The redevelopmentwould turn a largely industrial, 13-block area into 5,500 apartmentunits and more than 1.5 million sf of commercial space. It wouldalso displace about 1,700 workers--likely by using the state'seminent domain laws to acquire privately owned property.

Pat Boone, president of ACORN NY, tells GlobeSt.com that "it iswrong for the Bloomberg Administration to push ahead with a planthat gives away so many City resources when New Yorkers are gettingso little in return. That is why--without true commitments toaffordable housing and protections for workers--the City Councilhas called this plan dead on arrival. The Council, ACORN and Queensresidents will not allow this plan to go through until the Cityguarantees desperately needed housing that is truly affordable tolow and middle-income New Yorkers, and provides for a real plan tokeep the workers at Willets Point employed. The City will not beallowed to set this dangerous precedent and give away so much forso little. It's time for the City to come back to the table andwork out a new plan that is much more beneficial for all. If theydon't, the Council will send it back to them." The mayor's officedid not return a response to Boone's comment by deadline.

However, according to a prepared statement by Mayor Bloomberg,"the plan for Willets Point enters month six of the seven-monthpublic approval process, having been reviewed and approved by thelocal Community Board, the Borough President and now the CityPlanning Commission. At each step of the process, the plan has beenrefined based on extensive input from the public and fromofficials, and each time, the conclusion has been unmistakable:this plan must go forward. The environmental contamination thatexists at Willets Point cannot stand, and the opportunity to createnew housing, parks, office space, retail amenities and more than5,000 permanent jobs should not be passed up. The plan willcontinue to be refined as City Council Members review the plan, askquestions and provide input. I am confident that, at the end of theday, they too will choose to address the challenges that haveplagued Willets Point for decades and act to create new economicopportunities for all Queens residents."