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.
ALL IN ALL, WE WILL BE LOSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. END OF STORY.
REGULAR FOLK WILL BE SLAMMED WITH A MASSIVE DEBT THANKS TO A HUGE GOV’T HANDOUT TO THE DEVELOPER.
CITY STREETS AND PROPERTY (WHICH ARE NOT CONTROLLED BY THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION) WILL BE HANDED OVER BASICALLY FOR FREE TO THE DEVELOPER.
REMEMBER: 40% OF THIS HUGE AREA IS RAILYARDS FROM THE MTA. THE OTHER 60% IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND CITY STREETS/SIDEWALKS.
ASIDE FROM THE MASSIVE HANDOUT, THE PROJECT IS ENTIRELY OUT OF SCALE AND NOT SUPPORTABLE BY EVEN INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.
ASIDE FROM THE CITY PROPERTY RATNER AND CO. IS GETTING FOR FREE, THEY’LL BE GETTING THE ONGOING USE OF THOROUGHFARES FOR AS LONG AS THE COMPANY AND ITS ASSIGNS CONTROL THIS AREA.
PLUS, BECAUSE OF ALL THE TAX BREAKS, THE CITY WILL NOT RECOUP COSTS OR IMPACT THE BUDGET. IT WILL PROBABLY BE A NET LOSS.
12:26 – You can’t take a condo with you either
everyone/everything might not be about money – but when you recognize that the “homes” facing ED seizure here are all NEW condos having only been occupied for only a few years prior – you have to admit that this is either about money or dedication to some “principal” but NOT about some poor old widower trying to maintain possession of the family homestead with sentimental or historical value.
If people care so much about their homes, then why are there only three owners remaining in the footprint? Dan Goldstein, the most visible one, can afford to be morally superior to the rest of the unwashed masses because he’s so rich (made a lot of $ with AOL and has a father who is a hedge fund manager). Believe me, if he’d been a cop or a schoolteacher with kids to raise, he’d have taken Ratner’s buyout long ago.
you bet- it’s certainly more intelligent than the STFU poster, but it would take brains for you to know that
12:31- Almost is the operative word, and sad that you’ve defined this country by money. I’d like to think we’re better than that
“Feel sorry for you- money doesn’t buy everything and you can’t take it with you.”
Brilliant! What revolutionary thinking! Can I quote you on that?
“It may shock you to learn not everyone is about money.”
Don’t kid yourself, pal. This is America. Almost EVERYONE is about money. It’s just a matter of how much money you’re talking.
very intelligent post, 12:19- I wonder if you apply that same attitude to all aspects of your life- if you even have one.
Not everyone cares about the money- if you don’t get that concept, you just don’t get it. Feel sorry for you- money doesn’t buy everything and you can’t take it with you. But hey- there is room for human being and the moneygrubbers.
9:43 got it right on the very first post. Nothing more to say except, who is STFU and why should the City Council name a street for them?