The New York Post recently reported on how the West Harlem Local Development Corporation may be jeopardizing $76 million promised by Columbia University as part of a payout for building the $6.3 billion campus expansion into Manhattanville. The local government appointed group has already received $500,000 from the university but the newspaper claims that lack of structure and heavy handed politics may prevent the organization from funneling the money back into the community. The agreement that was finalized in 2009 would have Columbia, "build a public school, contribute to a housing fund and create the $76 million fund for unspecified community programs." The first check was cut back in September but with a lot of finger pointing, board members quitting, and the initial half million going nowhere, some are fearful that the community will lose out in the end. Read more in the NY Post: LINK
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
☞ READ: Harlem Nonprofit May Lose Millions
The New York Post recently reported on how the West Harlem Local Development Corporation may be jeopardizing $76 million promised by Columbia University as part of a payout for building the $6.3 billion campus expansion into Manhattanville. The local government appointed group has already received $500,000 from the university but the newspaper claims that lack of structure and heavy handed politics may prevent the organization from funneling the money back into the community. The agreement that was finalized in 2009 would have Columbia, "build a public school, contribute to a housing fund and create the $76 million fund for unspecified community programs." The first check was cut back in September but with a lot of finger pointing, board members quitting, and the initial half million going nowhere, some are fearful that the community will lose out in the end. Read more in the NY Post: LINK
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This is a good opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves by making this happen.
ReplyDeleteWhere's Al Sharpton when you need him?
What is up with all this mismanagement?! We just heard about the Harlem School of the Arts financial crises and now this...is it always about greed and egos?!
ReplyDeleteI don't know the details about the West Harlem Local Development Corporation, but gee, let's get it together folks! I know, it's a buyout but $76 Million could do so much good for Harlem: help schools and social services, create affordable housing, trees... what a shame!
Last time I checked Nick Spraygan and that ridiculous gas station holdout wasn't offering the community $76 million. Where is the outrage here on these holdouts??? If Columbia doesn't get to expand this program and the money is null and void.
ReplyDeleteWrite your reps, State Senators, etc. and DEMAND eminent domain so the community can benefit. AND DEMAND accountability for this money.
Let Bloomberg save the day again by appointing members of this ragtag organization.
And PLEASE - don't utter Al Sharpton's name again. He has single handedly try to destroy Harlem's progress. He needs to stay in Arizona.
The politicians already made their decision and the community is getting the money. The question is how will it be managed? I believe SLUSH fund was the term used in the article. The other stuff will be up to the judges at the higher court to figure out. Shouldn't be any politicians involved at this point unless they are paying off the judges. That would not be favorable.
ReplyDelete5/12, 11:23 -- Right on. *This* is what community members and organizations should be protesting. They should be demanding that the CU expansion proceed and that there be accountability for the funding.
ReplyDeleteInstead, we get brain-dead protests from a mix of Sprayregen astroturfers and race-baiting Columbia-haters (whose numbers included the usual gang of self-consciously contrarian CU undergrads in search of political purity and/or absolution for their inborn sins of socioeconomic class).
Now, when real anger is called for over the mismanagement of community funding -- nothing.