Penguins update

The city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority has decided to continue demolitions, land purchases and other preparations for stadium construction despite protests from the One Hill Coalition that a CBA has not been finalized yet. Carl Redwood, chairman of the coalition, is quoted as saying:

"We feel that in some ways community members are being toyed with in this process where people come to the table but not in a serious manner, and you're just going to string us along."

Atlantic Yards update

The Atlantic Yards project is one step closer to happening. The Second Circuit ruled yesterday in Goldstein v. Pataki that the project's use of eminent domain does not violate the Fifth Amendment. The plaintiffs, who all own property in the project's footprint, had basically argued that the development was never meant to benefit the public, but that it had been orchestrated by the developer, Bruce Ratner, from the beginning and that the government had simply fallen in line. The court rejected this, though, holding that there were public purposes, like creating open space, building a stadium and affordable housing and improving the transit system. Since there were public purposes, the plaintiffs' contentions amounted to "concerns about the wisdom of the Atlantic Yards project and its effect on the community." And those sorts of concerns are not within the purview of the courts.

The plaintiffs are planning to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

Penguins update

It seems that the Hill District is one step closer to getting a grocery store. Save-a-Lot announced that it sees itself as "a perfect fit" for the neighborhood, and it may become involved in CBA talks. One Hill Coalition wants to make sure that the community has a part in planning for the grocery store, and it may even seek partial ownership.