprove Related's plan for the Armory in the Bronx with a 45 to 1 abstention, a decision which could shape the way development in NYC is handled in the future.
Bloomberg has been quoted as saying this decision is "disappointing and irrational." Stating that "Today's vote against the Armory means a loss of opportunity to bring thousands of jobs and more than $300 million in private investment to the Bronx."
Contrary to Bloomberg's statements, the mayor had pulled any plans for living wage out of the Bronx project and also neglected to offer any plans for community space, recreational facilities, or union neutrality.
Although this is a major step for our city, the fight is not over. We need to make sure the mayor does not veto the City Council's decision and demand responsible development for the Armory and throughout the rest of our city.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Historic Decision on Eminent Domain

"After five years of a united focus community stuggle against the mighty powers and deep pockets of Columbia University (CU) that staged the biggest land grab of any landlord in Manhattan the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court ruled against (ESDC) New York State Empire State Development Corporation's seizure of the private property of Nick Sprayregen for CU.The Harlem community rallied around private property owner Nick Sprayregen and a number of other small businesses that faced the eminent domain guns of the notoriously corrupt ESDC. The implications are enormous given the eminent domain land grab facing small businesses in East Harlem as a result of Mayor Bloomberg's approved development of 125th Street from the East River to the Hudson River using eminent domain to capture prime real estate for Bloomberg's cronies."- Nellie Bailey