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Speeches
“It is the responsibility of government to create and enforce rules, regulations, and procedures that protect our safety, promote our well-being, and safeguard us from discrimination. We also place trust in our government to make fair and just decisions in the allocation of goods and services.
“I believe that the decision to fund the Astoria Energy Plant through Liberty Financing is misguided.
“The money set aside for New York City in the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act is supposed to directly aid our recovery in the wake of 9-11. It is supposed to be used for the creation of commercial space, in other words for new offices to accommodate businesses that wish to expand or move to the City.
“We should not allow any of this precious funding to be diverted to a questionable venture that couldn’t secure financing on its own merits. Astoria Energy filed its application for the power plant in June of 2000, well before the events of 9-11. Clearly they thought it was possible to fund the project with the options available at that time. If that’s still the case, then they don’t need our Liberty Bonds. If it’s no longer the case, then we need to seriously question whether or not doing business with Astoria Energy is worth the risk.
“Either way, propping up Astoria Energy is a violation of the spirit of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act and an abuse of all our trust.
“Moreover, it is an injustice for the people of Astoria and Long Island City who already host a disproportionate share of the City’s power-generating facilities. They bear enough of that burden as it is.
“ New York City is still feeling the effects of 9-11. We need all the aid we can get, and we cannot afford to use any of it unwisely.”
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