Pols to Guv: No Stimulus Funds for Ratner

Assembly Members James Brennan, Hakeem Jeffries, and Joan Millman, Council Members Letitia James and David Yassky, and 52nd District Leader Jo Anne Simon sent a letter this week to Governor Paterson in recent days urging him to make sure that Federal stimulus funds that the State receives do not go to bailing out Forest City Ratner’s Atlantic Yards Project. We’ve included the entire letter on the jump.

March 3, 2009

Honorable David A. Paterson
Governor of the State of New York
The Executive Chamber, State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Paterson:

We are writing regarding reports that Forest City Ratner is requesting funds from the Federal stimulus package for the Atlantic Yards Project. We request that any application or other submitted documents to the Governor’s office related to the stimulus package be immediately disclosed to the public and the elected officials signing this letter.

In addition, there should be a public hearing and opportunity for public comment on any application for funds. We also request a meeting with responsible state officials prior to any decision on the use of stimulus funds for Atlantic Yards. It is our understanding that neither the M.T.A. nor the Empire State Development Corporation has submitted the Atlantic Yards project to your office as part of any list of projects for the use of Federal stimulus funds. This indicates that Atlantic Yards is not considered a priority by these agencies at this time.

It is regrettable that the State of New York, in cooperation with the developer, chose to override New York City’s zoning and land use laws for the Atlantic Yards project, depriving local community boards, the Brooklyn borough board, and the New York City Council, of what would have been their legal right to vote on the Atlantic Yards project. As a result, the project has never been vetted through the traditional democratic land use processes available to the community and the people of the City of New York.

Many events have occurred which have created uncertainty and risk regarding the 8 million square foot development approved by the State in December 2006. The original economic and financial assumptions upon which the approval was based have dramatically changed. At a meeting with elected officials in December, Forest City Ratner stated that it hopes to be able to finance the arena

this summer, notwithstanding the economic climate, if current litigation against the project is unsuccessful. If it is unable to finance the arena, it has not yet committed to proceeding with a residential development. This is hardly a basis for the State to commit additional funds without a full public discussion process.

We hope your office will be quickly forthcoming with the requests we have made. Thank you.

Sincerely,

NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery, 18th S.D.

Assemblymember James F. Brennan, 44th A.D.

Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries, 57th A.D.

Assemblymember Joan Millman, 52nd A.D.

Council Member Letitia James 35th C.D.

Council Member David Yassky 33rd C.D.

District Leader 52nd A.D. Jo Anne Simon

cc: New York State Congressional Delegations

NYC Assembly and Senate Delegations

Timothy Gilchrist, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure

Jeff Pearlman, Assistant Counsel, FOIL Officer, Governor’s Office

Lee Sander, Executive Director, MTA