THe New York tabloids are going nuts. "Access of Evil," read the big
headline (known in the trade as "wood") on one.
Doug
I have a feeling some of the intensity of the NY Post has to do with the
target being Columbia University. Despite being utterly hostile to
tenants' rights, the paper has been lambasting Columbia for its move
into Manhattanville as if it were Saddam invading Kuwait in 1990. For
example:
COLUMBIA'S ASTROTURF
FAKING GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION PLAN
By TOM ELLIOTT
September 19, 2007 -- COLUMBIA University is making great efforts to
prevent community objections from derailing its plan for a massive
expansion in West Harlem. But its methods seem to rely more on big-money
power politics than on listening to the folks who live and work where
the school wants to build.
full:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09192007/postopinion/opedcolumnists/columbias_astroturf.htm
Now I am the last person in the world to support an avaricious land-grab
against poor tenants, but the simple fact is that there is practically
*nobody* living on the streets of Columbia's future expansion. I am
there every day and all I see around me are moving companies, auto
repair shops, warehouses, etc. In terms of job creation, the expansion
will result in far more jobs for Harlem residents than what they get out
of the present situation today. Moving companies rarely have more than a
dozen workers, while the construction jobs, etc. will number in the
thousands.
