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Brutally weird: Markowitz says legal challenges to AY are examples of misusing democracy

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and New York Post columnist Steve Cuozzo are apparently drinking the same Kool-Aid.

Markowitz, opining on democracy, might have taken the opportunity to criticize the pro-Atlantic Yards people who hijacked the May 29 state Senate oversight hearing on Atlantic Yards. He might have mused on whether unelected, quasi-public bodies like the Empire State Development Corporation are sufficiently transparent or whether eminent domain law in New York state needs a revision.

He might even, should he look in the mirror, wonder whether the overturning and extension of term limits, which gave incumbents like himself an enormous advantage, was really so healthy, given that all potential Democratic challengers for his post have withdrawn.

No. Instead he blamed Atlantic Yards opponents for seeking redress through the courts. And the Courier-Life, often friendly to Markowitz, didn't let him off the hook.

The article

The article, headlined "Just too much democracy for Marty," begins:
Former President George W. Bush was always fond of saying how much easier governing the United States would be if only it were a dictatorship. Old Number 43 may be history, but that sentiment about our democracy has apparently not faded out with him.

Earlier this week, Borough President Marty Markowitz told the Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association meeting at PS. 195 on Irwin Street, "I love democracy. It works. It's always worked for us. But you can use it for good, and you can use it sometimes where it may not be good."

The borough president-- currently running for a third term - was talking about legal challenges to the Atlantic Yards project and his ongoing efforts to transform the borough.

"Having the [New Jersey] Nets and having an arena in Brooklyn opens up unbelievable opportunities for economic growth," Markowitz declared.


As for economic growth, Markowitz is assigned to read the works of Brooklyn author Neil deMause.

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