The "New" ESDC- Business As Usual

So much for Sptizer's reforms. Looks like business as usual at the ESDC: From A Crains Article:(subscription required):
Mr. Foye said lawsuits to stop Forest City Ratner's $4 billion Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn won't "pose a significant obstacle." He acknowledged that eminent domain would be needed but added that, in general, such condemnations should be used more cautiously than the law allows. "Taking someone's property without their consent is a serious matter and should be a last resort," he said, especially when it's done for private rather than government use.

He warned Cablevision not to undermine plans to move Madison Square Garden to the new Moynihan Station — part of an ambitious redevelopment — by demanding that a tax break for the arena be preserved. "One would hope that neither the city nor the state will be held hostage by a private actor's demands," he said, without naming Cablevision.

From Atlantic Yards Report:

Foye said the state should be judicious in terms of subsidies:
So this, at least in part, is a meeting with a group of shareholders. And one thing we know is that our shareholders don’t want us to give money to companies that don’t create jobs, or to corporations that don’t really need our help.

Early in his prepared remarks, Foye announced a broad focus for the ESDC:
We’ve also come to the conclusion that economic development is more than major deals with giant corporations. It involves community redevelopment, stronger ties with the philanthropic and not-for-profit communities, strengthening our ties abroad to open up new markets, incorporating sustainability and energy conservation.

Later, in the Q&A period, Foye observed that most ESDC deals are relatively small. “It’s as much by hitting singles,” he said, “that we’re going to help revitalize the state’s economy.” (Atlantic Yards, of course, would be no single; whether it would be a home run for both developer Forest City Ratner and the state remains a question.)

As if channeling Spitzer’s “Day One, Everything Changes” mantra of reform, Foye pledged accountability:
From this perch, we view ourselves as fiscal stewards at a critical turning point in the city and the state’s history. We must take proactive steps to generate economic activity and build the infrastructure to support that activity. We see you as shareholders who should get the best financial and social return on their investment. This theme of a contract with taxpayers runs through everything we do, from our business incentive programs to our development projects.

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All this is empty rhetoric when it comes to Atlantic Yards. Foye, in defending against the suits rather than addressing the concerns of the neighborhoods surrounding this project has indicated he just as callous and arrogant as Gargano. The suits give a perfect opportunity to pause and reassess the project but Foye will not.

It a perfect time to seriously assess the impact of this project and the gross violation of a litany of environmental, urban planning and community principles. Ratner has a proven track record on one thing (besides broken promises) : poor designs that negatively impact surrounding communities. Yet Foye has not taking the time even visit the site -let alone seriously look at the project.

If the ESDC needs reform as they (rightfully claim) why are they letting the biggest mistake from the Papaki administration go through on their watch when they have the power to stop it? The answer is probably back room dealing which means that Spitzer's 'everything changes' just means a power shift from one corrupt entity to another.

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As for his 'trickle down' economics, newsflash: business are leaving new york because of the high tax burden. When you give tax breaks and subsidies to certain companies at the expense of others, the others will leave if they can.