The Times They Are a Changin' By Hezi Aris

 The Yonkers City Council Real Estate Committee Meeting came to order before a an interested crowd of citizens, lawyers representing one concern or another, various City Hall officials and the entire City Councilmembership, but for Councilman John Murtagh who was introducing Jim Castro-Blanco at his first fundraiser at Dunwoodie Golf Course. There was a sense of foreboding about the evening. One could not fathom how it would play out. The issues before them were of great importance. The Real Estate Committee was to discuss the Land Disposition Agreement with respect to the SFC Yonkers Inc. Project that it was learned the week prior was diminished by 2/3 rds from its original buildout. On top of that, the request by Fidelco and Cappelli, respectively and as partners, to be authorized to receive a $4.2 million 108 HUD loan.

 

The proceedings opened as they usually do. Yonkers City President Chuck Lesnick cajoling the councilmembers to move the equation forward, the councilmembers exhausted at the pace of issues that come before them. Yet Thursday night proved different than other nights. I can’t remember who came out of the gate first with a staccato like barrage of questions that would begin to pierce the veracity of the answers given. It hardly matters who asked the first question. It was respectfully asked, as if metered and balanced by some orchestrated formula.

The first questions would be asked. The answers were not forthcoming. Another question would be asked; the response was not complete. Opportunity and respect was immediately discerned in the manner by which each councilmember calmly permitted his/her colleague to pick up where the first had left off. The baton was successfully passed to the next. Another inquiry would be expressed. The retort was short and not on target. Not discouraged, seemingly satisfied, the next councilmember was given an opportunity to make inquiry of Dan Marsh and/or Sean Griffin.

Dan Marsh, who it was said conducted some or most of the negotiations that took place with the SFC Yonkers Inc consortium of developers was calm in tone, respectful, and confident. Sean Griffin, the bond counsel, was arrogant, condescending, threatening, and inclined to respond obliquely.

The quiet, methodic questioning continued. As it did, a subtle sense of losing one’s sane composure clouded ones mind. Jaws were seen to drop, eyes became droopy and glazed, jowls sagged; we were in unchartered territory. The tables had been turned and none may have been wise to it.

Some of the councilmembers thought they might have been too shrill; in reality they were stern. Some would ask exacting questions, only to retreat; garnering more strength, they would return invigorated and demanding straight-forward responses.

The Yonkers City Council membership had become one, shocked by being promised one thing, that is a $1.6 billion project, and now learning that is was diminished to $300,000,000; $200,000,000 was taxpayer subsidy for what was once called the TIF. The name had been changed to something else. It didn’t matter. The point was that the TIF financing could not work unless revaluation or assessment was completed. The Yonkers Tribune wrote that over a year and a half ago. Lamont Blackstone evidently did not read the memo. Well, perhaps he did, but his response, were it on the mark, was hidden from the public. Why?

There were many whys that went unanswered. Still, Peter Klein mustered the courage to challenge the city councilmembership. As his complexion turned waxen and yellow, his hand shaking, he admonished the city councilmembers that if the $4.2 million 108 HUD loan was not approved, SFC Yonkers Inc would depart.

That did not sit well with the august body. They shot back wondering why the developers needed to borrow a paltry $4.2 million from Yonkers to pay back Yonkers what it was owed. Writing that questioned Mr Cappelli’s credit worthiness and viability was questioned days before in the Yonkers Tribune. Mr. Klein backed off.

When Mr Klein was asked for a delineated list of what the $4.2 million loan would be used for, he divulged that he had sent a copy to that end to  Yonkers City Council Democratic Counsel Christian DiPalermo. None of the councilmembers acknowledged having seen that information.

The questions seem unimportant now. What transpired that Thursday night was the emergence of an empowered City Council, no longer cowering under threat of alleged lawsuits, suggested wrong doing, suggestions of an inability to grasp complex issues, or of comprehending the complexity before them. They had each individually and collectively kept abreast of all the issues. Smoke no longer created a nebulous atmosphere for them. The mirrors that glittered were broken that night.

The Yonkers City Council can be proud of their conduct because they demanded respect; they demanded follow through by the developer, city officials, and other minions, and they intend to get it all.

They each made Yonkers proud. They each grew taller in stature before all who witnessed their fervor and concern for Yonkers and its citizens. They did the best they could; no one could have accomplished more. No one could have gone the distance they covered that one night.

