18 Greenwich Avenue

P.O. Box 127

New York, NY 10011

info@manhattanlp.org

Contact: Jim Lesczynski

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 20, noon – 1 p.m. WHAT: NY Times eminent domain protest WHERE: Opposite NY Times headquarters, 229 West 43rd Street (between 7th and 8th Aves.)

NY TIMES FACES RALLY PROTESTING EMINENT DOMAIN SCHEME

New York, 10/14/02 - The Manhattan Libertarian Party is sponsoring a protest rally on Sunday, October 20th opposite New York Times headquarters at 229 West 43rd Street against the Times and the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) for their unprecedented abuse of eminent domain. ESD is condemning an entire block of thriving small businesses along 8th Ave. between 40th and 41st Streets so that the Times can erect a new building. This will be at the expense of property owners, tenants and taxpayers, says Manhattan Libertarian Party spokesman Jim Lesczynski.

Libertarian candidates and party leaders are expected to speak at the rally, including James Eisert, who is running for state comptroller, Jak Karako (assembly), Nic Leobold (state senate), and former state chair Richard Cooper. Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Scott Jeffrey opposes the scheme and declares, “Corporate welfare and eminent domain abuse like that practiced by The New York Times threatens the rights and welfare of all New Yorkers.” Karako concurs: “When the looting starts, one never knows whose home or business is next.”

Cooper, a long-time advocate against eminent domain abuse, calls this “Times$cam” and declares that “The New York Times and other media outlets should expose eminent domain and corporate welfare, not use them.”

Building owner Sidney Orbach gave Lesczynski, who is organizing the rally, a letter from ESD that was hand-delivered to all of his tenants on August 19. The letter begins: “On August 19, 2002, New York State Urban Development Corporation, doing business as Empire State Development Corporation (‘ESD’), became the owner of the property you occupy. We will require you to relocate within the next few months so that development plans for the 42nd Street Development Project (the 'Project') may proceed.” While the tenants pay rent to the ESD, the legitimate property owners still must pay their mortgages.