Wednesday, September 24, 2008

CPC votes "yes" on Willets Point plan

So the City Planning Commission voted in favor of the Willets Point plan today. Not surprising, since this is who they are:

The City Planning Commission, established by the 1936 City Charter, began operating in 1938 with seven members appointed by the Mayor. The 1989 Charter expanded the Commission to thirteen members. The Mayor appoints the Chair who is also the Director of City Planning. The Mayor also appoints six other members, each Borough President appoints one member, and the Public Advocate appoints one member. The Chair serves at the Mayor's pleasure while the other 12 commissioners each serve for staggered terms of 5 years.

The mayor's pleasure? Sounds almost pornographic.

Here's Councilman Hiram Monserrate's statement:

"Today's decision by the City Planning Commission is not a vote, but a rubber stamp. With a majority of the Commissioners serving at the request of the Mayor, their decision to pass this plan without addressing the many noted flaws is not surprising. However, there was one notable exception to this rule. I would like to acknowledge Commissioner Karen A. Phillips for her willingness to cast her vote against a project and a process that sets a dangerous precedent for the city as a whole.

The current Willets Point plan sets a precedent for community planning by decree, rather than discussion. The City Planning Commission's vote is further proof that the Administration is more interested in steamrolling this process rather than accepting the community's many pleas for collaboration.

Today's decision begins the countdown towards the final vote in the City Council. With a majority of Council Members already expressing their dire concerns about this project, including the Council's Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, I look forward to finally having an open discussion and solution on the issues that the Administration has so far not resolved – guaranteed affordable housing, fair-market compensation and relocation plans, traffic mitigation plans and a commitment to take eminent domain off the table."

And here's WPIRA's response:

"At a time when the mayor is ordering painful budget cuts and raising property taxes on struggling homeowners, the City Planning Commission rubber stamps the administration's misguided plan for Willets Point without even so much as questioning this $1 billion plus waste of taxpayers’ money.

Unfortunately, that is hardly a surprise. Throughout this rush to judgment, the administration has refused to answer the tough questions and ignored the concerns of the property owners whose land the City seems bent on seizing through eminent domain.

We applaud Public Advocate Gotbaum for once again raising the questions that the City has refused to answer. She knows a bad deal when she sees one, and has the independence to say it to a mayor used to getting his way.

We have confidence the City Council will continue to stand up to the Mayor as he pressures them to approve his flailing plan.

Willets Point needs help but we don't need a multi-billion dollar boondoggle that will never get done. It’s long past time for the Mayor to work with the property owners to develop a meaning and affordable plan to revitalize Willets Point.

We stand ready to work with the Council on a plan that makes sense for the local community, protects and creates jobs, and doesn't require massive taxpayer subsidies for wealthy private developers."

And Mayor Bloomberg said the plan must move forward.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

discussion is precisely what is happening. Hiram doesn't even show up to the CPC meeting to discuss. What a blow hard

And his praise an board member who was appointed by an opponent is laughable


This plan will sail through council and Hiram will be talking rubber stamp again

What a fool

Anonymous said...

Karen Phillips serves at the pleasure if betsy gotbaum

Where is the comment about that ???

Lesbo porno is much more appealing

Anonymous said...

Hiram just likes to clip hid own headlines

I'm November he will announce a broad coalition for development and how he was the guiding light fir this plan

He might no even be in office for the vote if he wins the vacant state seat

fuckgoogle said...

You can think Hiram is full of it, but that doesn't change the fact this Willets Point "development" plan is just a disgusting billion dollar boondoggle/land grab. Why does the city have to pay out so rich developers can tweed the Iron Triangle?

Anonymous said...

Judging by that long list of city council members who've already received $$$$$$ from Bloomberg,
we can now expect "our" mayor to further sweeten their pots so he can buy off these "illustrious" lawmakers.

The city council will ultimately throw the match and submit to Reich's Chancellor Mike's iron will!

