The city is handing over an additional $31 million to assist Bruce Ratner in buying land for his Atlantic Yards project, according to the New York Daily News. The additional funding was granted in an updated funding agreement signed in October, on top of the $100 million that the city already gave the developer. The $31 million, however, won't come from taxpayers, but will be taken from a separate fund that was originally allocated for infrastructure in the neighborhood surrounding Atlantic Yards. Even so, City Council member Letitia James has called foul, claiming that the city's allocation of funds is fancy accounting footwork. "It's a government Ponzi scheme," James said. "I'm offended because they're using public funds to seize homes and businesses."
The Real Deal reserves the right to delete any comment it finds to be rude, obscene, racist, sexist, bigoted, irrelevant or repetitive, as well as inappropriate comments about anyone's personal appearance or advertisements. The Real Deal does not endorse any comments posted on its Web site nor does it verify the veracity of comments or the identity of posters.
Comments
Anonymous
Letitia James has a history of being a radical with very many prejudicial issues. Please dont pass this off as news. Good for the Atlantic yards and good for the city of New York. Its about time people realize that people are stasrting to see the light. This type of politiacal hype is what is causing President Obama has own woes. please Ms. Tichia james, wake up, Your time is over.
Comment #1 Posted By: Anonymous 01/27/10
Anonymous
I agree. Shes not being realistic about whats to happen in that whole area. Letitia James has good intentions, but she should take those intentions elsehwhere and stop wasting her time trying to be a big shot on the Barclays Center, because deep down this project is happening, will get built, and won't be stopped by a bunch of NIMBY's and politicians like Letita james. Letita we hear your voice on this issue, but we don't want to hear it anymore.
Comment #2 Posted By: Anonymous 01/27/10
Anonymous
Hilarious. Obviously anyone who says that Ratner doesn't deserve to put his hands in my pocket and take all the money he wants is a communist.
Comment #3 Posted By: Anonymous 01/27/10
Anonymous
Why the hell should the city be footing the bill for Ratner's acquisitions? And how could objecting to that be remotely construed as "radical" or "prejudicial"?
Comment #4 Posted By: Anonymous 01/27/10
Anonymous
The city is not footing the bill for anything. If you think twice about this the city will obviously have some pull in this project, and the city wouldn't be giving this project any money if it didn't want it to happen. I can name a hundred ways the city has spent my tax dollars I haven't necessarily agreed with, but I do know the Barclays Center is one spot I won't complain about some tax dollars going to. Its better than Obama giving millions of dollars to new road signs that say "Thank You".
Comment #5 Posted By: Anonymous 01/27/10
Anonymous
Not to mention those tax dollars will be well spent to create thousands of jobs and further develop Brooklyn into being an attractive destination for people to visit, live, and work more so than it has already been developed in the area.
Comment #6 Posted By: Anonymous 01/27/10
Anonymous
This ill-conceived project is going to wreak havoc on Brownstone Brooklyn. No thought or planning has been devoted to traffic issues. All of Brooklyn will be in an uproar the day the first basketball game is played- there will be lots of hand wringing- it will halt traffic in most of the borough- everyone will be asking "why wasn't there any planning?" there will be only silence from the City.
Comment #7 Posted By: Anonymous 01/28/10
Anonymous
#4..to know leticia James is to know she is harboring much radical and prejudicial issues. Please don't question or "spin" this to sound like she is just an innocent goody two shoes. 99.9 percent of all her issues are one sided and with the exception of some white goof balls most people of all denominations have made that observation over may times already. if you have not that is entirely your business. #7 "Ill conceived" we see..the current footprint is well conceived so that means that your right. It's such an attractive area right now and traffic is so pleasant at the moment.
Comment #8 Posted By: Anonymous 01/28/10
Anonymous
what traffic! there is a central transportation hub across the street use the subway and you won't have to worry about traffic
Comment #9 Posted By: Anonymous 01/28/10
Anonymous
This may be the first AY relating posting where the majority of the comments are not calling for Ratner to be hauled off to jail. Has Bruce finally gotten through to the people?!?!?!
Comment #10 Posted By: Anonymous 01/29/10
Anonymous
I don't care either way about James. However 130 million to a private project must raise some eyebrows. Especially since PRIVATE property is being taken for the PRIVATE endeavor. I don't like the project personally but I'm for business making money legally. I am curious to know how many people in FAVOR of the project are having their home or property taken by eminent domain.
Comment #11 Posted By: Anonymous 02/01/10