Thank goodness for groups like Civic JC to try and stop unnecessary giveaways

The group Civic JC has filed suit, we feel rightly, to halt implementation of a redevelopment plan adopted in July that labeled City Hall and two nearby properties as blighted. Obviously City Hall is not blighted, and thankfully Esther Wintner, president of Civic JC, which filed the suit in August, said the plan is the "first step" toward developing the nearby properties and awarding the selected developer a tax break.

"The idea that City Hall and an adjacent parking lot constitute urban blight is preposterous," said Wintner. "This is prime real estate."

Exactly, sounds like nothing but a giveaway to more Friends of Fulop and possible donors for his run for Governor. This hastily concocted plan of redevelopment is a quick and easy way to give away more of OUR money to developers in the form of MORE unnecessary abatements. Now get this:

The city said it created the plan in hopes of redeveloping a city-owned parking lot on Montgomery Street across the street from City Hall and, in exchange, receive a developer's help to pay for renovations at City Hall and the creation of "green space" in front of and behind the 119-year-old Grove Street municipal building. 

We're tired of being misled by the city when it comes to the final use of land they give our tax dollars for. Sorry Fulop Administration you don't just get to decide who gets a green space out of a parking lot and you can make ZERO guarantees the public would ever get to use it. Sell it and use that money to fix up city hall, that's how a responsible mayor and council would do it.

"...city spokesman Ryan Jacobs said. "The city wouldn't be able incorporate parks, open space, or restaurants into an auction. The redevelopment plan allows for more public amenities for residents."

Two new "green spaces" created by developers, the big empty field with grass seed planted by Lloyd Goldman's BLDG group at Washington and First St. is off limits to the public. Another green space the city counts is the little green patch behind the Toll Brothers development at Marin and Morgan, again, off limits to the public. So Ryan Jacobs, mayoral spokesperson, when you cry about what may happen if the city doesn't control every aspect, you're dismissed out of hand when it comes to green spaces. Try again. You're writing checks on this topic with your mouth your body can't cash.

So, business as usual, or it may have been business as usual with unnecessary abatements and special deals that look and smell like more patronage if it weren't for the GREAT work by Esther Winter and Civic JC.