In the meanwhile, Mr Klein hasn’t caught on, but he will. The lone character still carrying someone else’s water remained Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick. No longer seduced to get along to get along were Yonkers City Council Majority Leader Sandy Annabi, Minority Leader Liam McLaughlin, Councilmembers Dee Barbato, Patricia McDow, and Joan Gronowski. They each, in their own way, changed the demeanor of government for the good of the people.

Brava; bravo.

Comments

[fed up taxpayer]

Now lets see if they have the balls to stand up to the mayor over his budget proposal and tax increase and the issue of the cars.

[Tortured Taxpayer]

The Council is now one?!?!

You mean one that is collectively talking Yonkers into its economic demise?

The Council demonstrated that they are skilled at delay and don't care about the taxpayers of Yonkers.

They have had the SFC project in front of them for years. The LDA is nothing but a written account of what they have reviewed in the MDDA, SEQRA process, and through meetings upon meetings. They have had their advisers negotiate it and now it their chance to close the deal.

They continue to talk and debate and do nothing about moving the project forward.

If Hezi now cheers the single voice used by the Council, he is cheering for the swift bankrupting of the City of Yonkers.

Let them vote. Let them stand up and put their name on the record with a vote against the project.

No more talking. Just vote it.

And even if the vote is against the project, we the taxpayers will then know who killed the City's commercial taxbase.

Bravo to that.

[Tortured Taxpayer]

Let's see the Council vote on the project.

Enough talking.

Vote it.

Let them stand up and put their names on the record as being against the revitalization of the downtown.

Kill it - or pass it.

But end the suspense.

They are asking the same questions for years. First it was too big and now they are complaining it is too small. Gronowski cites the closed businesses (Patty J's, Pier View, Belle Havana) -- all of whom came before the Council and begged them to move the project forward and move it quickly. Annabi wants the City to loan money to failing businesses - so Yonkers has to pay back the feds when these businesses take the "loans" and can't repay them. Liam was in favor before but NOW (as he runs against Chuck and runs against the Mayor's choice for CCP) he changes his mind.

Just vote it.

Stop talking and vote.

[when?]

Laim for council Prez!

[Anonymous]

Bravo 'Tortured Taxpayer.' Now the City Council are heroes? They've sat back and waited until the country was in dire economic straits, with frozen credit markets, to start asking questions about why development projects all over the country are being downsized? As if they don't read the papers?

Wake up City Council, and do your job for the taxpayers of Yonkers. Get something started, like increased taxes and union jobs, instead of killing everything, which is what every City Council has done to Yonkers for decades. I'm tired of my taxes going up because the City Council can't make timely decisions in OUR interest.

[Anon E. Mous]

Hezi changes more than the weather. He'll probably have another interpretation next week. But here is a reality that won't change -- The day this Council will be noble and coherent is the day Zehy Jereis morphs into a respectable citizen. In other words, it ain't gonna happen.

Other posters nailed it. More stalling, more delays. More yapping and more ignorance on the part of the City Council.

World War II was fought in about the same amount of time it has taken this Council to move on the SFC project.

[YONKERS]

no surprise with that jerk mutagh
putting politics before important
city business..

[anonymous]

it wouldn't matter if murtagh was there. He hasn't asked one question during all of the real estate meetings dealing with this project anyway.

[hutch23]

It's "go along to get along"

[SFC - SCAMMED/FLIM-FLAMMED/CONNED]

To most of the above who insist the council is at fault. How do you explain away the fact that those developers at the real estate meeting in question now say they were never responsible for funding the ball park -- that it was only to be done through public subsidy - in direct opposition to what they had been promising for the past three years? That is acceptable to you? It speaks volumes of their ethics and/or business sense. A promised $45M project now becomes the taxpayers' responsibility or they won't do what they promised, which was a hallmark of their project for many people. Further, this wasn't the case just a few short months ago when both the FEIS and Findings were signed off on. Now with the LDA upon us they pull an "oops, never mind". And you blame the council? Give me a break.

[anon]

If anyone wasted time: it's SFC.
100M developer investment + 200M bond!
END the MDA.
There's nothing to review.

