By Josh Rogers
The Lower Manhattan Development Corp. released guidelines Wednesday for spending its remaining $750 million or so to help Downtown — disappointing at least a few agency critics who were hopeful the corporation was becoming more open to considering projects such as job training and 9/11-related heath ailments and emotional problems.
City Councilmember Alan Gerson said it was “disgusting” that the L.M.D.C. was not considering “operational funding” for projects when there was still people in need of mental health care because of the attacks. He was pleased to hear that a public forum was scheduled for April 27 but he said in addition, L.M.D.C. officials should meet and negotiate with local elected officials about the best way to spend the rest of the federal money approved to help Downtown rebuild.
In separate telephone interviews, Gerson and David Dyssegaard Kallick of the Fiscal Policy Institute said L.M.D.C. money should also be used for job training.
Joanna Rose, the development corporation’s spokesperson, said the public has a chance to change the priorities. “It’s a draft document,” she said. “We are looking for community comments.”
It is still not known how much of the remaining money will be used for the W.T.C. site although officials have previously said it is likely to be several hundred million dollars. L.M.D.C. board member Roland Betts and Kevin Rampe, agency president, have left open the possibility that some of the money, which is in the federal Community Development Block Grant program, could be used for infrastructure to support the private offices at the W.T.C. The report continues to leave open that possibility, although Dep. Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, who has influence over half the state-city’s agency board, and some advocates have criticized using any of the money for office space.
Josh@DowntownExpress.com
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