The PMFA blog, authored by Katia Kelly has just posted an exemplary, thorough, investigative/citizen journalism piece on the contentious Gowanus Re-zoning process in Brooklyn. LINK.
Oh that our neighborhood had 5 more of her!
She has done a massive work in this piece; it is very clear how much time and thought has gone into this. The article brings up numerous questions begging to be answered about the questionable activities of several 'key players' in the re-zoning process involved including the Councilman himself as well as the Fifth Avenue Committee/FAC.
Conflicts of interest are clearly suggested.
Writes Kelly:
"It is very clear from the FOIL documents received, that Lander was involved in many aspects of strategy and negotiation regarding the proposed rezoning. For years now, the Fifth Avenue Committee has enjoyed privileged, special access to the Council Members, their staff members, and the Department of City Planning. It is fair to say that FAC had an outsize role in planning a rezoning that: a) they would benefit from as private developers of the Public Place site, and b) they would have a hand in getting through because one of their leaders is on the City Planning Commission."
We at CORD completely agree with Katia Kelly that we need answers to these troubling questions BEFORE we embark upon an ill-advised massive Gowanus re-zoning process that has caused community outrage for the past several years. See: LINK and LINK and LINK
As Brooklyn residents we must PROTEST this process and DEMAND a MORATORIUM on this process. (See petition here). See: LINK
We need much more transparency over this process. We also need to determine who the beneficairies of this process really are.
CG CORD
Oh that our neighborhood had 5 more of her!
She has done a massive work in this piece; it is very clear how much time and thought has gone into this. The article brings up numerous questions begging to be answered about the questionable activities of several 'key players' in the re-zoning process involved including the Councilman himself as well as the Fifth Avenue Committee/FAC.
Conflicts of interest are clearly suggested.
Writes Kelly:
"It is very clear from the FOIL documents received, that Lander was involved in many aspects of strategy and negotiation regarding the proposed rezoning. For years now, the Fifth Avenue Committee has enjoyed privileged, special access to the Council Members, their staff members, and the Department of City Planning. It is fair to say that FAC had an outsize role in planning a rezoning that: a) they would benefit from as private developers of the Public Place site, and b) they would have a hand in getting through because one of their leaders is on the City Planning Commission."
We at CORD completely agree with Katia Kelly that we need answers to these troubling questions BEFORE we embark upon an ill-advised massive Gowanus re-zoning process that has caused community outrage for the past several years. See: LINK and LINK and LINK
As Brooklyn residents we must PROTEST this process and DEMAND a MORATORIUM on this process. (See petition here). See: LINK
We need much more transparency over this process. We also need to determine who the beneficairies of this process really are.
CG CORD
Who, me?
Councilman Brad Lander of the 39th Council District
3D model of a fully built-out Gowanus after rezoning
by New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) students
The above are taken from the PMFA Blog Post and are c.Katia Kelly 2020
