Saturday, May 23, 2009

A case where lobbyists were very helpful

From The Politicker:

If there was a race to get large development projects started in the city’s lengthy land-use review process, Stephen Ross and his Related Companies would be the clear winners.

On Monday, May 18, the Department of City Planning launched a long list of projects and initiatives into the seven-month-plus public approval process, two of them—the West Side rail yards and the Bronx’s Kingsbridge Armory—belonging to Related. And based on the maximum length of that process—a length of time that many, but not all, projects take—this was the final round of proposed developments that will be guaranteed a vote before the current City Council.

In the wake of November’s elections, the Council’s membership will change somewhat, starting Jan. 1—and perhaps the mayor will, too—adding uncertainty for developers in what can be a highly political process. The land-use review process is a formalized forum for debate over development projects, at the end of which the Council gives its binding vote.

1 comment:

Suzannah B. Troy artist said...

There are many reasons I will not vote for Mike Bloomberg but number 1 was his reckless, dangerous tsunami of community crushing development that was way too rapid and dishonest to slow down be transparent, responsible and put the people of New York's safety first.

DOB was one of many City Agencies plus Con Ed that could not keep up and people died and were injuried.

DOB finally starting handing out fines but the city had not collected and let greedy developers and contractors and landlords continueon as usual while if the average NYer did this they would be in jail!

Below a link to my video that relates to this topic. There is a link now to an article that says a council member is pushing a bill to force developers & contractors to pay up or else. I don't understand why we need a bill when in fact isn't it the law. If you don't pay up your fines and you are not rich and connected you go to jail rather continue on with developments all over the city? This was all way too corrupt and done at a lightening pace for that exact reason. I keep thinking of the pension scandal and again where is the accountability? Is the average citizen pulled this crap they would be in jail already?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_hyU_cgRWQ

Thank you,
Suzannah B. Troy