Advocates, Critics Spar as Willets Point Vote Nears

With a do-or-die City Council vote approaching, today has already brought two tidbits in the fight over the Willets Point redevelopment: A new promotional video by a city-sponsored group, and a rally critical of the plan by affordable housing advocates.

The video, commissioned by the Flushing/Willets Point/Corona Local Development Corporation, paints a cheery picture of the development as a series of business leaders and elected officials supportive of the plan laud its merits.

The protest, scheduled to be going on midday by City hall, is organized by affordable housing groups ACORN and the Pratt Center for Community Development, which promised appearances by elected officials.

For the multi-billion dollar plan pushed by the Bloomberg administration, judgment day is nearing. The City Council has a hearing scheduled later this month, and a vote could conceivably come before November (though it must happen before December), and for now, the administration and the Council are far apart.

The local Council member, Hiram Monserrate, has been strong in his rhetoric against the existing plan, demanding a series of costly changes that include a major boost in below-market rate housing and the execution of a large number of property purchases from existing landowners. All comes as the city is bracing for a drop in revenues amid chaos in the financial sector.