[Crankers]

SO IT WAS THE SAME OLD DEVELOPERS STORY, WERE PULLING OUT IF WE DON'T GET OUR WAY. IT'S OUR WAY OR NOTHING. GOOD ON THE COUNCIL FOR NOT BENDING OVER THE WAY THEY USUALLY DO.
I WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL BE BEFORE THEY ARE ALL FORCED TO BEG IN FRONT OF THE AMIPHONY????????

[anon]

also interesting SFC sold this project on the daylighting of the river and never intended to spend one dime actually doing it.
all smoke and mirrors.

[ME.]

For those asking the city council council to VOTE... WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY VOTING ON NOW?! IDIOTS! A shell of a useless ballpark? empty retail? what will they be voting on but an already failed project!

Lets not waste any more money, time and future small businessmen monies!

Amicone stinks, he surrounded himself by terrible people and he should have focussed on the foundation that made the waterfront and worked on MAKING SURE THAT WORKED RATHER THAN FAIL 4 YEARS LATER.

Instead he USED THOSE PIONEERS, took their credit as his own doing and left them in the dust to rot.
Now its coming back to kick him in his ass!

HE SHOULD HAVE LISTENED THE PAST 5 YEARS RATHER THAN BEING A NARCISITIC, BALLPARK OBSESSED WEIRDO.

Council should vote but not on this new retarded deal. What will a shell of a ballpark do besides sit there and be Amicone's playground. WE NEED SOME STREETS SMART IN CITY HALL.

[Fed up]

The Ballpark was always to use taxpayer money! It has not changed...Just shedding a little light on the paperwork. If you look close you can see were the money falls....Who is on the board, follow the money!!!

[SFC - SCAMMED/FLIM-FLAMMED/CONNED]

To Fed Up...prove it...what documents can you reference to indicate that taxpayer money would fund the ballpark. Get copies of all of the DVD's which have SFC reps claiming full funding of the park. There is mention of the city's aid in the developer acquiring public subsidies, but there is absolutely no language indicating that these subsidies are key to the ballpark. Stop lying.

[Brass Band]

The Ballpark has now morphed into a Bandstand.

[Fed up]

FOIL the papers fron the city it was always taxpayer money!

[Fed up]

oops ...part of it was BOE money!!

[Anon E. Mous]

The Council is not credible. Never has been. Their conduct the last few years proves they are clueless.

However, not too many would argue if the project was voted YES but without the shell of a ballpark. The ballpark was always a questionable idea. It was a worse idea when it was supposed to be at ground level.

Now, it's a marginally better idea up on the roof. A "loss leader," the developer says. "It will bring people downtown."

Maybe...but only if it is fully built. But not as a shell. So kill it for now and vote YES on the rest of what can be done at this time. Just get moving!

[ME.]

To 9:46 - Agree to a point but it is very difficult to trust Amicone once anything is Voted on.

I mean this ballpark thing is just flat out stupid.

Also, now moving forward it is hard to believe anything that he says will be done and that WILL IN FACT deter ANYONE FROM COMING TO YONKERS.

ASK PETER KELLY IF HE'S HAPPY... I think not.

Also whoever believes that this ballpark will bring people to the downtown is absolutely insane, Its INSANE.

The council has to feel that they are voting on a big question mark - because thats how the citizens feel.

[tyrannyandliberty]

THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP IN THIS CITY. AMICONE BALONEY IS NOW JUST A FIGURE HEAD AND THATS ALL.

WHAT A SHAME.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE YO???

THINGS LOOK LIKE WE MOVED 20 YEARS BACK.

HOW DOES AN IMPEACHMENT PROCESS WORK FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION.

[ANYONE]

If this city focused on smaller business and property investors: downtown can develop.
Instead the city hands them rope made by SFC and pie-in-the-sky to hang from.

Smaller development had started successfully downtown.
If you hadn’t noticed it came to a standstill when SFC came to town.
Why not continue?

Keep going in this direction and Main Street will be empty in six months.
Is anybody paying attention?

SFC is DOA and Yonkers should move on.

[Jack and Jill]

That's because they were all waiting for their properties to skyrocket in value. They came the recession and they all came tumbling down.

[Fed up]

Bull... the city stifled downtown by blighting it. NOthing can be done !! NO sellers no buyers all are scared of the city condeming the property!!!