Posted on 03/14/2008 5:42:43 PM PDT by neverdem
If David Paterson as governor displays the opposition to eminent domain that he showed as a state senator, several high-profile development projects in New York City could be derailed or delayed, including a Columbia University expansion, the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, and the transformation of Willets Point in Queens.
As a state Senate leader, Mr. Paterson in 2005 held a rally with Council Member Letitia James and state Senator William Perkins on the steps of City Hall during which he called for a statewide moratorium on the use of eminent domain.
Mr. Paterson said a decision handed down by the Supreme Court in the Kelo v. City of New London case could lead to a "gold rush" of eminent domain use across the state, The New York Sun reported at the time. He said he would gather legislators and introduce legislation to impose a moratorium on its use.
"He stood with me and proposed some legislation and I am very hopeful that the lieutenant governor and soon-to-be governor will honor his commitment and will either issue a moratorium or review the abuse of eminent domain across New York City," Ms. James said yesterday in an interview.
Ms. James's district is in Brooklyn, and she opposes developer Bruce Ratner's $4 billion Atlantic Yards project near downtown Brooklyn, which would require use of eminent domain.
Mr. Paterson's opposition to eminent domain could also pit him against Mayor Bloomberg, who has defended its use. "You would never build any big thing any place in any big city in this country if you didn't have the power of eminent domain," Mr. Bloomberg once said.
A moratorium on eminent domain "would be shocking," a developer, who declined to speak for attribution before any official action was taken by Mr. Paterson, said...
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
Ah, yes, fancy that Mr. Scumbag Mayor - people actually owning property, and able to ensure that they continue to own it!
Mere peons having rights? What's the world coming to?!?
We’re trying to stop the NYRI from coming to Central New York with its 150 foot towers, 800 feet apart. I think they said they couldn’t use eminent domain here to take people’s property but I don’t trust them. It’s a real battle.
NYC Mayor Rallies Behind Bill Opposed by Gun Lobby (NJ's Menendez goes after the Tiahrt amendment)
U.S. Is Examining Spitzer’s Funds (did he use campaign funds for hooker expenses?)
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
This could change the debate over the new Peace Bridge Plaza plan in the City of Buffalo.
Call me a lib-er-al but if he stands against eminent domain abuse I applaud him. Dashing Columbia University’s expansion plans is an extra added bonus.
I can live with this.....
So how soon can we get Spitzer out of office?
Interesting—I live in Brooklyn right near the proposed Atlantic Yards—a development so big that it will effectively destroy the architectural integrity of downtown Brooklyn—Ratner wants to build an arena and a giant high end housing development in the middle of an already congested traffic hub—we already have the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Long Island University to contend with and the arena project would sit right in the middle of a six pointed intersection—brownstone Brooklyn is a section of NYC with late 19th/early 20th century four story townhouses—the impending buildings would be multiple high rises that totally block sunlight while also creating parking nightmares—if Patterson can block Ratner I’d sure be happy—I believe that he is also in favor of school vouchers—not a bad guy.
The ‘blind’ reference is a bit tacky since he has been legally blind from birth.
Ok then, take all the private property that you need as long as my power rates stay low. /s
www.democraticunderground.com
You are pathetic.
Brooklyn is already being ruined by pasty-faced suburbanites from Ohio and California who think that “Brooklyn is cool.” Ratner wants to suburbanize it even more. Anyone who is an enemy of Ratner is a friend of mine!
They're probably planning on building a mosque so their good pal Ahmadinajhad would have a place to wash his feet and pray when he comes to visit.
That's just value-added.
Thanks for the ping!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.