"Is anyone surpized?"
Not at all. Planning often times contains the issues that impell citizens to get active and involved in politics. Putting the above documents together, it looks like they lobbied for a minor zoning change before they submitted their Negative Declaration. A NegDec is an action taken by the lead agency of a jurisdiction (in this case the City of New York) saying that an applicant's (WTS) project (Jay Street building) has no significant environmental impact (negative impact). This is taking into account the surrounding environment and the site plans which are being proposed. This NegDec is then reviewed by the planning commission which can disagree with the staff (Planning Department) making the report. In this case, it was approved. Taking this action relieves the applicant of paying for an EIR (environmental impact report) which can take 6 months to a year to complete. It relieves the WTS from paying for a long drawn-out process of getting approval for their project and taking mitigating measures. Every developer will do anything in their power to avoid having to go through the EIR process because it takes a lot of time and money before any development can take place in order to ensure that significant environmental impact measures have been outlined and approved. The reason the Society wanted to change zoning was because this area (DUMBO) is being rehauled for medium-density housing and the residents realize that JW structures are designed as enclaves or fortifications. Their buildings do not attempt to integrate street life and will create dead zones because their property is basically off limits to passerby. It looks like DUMBO had in place some building codes having to do with the streetscape and building facades that the Society circumvented.
Watchtower lobbyist!
by Atlantis 23 Replies latest jw friends
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daniel-p
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Kenneson
One Watchtower apologist doesn't see anything political in it. He claims the Society only hired this law firm to handle their real estate transactions. Somehow the term "lobbyist" doesn't even enter the picture. I asked him if his lawyer was a lobbyist. He didn't respond.
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daniel-p
"He claims the Society only hired this law firm to handle their real estate transactions. Somehow the term "lobbyist" doesn't even enter the picture. I asked him if his lawyer was a lobbyist. He didn't respond."
This entire process has nothing to do with a real estate transaction. If your WT apologist thinks zoning issues arn't political then (s)he has no idea what they are talking about. -
stevenyc
Kingdumb Ministry 12/95; Rotten review, Question 7. Although Jehovah’s Witnesses take no part whatsoever in political activities, they do not interfere with what others do as to joining a political party, running for office, or voting in elections. [uw p. 166 par. 12] True.
Edited:
United in worship of the only true god (1993):
12
In sharp contrast, the clergy of Christendom are very much involved in the political affairs of the world. In some lands they actively campaign for or against candidates. Some of the clergy themselves hold political office. Others exert great pressure on politicians to favor programs that the clergy approve. Elsewhere the "conservative" clergy are close allies of the men in power while "progressive" priests and ministers may be supporting guerrilla movements working for their overthrow. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not meddle in politics, no matter what the country in which they live. They do not interfere with what others do as to joining a political party, running for office or voting in elections. But, since Jesus said that his disciples would be "no part of the world," Jehovah’s Witnesses take no part whatsoever in political activities
steve