An editorial in the Times slamming Gov. Christie for "political bluster"--and why similar criticism could apply to the ESDC over Atlantic Yards

From a New York Times editorial yesterday headlined Gov. Christie and the Tunnel Project:

If you find yourself in a stopped train in a Hudson River tunnel, or in a vehicle on a choked highway, in coming years, at least you will know why. In his drive to become the darling of the cut-costs-at-all-costs Republican crowd, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey ignored real economic analysis and relied on exaggerated worst-case scenarios to kill the largest public transit project in the nation in 2010.

...Now, a report from the Government Accountability Office makes it clear that the cost-cutting talk was political bluster.

What about AY?

We're not going to see a Times editorial on the appellate court ruling April 12 rebuking the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) for misleading the public about Atlantic Yards. (Why not? "Too many roadblocks and politics," to quote a certain cop.)

But someone could write this:

If you find yourself in gridlock in Prospect Heights, or hear people in the neighborhoods around the Atlantic Yards site complaining about ongoing construction in the year 2030, at least you will know why. In their zeal to get the Barclays Center arena in gear, the Empire State Development Corporation ignored real environmental analysis and relied on exaggerated worst-case scenarios to re-approve the Atlantic Yards mega-project in 2009.
...Now, a unanimous decision from an appellate court makes it clear that the agency's estimate that the project could be completed in a decade, and that the worst-case impacts had been studied, was expedient bluster.

Yes, the Access to the Region's Core project Christie killed was a bigger deal than Atlantic Yards. But the issue of public accountability is very similar.