An open letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg:
I was disturbed to learn that during the April 16 presentation before the College Point Corporate Task Force, representatives of Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler indicated that “mayoral overrides” will be used to bypass building and zoning code regulations, if necessary, in the development of the new police academy.
Unilaterally circumventing the building and zoning codes undermines the integrity of the public review land use process.
Any attempt to apply mayoral override to circumvent the public review process andâ„or craft unique exemptions to the building and zoning codes would set a terrifying precedent for projects through the city.
As mayor, you have the responsibility to enforce the laws, regulations and codes of our city. Superseding these codes to advance this or any pet project would be a blatant abuse of that power. I urge you to allow the public review process to proceed. Anything less is unacceptable.
Tony Avella
City Councilman
Bayside
