by Gary Tomei
July 19, 2009

For sheer chutzpah you can’t beat the politicians who support the proposed Rudin/St. Vincent mega project in the heart of our Historic District while lauding the dedication of “Jane Jacobs Way”. The Jane Jacobs that, “discovered Greenwich Village, where the low-rise buildings allowed people to see the sky” must be turning over in her grave at the hypocrisy of those elected officials who would allow this “land grab” by the developer, Rudin Management. Rudin’s luxury condos, along with St. Vincent’s humongous hospital tower, would cast a shadow across the Village and would not only lead to the demise of the Village, but also eviscerate the Landmarks Law. Moreover, the proposed condos would add approximately 400 new families to the neighborhood and thus would strain, to the breaking point, an already over burdened local school system: a problem our representatives choose not to address.

An alternative solution to St. Vincent’s problems could have been found had the political will and foresight been exercised; however, the truth is that the real estate developers have the politicians in their pockets. For example, Christine Quinn and BP Stringer, who support the constrution of the proposed edifices have gotten huge campaign contributions from the Rudin people. The politicos are selling our historic, cultural and architectural heritage, in other words, the soul of this great City, for political contributions by developers. It is happening, not only in the Village, but everywhere in the City.

Two examples of this type of quid pro quo involve development of the area around the Brooklyn Bridge and the redevelopment of Coney Island. Council persons, Christine Quinn and Melinda Katz, received at least $74,000 in donations through Two Trees Management, a real estate conglomerate, which also spent $400,00 lobbying the Council and City agencies in an effort to get approval to build a 17 story building steps from the Brooklyn Bridge, and towering 7 stories above it. Despite opposition by distinguished historian, David McCullogh, documentarian, Ken Burns, and 25,000 residents, Two Trees recently received the approval of the project by the City Council.

In Coney Island you have Councilman, Dominic Recchia receiving substantial contributions from his “friend” Joe Stitt and Thor Equities who are seeking zoning changes to “redevelop” Coney Island, with the aim of placeing high rises on the beach and displacing the sun from reaching the bathers. It seems Mr. Stitt also plans to limit the amusement area in Coney and raze the NYC landmark building that houses Nathan’s. All of these misguided plans have been supported by Mr. Recchia in the City Council and raise another question of conflict of interest or undue influence in the Council.

All in all, it is clear that a pattern has developed, and that is that our local politicians have become lackeys of the real estate establishment and don’t truly give a damn about the people of N.Y.C., nor the City’s history nor its future.