Council Members Look to Take on Eminent Domain
A number of City Council members say they’re going to try to get the state to change its eminent domain laws, according to an article in City Hall. Leading the charge is Council member Letitia James, who has been a vocal critic of Atlantic Yards. James says a Council drive to influence Albany is a…
A number of City Council members say they’re going to try to get the state to change its eminent domain laws, according to an article in City Hall. Leading the charge is Council member Letitia James, who has been a vocal critic of Atlantic Yards. James says a Council drive to influence Albany is a priority and that we are opening up the door wider and wider to the abuse of eminent domain by private businesses after the Council voted to OK Columbia’s expansion plan, which involves the use of eminent domain, in December. James argues that the use of eminent domain means the city is diverted from following the 197-a process (which allows community boards to develop land-use plans for their districts) and that property owners should have more time to challenge seizures. Council Speaker Christine Quinn hasn’t made a commitment to pressing the issue in Albany, however, and a rep for Mayor Bloomberg said that Changing state eminent domain laws is not currently on our Albany agenda.
Council Members to Push for Imminent Change of State Eminent Domain Laws [City Hall]
Photo by Steve Soblick.
i tried to stay out of the fray, but couldn’t when i read Polemicist’s 2:27 post.
yes, the “Stop Eminent Domain Abuse sign is located on 750 Pacific Street, a Weinstein owned building leased to Boymlergreen”, but that does *not* mean that “the entire anti-AY propaganda machine is organized and funded by other developers, and NOT the people.”
i happen to be one of the anti-AY crowd, and i, as well as thousands of others, have donated time, money and services to the fight. i don’t know personally how involved (if at all) Weinstein and/or Boymelgreen are in organizing or funding this fight, but even if they are, it doesn’t mean that they are the ones calling the shots.
3:23
Anyone with half a brain can look up the property address and find the owner of the building. A quick google search will let you know which company keeps its headquarters there.
There is no need for anyone to take my word for it. Do the research yourself. All the evidence is easily accessible.
I would love to hear a lunatic’s reason as to how my post was a “knee jerk” response though. I’m in the mood for some cheap entertainment, so please – enlighten me.
What planet are you from, Polemicist? You wouldn’t know the people if they came up and slapped you in the face. If only you didn’t have such a knee jerk reaction to everything you might get taken seriously osmeday.
That Stop Eminent Domain Abuse sign is located on 750 Pacific Street, a Weinstein owned building leased to Boymlergreen. These people are pissed they didn’t get selected by the state for Atlantic Yards.
The entire anti-AY propaganda machine is organized and funded by other developers, and NOT the people.
upstate officials had better get involved because ED is happening upstate as well. This is a big election year and the questions that should be asked concern community control of development in their midst and ED. This is a national issue and bravo to Tish James for at least being a fighter. Street theatre has it’s audience and they vote!!
Letitia James is not all she’s cracked up to be. Ask her about her votes supporting eminent domain, like Hudson Yards in Manhattan. Sure she’s against AY, but once it’s out of her district, she’s not really fighting it.
🙂 1:20-
your new bud, 12:26
Not only do I have a life, 12:26, I also have a sense of humor. You want my serious take on the issue? Okay. As 9:43 and 10:00 point out, the Eminent Domain Procedure Law is a state law. When 9:43 states that the City Council has “zero” input, clearly they are using hyperbole (and capitalization). The Council does have influence, but only a little, on an issue that would need to obtain state-wide consensus by both parties in order to accomplish anything.
I don’t think 9:43 is incorrect when writing “political theater,” or when 10:00 writes “posturing.” I would feel more encouraged if a dozen state elected officials from all five boroughs were leading the charge, although I still cannot imagine upstate Republican senators getting on board.
And just for the record, I do think that the law absolutely needs to be revised. I also believe that the State Environmental Qualtity Review Act needs to be revisited. I just don’t think that the City Council is the right venue for accomplishing those qoals. Is that better, 12:26? Your pal, 12:19
to all: the point is not if you choose to sell- it’s whether or not a private developer should have the right to take your property for his personal, ego-project. It isn’t as if ratner had a meager sliver of land to start with- but his testosterone driven ego demanded a humongous, out sized project and the threat of seizure for small property owners, who I am sure you all realize have neither the means or the money to even fight him in ocurt. And he depended on that. If you like bullies, ratner’s your man. I wish he would just take the damn viagra and get it off with his wife, instead of telling Brooklyn ot bend over and take it.