I don't mind f***ing the Carlton Avenue Bridge

Norman Oder connects the big Kruger controversy and our neighborhood:

Norman Oder wrote:

Yes, Kruger corruption charges involve Atlantic Yards; unnamed "Developer #1" is FCR; Bender: "I don't mind fucking the Carlton Avenue Bridge"

I had questioned whether the corruption charges regarding Carl Kruger's involvement with a "Brooklyn developer" meant Atlantic Yards, but apparently they do.

However, they do not indicate that the developer initiated illegal payments (or knew about them) from FCR-paid lobbyist Richard Lipsky to Kruger. Rather, they portray a chummy relationship between Kruger and FCR Executive VP Bruce Bender.

The charges cast in new light some of Kruger's over-the-top support for Atlantic Yards, including his serenade at a May 2009 Senate hearing, or his Brooklyn aria at an August 2006 environmental review hearing.

Also consider his accusation in May 2009 of Metropolitan Transportation Authority intransigence regarding a renegotiation of the Vanderbilt Yard deal and further comments in September 2009 on the eve of Jay Walder's confirmation as head of the MTA.

Kruger, who apparently got money funneled through Forest City Ratner lobbyist Richard Lipsky, was willing to help Bender on some requests, but not the $9 million Bender wanted for the repair and reconstruction of the Carlton Avenue Bridge.

The bridge, which went out of service in January 2008 supposedly for two years, is now expected to reopen in "summer 2012." Bender didn't seem to mind the delay in state money that much, saying, "I don't mind fucking the [Carlton Avenue] bridge." (Watch a video of Bender mouthing false claims about Atlantic Yards jobs here.)