What a Difference Party Affiliation Makes
Strange things are afoot as City Hall and Albany squabble over how much money should be thrown at Bruce Ratner's feet.
First, Michael Bloomberg, Republican mayor of NYC, steamrolls a massive amount of NYC taxpayer money to help out Bruce Ratner, the good friend of fellow Republican Pataki. Bloomberg not only piled over $100 million in city money for infrastructure improvement, but also $100 million in city money to buy the land for Ratner. Which means Ratner had to pay nothing for the land. This, to me, was nothing but typical Republican crony capitalism at its worst. Some more reasonable minds, including David Yassky and Tish James, objected strenuously...to no avail.
Next, Assemblyman Vito Lopez shows that in Brooklyn, some Democrats are as sleazy as Republicans. As head of the corrupt Brooklyn machine Vito couldn't be outdone by mere Republicans when it came to piling money into the pockets of developers, so Vito steamrolled $300 million in state taxpayer money to pile at Ratner's feet. More reasonable minds, including Velmanette Montgomery and Hakeem Jeffries, are objecting strenuously.
All of this is to be expected. Republicans and the Brooklyn machine giving as much of our money as they can to developers. THAT'S New York. But here is where it gets strange.
Michael Bloomberg, now Independent mayor of NYC, is calling on Democratic Governor Spitzer to veto the legislation with Vito's giveaway to Ratner, threatening to withdraw the city money from the deal. This has Ratner's people whining about how unfair Bloomberg is being trying to limit their gravy train. This battle between the likes of Velmanette, Hakeem and Bloomberg on one side, and Ratner, Vito and their cronies on the other is heating up nicely.
But wait...how can Republican Bloomberg give away taxpayer money to Ratner then Independent Bloomberg complain about the state giving taxpayer money to Ratner? Wow! What a difference a change of party affiliation makes! Is Bloomberg abandoning crony capitalism along with the Republican Party? Boy THAT would be sweet!
This would be a good time for Spitzer to show us what he's worth. How about putting a stop to these giveaways to Ratner?
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Atlantic Yards | Crony Capitalism | Bruce Ratner | Michael Bloomberg | Vito Lopez
Umm
Submitted by mole333 on 25 July 2007 - 7:32am.
I don't think your personal vendetta should trump something that affects tens of thousands of people. Tish James is opposing Ratner's corrupt plan because it SHOULD be opposed. Why? Because it is ill-conceived, will hurt Brooklyn and was approved through a very corrupt and unfair system. There isn't even a goddamned business plan filed for the project, and yet hundreds of millions of taxpayer money is being funneled into its black hole and into Ratner's pockets.
Look. I live in Brooklyn too and we have had plenty of problems with leaks and flooding that took years and much agrivation to get fixed. But I don't think my personal problems are more important than a problem that represents the worst of cronyism and corruption and that will adversely affect tens of thousands of people.
TISH JAMES OBJECTING STRENOUSLY
Now if Tish James could only devote half the time to her building and her tenants at 296 Lafayette Avenue as she does to this un-winnable Atlantic Yards fight, I would appreciate her efforts in a far greater fashion.
Live under Tish's roof, yes the leaking one, and you'll see the type of devotion she puts forth. None...she fights not for the little people, nor does she afford her tenants even the slightest modicum of respect within their habitat. She fights for her ego. Tish, give it up already, move onto some type of change you can affect, such as providing safe and affordable housing within your own dwelling.