So once again, another community will been bought and sold by their so called representatives!

Anonymous said...

Your own fault. Should have went for the jugular and made this so toxic a hack would not venture in the same room.

A few bilboards would have done the trick.

Oh well, time for all of us to move on.

Anonymous said...

From the Daily News:

Junk the junkyards

The city Planning Commission vote Wednesday to rezone a forlorn corner of Queens will help create housing and jobs for a city in desperate need of both. The City Council, which votes next, has no excuse for not also approving the plan.

The area in question is Willets Point, a 62-acre collection of junkyards and auto chop shops amid permanently flooded streets and toxic contaminants. It's hemmed in by the Whitestone and Van Wyck expressways and the Shea Stadium parking lot. And no one lives there.

The redevelopment, approved 11 to 1, envisions 5,000 units of housing and thousands of jobs, with new retail and office construction, along with parks and a school. What's there to oppose?

Ask a City Council claque, led by local member Hiram Monserrate. In a move close to extortion, Monserrate is threatening to block the project unless businesses and landlords get paid enough, in his opinion, to move.

This is not a philosophical disagreement over eminent domain. Monserrate is okay with eminent domain - as long as he is the one deciding that the price is sufficiently high.

On a more acceptable level, Monserrate and his allies believe that more than 20% of the housing should be reserved as affordable. That's a fair negotiating point, and Council members can haggle over it with the Bloomberg administration for the next 60 days.

But when it's time to vote on Willets Point redevelopment, the answer must be yes.

Anonymous said...

This is coming from the same editorial board that wants Bloomberg to have a third term against the will of the people. This editorial is not to be taken seriously.

Anonymous said...

Glad someone is calling out Hiram for his politicalization of this project.

Anonymous said...

Where is the city wide preservation community?

Out collecting rents on their illegal buildings in the outerBs?

No outrage there!

Anonymous said...

I am a reporter working on an investigative story about Claire Shulman and her role with Willets Point redevelopment plan. I am seeking sources to talk on and off the record about her questionable ethics in this and other projects. Please email me at NYCWriter22@yahoo.com if you can assist.

Anonymous said...

funny seems like the edc & parkside has hired more $$$ grabbers to slant the truth. as bad as the economy is they still find a way to screw the taxpayers & landowners , another golden parachute for a politicaly connected friend thats all this is !!! how many deals is that they made? 4 with 1 bad one where they tried to screw the poor guy by making him clean up their pulluted land . ok what a bunch of blow hards

Anonymous said...

WILLETS POINT IS ALL ABOUT MONEY AND WHO COULD MAKE THE MOST BUT WILLETS POINT WILL NEVER GET PASSED BECAUSE 1) YOU JUST CANT TAKE LAND IF IT DOESNT BELONG TO YOU 2) THE CITY HAS NO MONEY 3) THE BUILDERS CANT GET A DIME WILLETS POINT WILL STAY YOULL SEE

Anonymous said...

Karen Phillips IS THE BEST SHE KNOWS HER SHIT

Anonymous said...

Hiram KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOUR THE BEST THING THAT HAPPEND TO WILLETS POINT IN 40 YEARS KEEP GOING AFTER THOSE ASS HOLES

Anonymous said...

hiram is standing up for whats right and he will not waver trust me.. please go scew someone in your family by stealing your familys land and lets see how much your for eminent domain then . its all ok untill it happens to you!

Anonymous said...

This plan will sail through council and Hiram will be talking rubber stamp again
NO WAY WILL HIRAM RUBBER STAMP THIS NO WAY HELL STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE TILL THE END HIRAM SHOULD RUBBER STAMP YOUR ASS

Anonymous said...

the edc is so full of shit they have 4 or 5 deals wow they can never make deals with all the land owners because there to dumb and slow and dont have any $$$$$$ leave the people alone. go find some thing elce to do .

Anonymous said...

Queens Rapis

i think this is bloomburg hes raping the people of willets point