George’s Column: What are they talking about, anyway?

Last month we received a press release from the Chairman of the Task Force that will decide the future of Red Hook (I say that because you’ve probably already seen the cover of this issue.) It was short and sweet, and it was emailed a week after the local protest against the BMT, in which this paper published a photo of a sign saying that Dan Goldman is a liar right on the cover. (note- Dan Goldman is the Chairman)

After the debacle of that protest, in which all the local politicians as well as the Borough President (all members of the Task Force) decried the sham process that the City Of New York, under the shady leadership of Eric Adams, is trying to get away with, the press release was an announcement that the rushed vote, already postponed once, is postponed again.

The wording is so rich that I have to share it:

STATEMENT FROM BROOKLYN MARINE TERMINAL TASK FORCE CHAIRS CONGRESSMAN DAN GOLDMAN, STATE SENATOR ANDREW GOUNARDES, AND COUNCILWOMAN ALEXA AVILÉS
“As Chairs of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force, we have consistently maintained that time constraints would not drive this vision planning process. In recognition of the need to gather more information, ensure that the community is properly engaged and well-informed, and the final proposal considers all possibilities for this long-neglected waterfront site, we are pleased to announce that the vision planning process has been extended until the middle of June.
“Working with NYCEDC — with more time, information, and public input — we are hopeful that we can address the concerns and feedback we have heard throughout this process. We remain dedicated to this once in a generation opportunity.”

As I came upon this part, I couldn’t stop laughing…. “we have consistently maintained that time constraints would not drive this vision planning process.”

Then, right below, he announces that that “vision planning process” would be decided sometime in June. The LOL part for me is that first he says that he will not be constrained by time, and right afterwards he announces a brand new time constraint.

If this were not a sham process, the press release would have said that “due to concerns from the local community as well as planning professionals, we have decided to leave the future of the Columbia Street and Red Hook waterfronts in the hands of professionals and study the best use of the land going forward, with immediate attention being made to repair the damage to the piers that the City and State caused by years of neglect.”

All we want or nothing you want
The EDC is basically giving the task force the false choice of voting for their plan which includes more than 8000 apartments, most of them luxury rentals or condos, building 30 or 40 story high-rise towers down the coast starting from Atlantic Avenue, all the way to Valentino Pier Park, or nothing. Nothing meaning abandoning the Red Hook Container Terminal and building parks for us locals.

In our last issue, we detailed just one alternate plan. We are hoping for at least two other plans that do not depend on rewarding real estate developers. Now that would be a choice.

Like everyone, I must add the proviso that I am not against affordable housing, which all such projects tout as the reason to build expensive luxury units (Jim Tampakis tells me that a two bedroom apartment on the water in Dumbo rents for upwards of $8,000 a month).

But I remain unconvinced that we are in a “crisis.” I am waiting for an unbiased news organization or study group to study exactly how much of New York’s housing are not primary residences. In other words, how much of our housing stock is used as investments or pied-a-terres for the world’s wealthy. Let me know that number and then I’ll have more information to see if indeed we are in a crisis.

There is one set of figures that leaves me wondering.

The above table  depicts the population of New York City over the past 130 years. From 1900 to 1930, population doubled. I’m guessing that there was a housing crisis then. In fact, a lot of people moved into Central Park right around the end of that period.

But since 1950, the population has only increased about 12 percent. I’m not going to do a study, but I’m guessing that there is a lot less vacant land than existed then. I’m guessing that there were still some farms in the city in 1950.

And yet the whole country is taking for granted that we are in the midst of a huge housing crisis.

Donald Trump likes to manufacture crises in order to push through his plans. Is this any different???