Scott Stringer Wants to Halt Group's Spending of Columbia Cash in Harlem

Scott Stringer Wants to Halt Group's Spending of Columbia Cash in Harlem

November 2, 2011 9:46am | By Jeff Mays, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

Borough President Scott Stringer called for safety improvements at Greenwich and Duane streets at an Oct. 6, 2011 press conference. (DNAinfo/Julie Shapiro)

HARLEM — Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer wants to stop a group from distributing $150 million in funds from Columbia University's community benefit agreement with West Harlem, saying he has concerns about its lack of transparency.

In a statement released Tuesday, Stringer called on the West Harlem Local Development Corporation to "halt any further disbursement of funds" because they were doing so "without a formal application process, without public notices, without protocols for selection, without advice from a community advisory committee and without adequate, transparent discussion by the LDC as a whole."

"I am especially dismayed that LDC’s executive committee continues to disburse funds," Stringer wrote.

The agency is responsible for giving away $76 million in cash and making sure Columbia delivers $30 million for construction of a new K-8 school in conjunction with Teachers College, $20 million for an affordable housing fund and $20 million in in-kind benefits.

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/20111101/harlem/scott-stringer-wants-halt-groups-spending-of-columbia-cash-harlem?utm_content=chiefcharley472%40gmail.com&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Scott%20Stringer%20Wants%20to%20Halt%20Group%27s%20Spending%20of%20Columbia%20Cash%20in%20Harlem&utm_campaign=Family%20of%20Woman%20Hit%20by%20Shopping%20Cart%20Says%20She%27ll%20Be%20in%20Rehab%20for%20Monthscontent#ixzz1cacBoE4K