Friday, May 18, 2012

WPU returns to CB7 to demand road repair


From the Times Ledger:

In the wake of a city decision to drop its eminent domain proceedings, property owners from Willets Point called on the city Department of Transportation to repair the streets of their neighborhood at Monday’s Community Board 7 meeting and had a unique guest speaker to help make their case.

Ralph Paterno, who owns property where the city wanted to build the first phase of a $3 billion redevelopment project for the area, took to the podium flanked by large posters of the pothole-strewn streets.

“The city will not be in the position to actually develop Willets Point anytime soon or perhaps ever,” he said. “So I and other Willets Point property owners are here tonight to publicly ask Community Board 7 to please help us put pressure on DOT to repair and maintain the Willets Point streets.”

The mayor’s office recently dropped the bid to condemn property in the 20-acre Phase 1 section of the plan, but without providing any details said the redevelopment project is still moving forward.

Sources with knowledge of a city-issued request for proposals said that Related Co. and Sterling Equities, run by the Wilpon family, were awarded a contract to build a 12-acre mall across from Citi Field.

But that was not on the minds of the property owners who spoke at the meeting, saying that while they paid taxes to the city, they were not getting the requisite services in return.

“Would you tolerate conditions in front of your house that looked like this?” Paterno asked before turning to CB 7 Chairman Gene Kelty. “Mr. Kelty, back in 2008 you actually chastised the people of Willets Point for not being vocal enough in demanding city services.”

A young man who came to the meeting then activated a CD player and Kelty’s voice from 2008 was immediately audible.

“I can tell you this — if someone was taking taxes from me and I wasn’t getting my services, I certainly wouldn’t be paying my taxes,” Kelty said on tape.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

CB7 can either allow such atrocious and dangerous street conditions to persist in its district, or it can take steps to persuade DOT to fulfill its responsibilities and serve the taxpayers. Soon we'll see if the board will do right by those it represents.

Anonymous said...

Kelty is looking like is a rum soaked, pot bellied blowhard
these days.

Maybe he was soused
at the time he made that statement and doesn't remember much
of what he said.

It's a good thing that this citizen had the foresight to preserve
his speech for posterity.

Then there is
"follow the buck" Chuck Apelian.

"He speak with forked tongue".

Gotten any good developers' printing contracts lately, Charles?

CB#7
needs is in great need
of some serious house cleaning!

Anonymous said...

LOL!

Dump Shulman
in one of the bigger pot holes,
then slather a thick layer of blacktop over her.

Later on,
a historic marker
can be placed upon that spot.

Kool Hand said...

Take all the shady politicians...
put 'em in a chain gang...
start those road repairs next week!

What we have here
is a failure to communicate
with the DOT.

Anonymous said...

“Would you tolerate conditions in front of your house that looked like this?” Paterno asked before turning to CB 7 Chairman Gene Kelty. “Mr. Kelty, back in 2008 you actually chastised the people of Willets Point for not being vocal enough in demanding city services.”

A young man who came to the meeting then activated a CD player and Kelty’s voice from 2008 was immediately audible.

“I can tell you this — if someone was taking taxes from me and I wasn’t getting my services, I certainly wouldn’t be paying my taxes,” Kelty said on tape.

-------------------------------------------------

That was great to read. Wish I could've been there!

Anonymous said...

But Kelty doesn't give a damn
about what happens in front of
anyone else's house.

Gene Kelty and Chuck Apelian
remain attached to CB#7 only to take care of their own personal turf.

Bounce both these sell-outs!