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Vito Lopez puts secret clause in bill to give Bruce Ratner tax exemptions
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Glad someone got around to posting this. Promoted to front page by mole333]
Everyone should read Juan Gonzalez's column today in the Daily News, in which he details Vito Lopez's attempt to sneak a massive tax abatement clause for Bruce Ratner into the new state property tax exemption bill. It is a sweetheart deal that will give Ratner, according to Juan, from $100 to $170 million in tax exemptions and allow him to charge hundreds of dollars more a month for the so-called "affordable" housing units he has to put into his new complexes. The article is reposted at DDDB's site (www.dddb.net)
This clause was so secret that Hakeem Jeffries, who represents that district up in Albany, didn't even know about it, and neither did the representatives for ACORN. They are backers of the Ratner project and *they* are upset over this.
The column also points out that Ratner has applied for $1.4 billion in state approved *tax-exempt* bonds to build his high rise condos.
DDDB is encouraging people to call or write Governor Spitzer urging him to veto this bill, to send it back to the legislature and force them to take out the Ratner clause.
Here is the link to the Juan
Here is the link to the Juan Gonzalez column on DDDB.net and how to contact the Governor:
http://dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=824
What bill?
What is the bill number?
In general, when calling an elected official about a particular bill, having the bill number is a tremendous help -- the staffer who answers the phone can use it to zoom in on exactly what you're talking about; otherwise, you may never get anything accomplished, because they don't know what you're talking about.
Here
421-a property tax exemption reform bill (A9293 Lopez V (MS)/ S 6384)
Found 'em -- now the good news (so far)
According to the Assembly website, A9293 passed the Assembly on Friday. (Friday? I thought they adjourned on Thursday!) But the Senate may not have acted -- S6384 is listed as being stuck in the Rules committee.
Meanwhile, a first read of the bill is ... dense. I think the tax break for Ratner is included in section six of the bill. But if you could get a specific read of exactly what language in the bill gives Ratner his break, and how it applies, that would be great.
Ugh
I hate to say "I told you so" to ACORN, and all the other people who supported AY sincerely because they thought it would actually bring some benefit to the community, but...I told you so.
I hope Jeffries jumps all over this.
PS - did you see the sick-making photo of Marty in last week's NY Observer?
Rumor has it
I have heard, but I honestly don't know if it is true, that many in ACORN have been increasingly uncomfortable with Ratner for quite some time.
I am not shy about saying "I told you so." But I did tell them so. Got some crap for it as well.