Q&A
Debate over the choice between 250 Broadway and 14 Wall Street locations
1:17:49
·
178 sec
Council Member Brewer and Commissioner Molina engage in a debate about the decision to choose 14 Wall Street over 250 Broadway for the Department of Aging. They discuss cost savings, transparency, and location considerations.
- Commissioner Molina claims $31 million in savings by choosing 14 Wall Street over 250 Broadway
- Council Member Brewer expresses preference for 250 Broadway due to its proximity to City Hall and other agencies
- Concerns are raised about the transparency of the decision-making process and the availability of facts
- The debate touches on the consideration of political donations in building selection
Louis Molina
1:17:49
Well, let me be clear.
1:17:50
It is not up to the agency to determine if they do not wanna be in a city owned space.
1:17:55
Decast makes the determination if a city owned space is available for the agency's needs.
1:18:00
And in the case of aging, There was none.
1:18:03
Their preferred location was 14 Wall Street, and we got the best financial deal for city taxpayers, which saved the city taxpayers over $31,000,000 versus going to 250 Broadway.
Gale A. Brewer
1:18:15
Okay.
1:18:15
So is it true though that there were ended up being just between 250 Broadway 14 Wall.
1:18:21
There were no other buildings that came into that scenario.
Louis Molina
1:18:26
There there were there were 2 other locations that were in Brooklyn.
1:18:31
And
Gale A. Brewer
1:18:32
I don't wanna go to Brooklyn either.
Louis Molina
1:18:34
Well, I I gail.
1:18:35
The the the agency didn't feel that those locations were optimal
Gale A. Brewer
1:18:40
Okay.
Louis Molina
1:18:40
For their vulnerable clientele.
Gale A. Brewer
1:18:43
Alright.
1:18:43
So it's it's the whole thing, the trouble with this process, as you know, it's almost like you wanna have a building that has not donated to anybody.
1:18:51
You wanna own a owner that has not donated to anybody.
1:18:54
You almost should put that on your list of things to be reevaluated.
1:18:58
I'm not kidding.
1:18:59
Because in this world today, it it has dramatic just feelings to the public that there's something fishy.
1:19:08
I I I don't think that sounds strange, but that would be with something that I would add to your decast list of evaluation.
1:19:17
What do you think about that idea?
Louis Molina
1:19:19
I'll take your consideration I'll take your suggestions on the consideration.
Gale A. Brewer
1:19:22
I like everything else.
1:19:24
But I do think that also, I would prefer 250 Broadway.
1:19:27
Even though it costs more money because you can walk the city hall, it's closer to other agencies and maybe you save time and money just by having being closer to the city hall.
1:19:40
That doesn't come under consideration.
Louis Molina
1:19:42
I I mean, that might be optimal for you because you go from 250 Broadway to city hall.
1:19:47
I don't know if that was optimal for the vulnerable clients that are being served by the Department of the Aging.
1:19:52
So to spend an extra $31,000,000 just so one could walk across the street.
1:19:58
I don't know if that's really worth it.
Gale A. Brewer
1:19:59
But it's also back to this issue of transparency.
1:20:02
Like, I know you're saying it's gonna cost more, but we don't know that it's costing more.
1:20:06
We just hear from you.
1:20:07
We're not knowing all of the details.
1:20:10
Everything is not transparent.
1:20:11
I think that's what people are saying.
Louis Molina
1:20:13
But but, ma'am, there's a process which includes the office of management and budget.
Gale A. Brewer
1:20:18
You know how we feel about it?
Louis Molina
1:20:19
Everybody knows that director Geehaw is is very conservative and and conscious and is penny pinching on city taxpayer money.
1:20:28
And I can't see a scenario in where we would propose spending $31,000,000 more at a location where we could be spending over $31,000,000 less.
1:20:37
Okay.
1:20:37
That OMB would approve.
Gale A. Brewer
1:20:39
Alright.
1:20:39
I I mean, it's it we just don't know the fact fax.
1:20:42
No.
1:20:42
Finally, I'll let them
Louis Molina
1:20:43
Ma'am, I'm giving you the facts.
1:20:44
You can watch these $31,000,000 more cheaper.
