This is not about geography. This is a money grab as much as a land grab!
Chinatown Partnership got $7.25 million from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation - our taxpayer money - in 2004 to post a heritage trail, add tourist signage and clean the streets - not only of Chinatown Proper but parts of Eastern SoHo as far north as Broome and Grand Streets.
However, they have not added any heritage trail, no tourist signage, the Chinatown streets are still filthy and they never cleaned a single block in SoHo in six years!
So, where did the money go?
The Executive Director, Wellington Chen, gets an incredible $132,000 salary - far more than most other BID directors. That represents over 10% of their total budget alone. Other "consultants" and buddies get in the 70K and 80K range.
Only about 25% of their budget is set aside for programs. 75% is set aside for salaries and administration.
Most non-profits have this reversed: 75% for the programs and only 25% to administration.
The streets are cleaned by a for-profit cleaning company, adding to the bloated expense.
Furthermore, Chen founded the Flushing BID and is a senior VP at TDC, which is building the controversial Flushing Commons, a mega-project that will introduce luxe condos and a mall there, ruining scores of mom&pop stores.
Read what the people of Flushing have to say about this hegemonic schemer:
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2010/06/jim-gerson-resigns-as-chair-of-flushing.html
Chen and TDC are also the only developers currently interested in taking Willets Point by eminent domain, destroying scores of small businesses there in order to build more mega-malls.
The man and his schemes are bad news. Chinatown Beware! It's all about money. Follow the money.
Posted on July 12th, 2010 12:40pm
