Golden: Governor Spitzer Is Wrong To Derail Javits Center Proposal

Senator Marty Golden (R-C, Brooklyn) today denounced the decision of the Empire State Development Corporation to scrap their plans to move forward with an additional 340,000 square feet of convention center space at the Jacob Javits Center.

"Governor Spitzer said himself that he wanted to build a thoroughbred size convention center - and it would be bigger and better than the planned expansion Governor Pataki had proposed," said Senator Marty Golden. "It seems to me that Eliot Spitzer is more concerned with appeasing his ambition rather than the people of this city and state."

In 2005, the state legislature approved a plan to expand the Javits Center with the State and City both providing $350 million each and raising additional resources through bonds for a total cost of $1.8 billion. While the costs of construction and inflation have risen over the last three years, Golden contends the Governor and his ESDC head, Pat Foye, have to do more to see the project through.

"They have to stop complaining about "inheriting a mess," Golden continued. "Eliot Spitzer is the current Governor, and he has got to find a way to make this expansion move forward. We are willing to come to the table and talk about increasing State investments in the project and I’m sure the City feels the same. The Governor is wrong to shut this down without trying to compromise on the original plan."

It is estimated that the expansion would have provided $50 million in additional annual tax revenue that support essential city services and enhance New Yorkers’ quality of life.

The Javits Center convention space opened in 1986 and is located on 11th Avenue on Manhattan’s West Side between 34th and 38th Streets.