Kennedy Square another example of public-private corruption, NY style (Your Letters)

To the Editor:

I want to thank Tim Knauss for Dec. 8′s “SUNY Upstate takes back Syracuse land 10 years after failed deal with Cor Development,” and for Dec. 11′s scolding follow-through by editorialists.

It’s true, we’re stuck at present with this sort of gist: How much? No comment. Future plans? No comment. The sky is gray? No comment.

The bigger picture, though: What, really, was the ultimate origin of this fine kettle of fish?

Hint: It wasn’t Cor.

The Loguen’s Crossing clustermudge is another example of public-private corruption, New York style — despite ad nauseum repetitions of the fact that Cor et al were laid low by federal prosecutions involving other developments, not Inner Harbor, and not Loguen’s Crossing. It was actually business as usual everywhere Cor sought deals with one or another arm of the New York state octopus. The feds didn’t find bid-rigging in these Syracuse cases. But that was only because there were no bids to rig. Cor was already chosen.

The only trouble was Cor had been willingly chosen for a deal with the devil. The devil, in this case, is the political leadership of New York state itself, its structure, and its raging needs. For Loguen’s Crossing, there may not have ever been actual payoffs, kickbacks or bribes. Instead, something far more valuable was being created and given away: endless occasions for New York’s political leaders to posture as if they’re actually getting something done.

Quid pro yo!

Hiding behind SUNY and other blessed professionals, the pols insist upon choreographing every move — one long, drawn-out mega-project at a time. (Let me guess: Public-private partnership? High tech? Incubator? Sustainable?)

If it looks good, and if it sounds good, and if some AV Club minion can stick an upbeat, royalty-free soundtrack on the promo video — then let’s do it. Even if it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever — such as the nanotechnology film studio, say what? — they know that most of the public will still just lap it up.

But their hunger, their needs, are so ravenous, it just overwhelms and corrupts everything in its path — private sector, public sector, and even the state’s teaching hospital.

How smart is it, really, to have state entities specializing in education, or medicine, or both, on the front lines of what is essentially just commercial real estate redevelopment?

Andy Leahy

Syracuse