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Albany Priorities: Money for Private Developers, Not Enough Money for Schools
Albany has repeatly been ordered by our courts to give more money to NYC schools. Yet Pataki and the Republican dominated State Senate repeatedly short change our schools. Pataki refuses to give us the money the courts have ordered him to give. NYC education is not an Albany priority.
But what is? Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards Project. Ratner has been lobbying for Albany to give him $100 million for his Atlantic Yards project. This is a private developer asking for money from the government to build his dream project. Albany just eagerly gave him his first installment: $33 million dollars. That's our money, folks. While our schools suffer, our subways decline, our subway fares climb, and Pataki and the Republican dominated State Senate tell NYC schools to go to hell, they give our tax money to Bruce Ratner so he can build 17 skyscrapers and an arena in the heart of Brooklyn.
And his project, which has been beset with accusations of corruption and by community opposition, has yet to be approved.
This is insane! Even if Ratner eventually is allowed to build his project, why should our tax money go to help a private developer make money? Will he pay us back when he starts raking in profits?
Albany's priorities: private developers get money, NYC schools and subways don't. Kind of sucks, folks, doesn't it?
What about Shelly?
You excoriate Governor Pataki and the Republican-controlled State Senate, but don't forget (Democratic) Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Despite representing the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Silver pushed the $33 million allocation for Ratner into the budget.
I could understand Joe Bruno doing this, but Silver, who should be looking out for the interests of New York City schoolchildren? His constituents should vote him out, so he can work FULL-TIME for Ratner.
You are right, but...
There are two major differences. The Assembly (Silver's domain) at least supports increasing education funding. So their priorities are better than those of the State Senate and Governor, even if they are still flawed.
Secondly, at least Silver stood up to Ratner with the West Side Stadium. So I think you are wrong in suggesting that Silver wants to be a full time Ratner supporter the way Bloomberg, Pataki and Bruno are. He is, at worst, a part-time Ratner crony.
THAT is why I focus on Bruno and Pataki: because they are far worse than Silver.