Comments on: Meet Your Industrial Development Agency

By: Paul Newell

Paul Newell — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:46:52 +0000

Do you think the fact that the Yankees are Sheldon Silver's largest donor might have something to do with it?

http://www.elections.state.ny.us/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=efs_sch_report+p_filer_id=A06359+p_e_year=2006+p_freport_id=F+p_transaction_code=B

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:58:53 +0000

I have a feeling that the previous two streetsblog posts on this story helped get that vote postponed. I think they know that the public is watching. And I think they're realizing that the public WILL watch such deals these day, unlike in pre-blog years--when the fact that the deciding body was some obscure entity within another entity protected them from public scrutiny.

I'd love it if you were right, D. But the EDC has still gone ahead and subsidized an underground parking garage in Downtown Brooklyn, despite lots of attention. Of course, the attention was mostly focused on the destruction of some historic buildings, and whether they were really Underground Railroad safe houses. Maybe that distracted people from the fact that the city decided to shortchange itself to enable more automobile reliance.

By: Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:06:49 +0000

How about Thompson? He wants to be Mayor and is a pro-CP guy. He has a fundraiser in Brooklyn on Thursday evening if anyone is interested.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:38:29 +0000

Keep on top of them, all ye who care! I have a feeling that the previous two streetsblog posts on this story helped get that vote postponed. I think they know that the public is watching. And I think they're realizing that the public WILL watch such deals these day, unlike in pre-blog years--when the fact that the deciding body was some obscure entity within another entity protected them from public scrutiny.

There are a million reasons for the city NOT to shortchange itself to enable more automobile reliance, especially at a stadium that holds fewer people, has more transit links, etc., etc.. . . . See? There are so many reasons that I can't even keep a sentence on the subject short!

Great post, naming all the board members' names.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:22:23 +0000

Geez, the suspense is killing me. How do you think they're going to vote?! Do you think one of them might actually vote against giving away taxpayer funds to build a parking garage where a park once lay?