Comments on: A groundbreaking at Atlantic Yards

By: rhywun

rhywun — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:27:31 +0000

Nah, it’s over. Despite our tax dollars being generously funneled into Ratner’s pocket, there’s still some semblance of “private” enterprise in the mix. Said enterprise will generate higher taxes than the lesser functions which were present on the site before–which is the whole point of this thing. The unholy alliance between politicians and labor which runs this city has won again.

By: Scott E

Scott E — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:11:59 +0000

I'm still holding on to a shred of hope that the Nets will stay in New Jersey, and the Barclays Center doesn't get built. Hey, they first "broke ground" on the Second Avenue Subway in 1972, and look where it is today. It's possible.

By: rhywun

rhywun — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:32:10 +0000

the MTA has voluntarily allowed itself to get screwed over by Ratner

Well, sure, he screwed over the entire city and the MTA is part of that, so…. We have traded a few hundred million poured into Ratner’s pockets for a few thousand temporary construction jobs and a further weakening of what used to be known as “property rights”.

By: bob

bob — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:16:55 +0000

Was it really the MTA, or the politicians telling the MTA what to do?

By: Subutay Musluoglu

Subutay Musluoglu — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:15:09 +0000

Ratner was also let off the hook to upgrade the existing LIRR facilities which will be relocated/reconfigured to make way for the arena. You know who will have to pay now – the rest of us.

By: Nesta

Nesta — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:46:16 +0000

Real estate deals like this done by the MTA all to often is another of the many reasons they will never EARN the trust of the public.

By: Russell Warshay

Russell Warshay — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:57:10 +0000

“I can’t help thinking about how the MTA has voluntarily allowed itself to get screwed over by Ratner at a time when it most needs the money.”

As I see it, the MTA allowed itself to get screwed over before it really needed the money by not having an open bidding process. The deferred payments is just icing on the heavily discounted cake.