Q&A
Discussion of the Bronx Logistics Center and DCAS's consideration of the site
1:42:53
·
149 sec
Council Member Restler questions Commissioner Molina about DCAS's consideration of the Bronx Logistics Center, a privately-owned site that Deputy Commissioner Hamilton has been promoting for city use. Molina provides limited information due to his recent appointment and lack of familiarity with the situation.
- Restler asks about when DCAS began considering the Bronx Logistics Center and how they became aware of the site
- Molina explains that sites are generally brought to DCAS by tenant representatives to address city space needs
- Restler expresses concern about the motivations behind promoting this site, given that tenant representatives earn more from higher-value deals
- Molina confirms that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not authorized or is not entertaining the Bronx Logistics Center as an option
- Restler notes that approximately $100,000 has been spent lobbying for the Bronx Logistics Center
Lincoln Restler
1:42:53
I don't have as much experience as council member brewer, but I've worked in city government for a while.
1:42:57
I can never remember anything like this at all.
1:43:00
I I think it's bizarre.
1:43:03
And frankly, smells funny.
1:43:07
To your knowledge, when did Decast begin considering purchasing or lease agreement for the Bronx Logistics Center?
1:43:15
And how did Decast become aware of this site?
Louis Molina
1:43:20
Well, in most sites, in general, are brought to us by tenant representatives for consideration to the city to address a number of space needs that the city may have.
1:43:35
So I don't know how Bronk Logistics Center came to us, but I believe because I was presented at the meeting that you referenced earlier
Lincoln Restler
1:43:43
Right.
Louis Molina
1:43:43
The entire team of Cushman and Wakefield to walk me through their thinking of why they thought the Brussels Logistics Center could serve a good purpose for the city.
Lincoln Restler
1:43:54
Okay.
1:43:55
I would have thought we were meeting the needs of city agencies rather than meeting the needs of Christian Wakefield.
1:44:00
The thing that's unusual about the So about these contracts.
Louis Molina
1:44:04
The agencies have a number of needs.
1:44:06
And when those needs are outside of this available square footage that's under the city's control Right.
1:44:12
And we get authorization to look for leased space or thinking about opportunities where the city can possibly make a strategic acquisition, those opportunities are presented to us by tenant representatives.
1:44:26
They we're not bound to do
Lincoln Restler
1:44:29
them.
1:44:29
Right?
1:44:29
But the thing that's unusual.
1:44:31
About these tenant representative contracts is that and I'm sure there's some lots of people who operate with integrity, and I don't I'm not trying to paint too broad a brush.
1:44:39
But the thing that's unusual about these contracts is the higher the lease agreement, the higher the license agreement, the higher the purchase price, the more money they make.
1:44:46
Right?
1:44:47
And so, you know, they have every incentive to make more deals at higher prices Mhmm.
1:44:53
For the city of New York because that is what that's good for them.
Louis Molina
1:44:57
Yes.
1:44:57
But council member, we have a process that involves us City hall, the office of management and budget, city planning, this body, to make sure that the deals we are not Was there
Lincoln Restler
1:45:08
authorization from OMV to pursue the Bronx Logistics Center?
Louis Molina
1:45:12
No.
1:45:12
No.
1:45:13
Okay.
Lincoln Restler
1:45:13
No.
1:45:14
We just have a promotional video from the deputy commissioner from the past.
Louis Molina
1:45:17
Presenting it.
1:45:18
Right?
1:45:18
So I haven't seen the video, so I can't speak directly to the video.
Lincoln Restler
1:45:20
Why don't we try
Louis Molina
1:45:21
to get across
Lincoln Restler
1:45:22
on the video?
