Friday, June 3, 2016

Private company getting public money to upgrade their property


From DNA Info:

The nearly $24 million contract for the controversial shelter at the former Pan Am hotel does not include the cost of renovations required to convert the space into a federally allowable family shelter, according to its contract.

City taxpayers will pick up that $2 million-plus tab.

The 216 rooms inside the shelter, which opened in June of 2014, all must have kitchens under federal guidelines — and will cost an estimated $2.2 million on top of the $23.8 million contract, which was issued in February after multiple denials, officials said.

The city plans to foot the bill for the additional kitchen renovation costs, as well as the costs of building an on-site day care center and a playground, according to the Department of Homeless Services.

The building is owned by Steven Berger, who bought it under the LLC 7900 Development Corporation, according to city records. He owns and operates multiple homeless shelters, including the LaGuardia Family Center and the East River Family Center, records show.


So why isn't he paying for this?

11 comments:

(sarc) said...

I am sure it is part of a "grant".

The entire "grant" system is another waste of our tax dollars...

Anonymous said...

How much did Burger "donate" to the Mayor's slush funds or was that covered by Samaritan Village donations?

Anonymous said...

Wow- this stinks to high heaven.

Anonymous said...

They need kitchens to have a place to eat their fast food.

Anonymous said...

We are already picking up the bill for them as it is. Who do they think they are fooling?

Anonymous said...

According to the book "Korean Cool", that is how Korea went from third world t superpower

Anonymous said...

YAWN! So what else is new?

Anonymous said...

They need to close down this shelter. $2M is just the beginning. They will keep coming back for more as they "discover" that putting in 216 kitchens requires more than $2M. As long as taxpayer keeps footing the bills they the landlord and Samaritan Village will keep knocking on the City's door.

Anonymous said...

Except that South Korea is not a superpower......

Anonymous said...

I wonder what this guy did for the Mayor that he gets given our tax money like that.

Anonymous said...

Hard working families that are struggling to make ends meet cannot afford day care because it is too expensive. Yet, we just give it to these lazy, for the most part, shelter inhabitants. Keep giving and they will keep taking. Send the adults out to clean the street; parks and greenways. Surely, the owner(s) of this and other similar shelters are raking in the big bucks. They need to give back. Let them pay for the kitchens.

Please someone expose their connect to the Mayor. Gotta be one.