Who Has the Right to Say What's Blight? Bill Perkins vs. ESDC Darling

The New York Observer

Who Has the Right to Say What's Blight? Bill Perkins vs. ESDC Darling

By Eliot Brown
January 6, 2010 | 2:03 p.m

State Senator Bill Perkins is apparently not happy about the state's choice of consultants.

One consultant, specifically: AKRF, the New York–based firm that has established itself as the unchallenged king of environmental review in the city and state, dominating the field of government contracts.... 

...In a hearing called by Mr. Perkins on Tuesday, the Harlem senator harped on this issue, ridiculing the state's development agency for its constant reliance on AKRF, which has done most every blight study that officials were aware of for the agency, while also doing work for private developers...

..."That's an Achilles heel in terms of the public perception of the fairness of this process," said Mr. Perkins, who has taken up the issue of eminent domain reform as one of his priorities...

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