Asked by The Brooklyn Papers, both before and after MTA Chairman Peter
Kalikow’s testimony (see
related story), whether Forest City Ratner and the MTA
have been in negotiations, MTA spokesman Tom Kelly replied that the two
parties had been in discussions over the rail yards but that it was the
development company’s fault the negotiations have faltered.
“Ratner and us were in discussions,” Kelly said, seemingly contradicting
his boss’ statement.
“Ratner said, ‘We’ll get back to you’ and Ratner hasn’t
picked up the phone to have an additional meeting since.”
Asked about Kalikow’s statement about waiting for the Jets deal to
be finalized before dealing with Ratner, Kelly said, “There’s
not a link there.” He said it was up to Ratner to resume negotiations.
“What I am telling you is there have been discussions [between Ratner
and the MTA],” said Kelly. “The last time we talked to them,
we said something to them that they had to think about, and they said
they’d get back to us, and they haven’t gotten back to us.
“All I know is they were close to an agreement on something, and
Forest City Ratner was going to get back to us.”
