Markowitz "Bought and Paid For" by Atlantic Yards Developer, Critic Says

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, pictured here at last week's Atlantic Antic, is still drawing fire over the way he runs several non-profit groups that put on free Brooklyn events and promote tourism. Last month city comptroller Bill Thompson said he was "very concerned" about $680,496 in taxpayer-financed no-bid contracts Markowitz awarded to the non-profits, and the Brooklyn Paper saw a conflict in the estimated $260,000 that Atlantic Yards developer Forest City Ratner donated to fund Markowitz's Best of Brooklyn non-profit and his concert series.

Now the Post, in an exclusive, has learned that the amount of money poured into Markowitz's non-profits by developer Bruce Ratner and others involved in the embattled Atlantic Yards project is at least $680,000—much more than originally believed. Dick Dadey of the government watchdog group Citizens Union tells the Post that "affiliated nonprofits should not be used as pseudo campaign accounts. One could argue that these nonprofits raise the profile of the borough president in a way that certainly aids his possible campaigns."

Markowitz is a longtime supporter of the Atlantic Yards project and bringing the Nets to Brooklyn, and he'll either run for mayor next year or seek a third term if the term limits are lifted. He doesn't see a conflict of interest and insists he's "absolutely proud of everything no matter what The Post wants to imply." But Daniel Goldstein of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn tells the Post Markowitz is "clearly bought and paid for" by Ratner and his partners for Atlantic Yards:"This allows Ratner to support Markowitz's political interests outside of campaign finance rules. In return, Markowitz unconditionally supports Atlantic Yards."

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By John Del Signore in News on October 10, 2008 3:11 PM

Comments [rss]

Jane121

Hi

This is very funny picture & the comments are also very nice. Nice Blog.

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Jane

Link Building

SteveFtGreene

Actually, the FAR for most of Atlantic Yards is more like 12. I don't know how Polemecist came up with the average FAR of 7, perhaps the proposed arena and open spaces helped bring the average down. Also, building B1 of the project (formerly "Miss Brooklyn") does, in fact, have a larger footprint than the Williamsburg Bank building and would be more dense.

A more complete discussion of the FAR issue may be found here: http://timesratnerreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/too-tall-and-too-dense-atlantic-yards.html

I could go on criticizing Plemicist's vague post (congestion in that area is mild? Puh-leeze!), but suffice it to say that he, like many proponents of the project, mislead in order to make the project seem palatable.

Public subsidies that would be needed to build this project are ill-advised, particularly, at this time, and especially when the public has never been allowed to have any oversight of the project itself.

Simply saying that, because a project is large, it must be good is wishful thinking.

A good example of the illusory nature of the supposed Atlantic Yards benefits can be found here: http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2006/03/6-billion-lie-why-ratners-fiscal-claim.html

firewire

If someone slapped her on the back while she made that face, she would be stuck in that expression forever.

Polemicist

One can't buy a public official who has no executive, judicial, or legislative power.

EmilyDickinson:

The Atlantic Yards development has an average floor area ratio of 7.0, less than most of Manhattan and similar to pretty much the entirety of the Upper East Side. It is also much less than certain clusters of multi-family high rises like what is found in Brooklyn Heights or even Grand army Plaza. It is much less than say the area around Grand Central Station or Times Square. Not a single building will be anywhere close to the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Building in terms of density (It has a FAR of over 25).

The congestion, compared to other parts of the city, is actually fairly mild. As someone who lives half a mile away from the site and who bikes to work almost every day, I am thrilled we are finally going to get a lot of new development in an area that has barely seen a thing since the Great Depression.

Now, more than ever, we need more new housing in this city. If NYC is to recover, we must broaden the tax base and lower rents through increasing supply - it is the only way we can remain competitive.

If you are are all concerned with ensuring we have a thriving economy and can continue to care for the millions of people on public assistance in this town, it is your interest to support this project.

NannyState

Maybe Frank Gehry can design a "World Class, cutting edge" duncecap for this stooge.

Barbj8

If she hates cake, why is she trying to swipe the icing with her pinkie finger?

emilydickinson

I'm not against development in any sane way, but The Atlantic Yards project is many, many times too big for that slice of land. That is one of the most congested areas anywhere in the city - it's torture trying to walk, bike, drive or bus anywhere near that area.

How does it make sense to shoehorn in even more people?

Toby von Meistersinger

Markowitz was severely traumatized by the Dodgers leaving and has never fully recovered. Ratner, who should go back to Cleveland, took advantage of this with his development scheme cloaked in a professional sports team.

JRod5417

Looks like she got caught making faces at him on camera. She is my hero...for today.

Polite New Yorker

You would have to be either certifiably insane or on the take to support the Atlantic Yards project. Both Ratner and Markowitz are an embarrassment to the city.