Several City Council members are finding themselves caught between a rock and a hard place-or, more aptly, a mud pit and a chop shop-as they try to protect Willets Point from the threat of eminent domain.

The city's $3 billion redevelopment plan for the Queens neighborhood calls for leveling the frequently flooded 62-acre plot of auto body repair shops, dirt roads and food supply businesses to make room for an office park, a hotel, restaurants, residential housing, new retail and a convention center. The city's Economic Development Corporation has already acquired land from two neighborhood merchants, but continues to wrestle with small business owners unwilling to abandon their shops.

While 29 of the 51 Council members signed a letter in April proclaiming solidarity with the storeowners who work in the shadows of Shea Stadium, they now face opposition from union leaders and state legislators who have thrown their support behind the new development.

"The redevelopment plan," boasted Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber, in a statement, "already has the support of City, State and Federal elected officials, labor groups and environmental advocates."

But Queens Council members, many of them eyeing runs for higher office, have contested the plan, pushing for greater compensation for business owners and more designated affordable housing.

Council Member Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) has been criticizing the new development since February.

"The plan is clearly insufficient," said Monserrate, who represents Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights and now is poised to take the State Senate seat currently held by John Sabini (D-Queens) this fall. But Monserrate tempered his criticism with optimism, "that we can work together on a development plan," and labeled the unions' support, "an incredibly important piece to this project."

Monserrate is walking a tight rope between unhappy business owners, represented by the Willets Point Industry and Realty Association, and labor interests, excited by the 23,000 jobs the Bloomberg administration has promised with the plan.

The Association filed suit against the mayor, Department of Environmental Protection and Departments of Sanitation and Transportation in April, charging that the city had failed to provide basic repairs to the streets and storm sewers to enable the use of eminent domain.

"The businesses will have nowhere to go," said Patricia Jones, a spokesperson for the Association, who sent an open letter to several New York labor leaders asking them to withdraw support for the redevelopment.

But the New York City Central Labor Council remained enthusiastic as they rallied for the redevelopment on the steps of City Hall June 26, flanked by a swath of Queens Democrats which included Assembly Members Nettie Mayersohn, Mark Weprin, José Peralta, Ellen Young, State Sen. Toby Stavisky and Borough President Helen Marshall.

"I am so glad they are finally going to do something about the area," said Mayersohn.

Reflecting on shop owners and housing advocates who have protested the plan, she added, "I have no idea why anyone is opposed to it."

The neighborhood community board also gave renovation a thumbs-up, albeit with some restrictions.

"The EDC and the entire city have come up with some very solid, reasonable, valid recommendations," said Charles Apelian, chair of the land use subcommittee for Queens Community Board 7. "The board did not support eminent domain, but realized it could be a necessary part of the process."

On June 23, the subcommittee approved the plan to rezone the area by a vote of 22 to 3. The full community board followed suit the following week by a vote of 21-15, with provisions that the EDC create a mitigation fund to pay for resulting traffic and infrastructure problems and a second vote on the final plan after a developer is selected.
Council Member John Liu said he understands the opposition, and that is why he joined fellow Queens Democrats Monserrate and Council Member Tony Avella in an open letter recommending Community Board 7 reject the rezoning of Willets Point.

Sorting through the conflicting interest groups on either side of the Willets Point debate may pose problems for Liu, who has amassed a large campaign war chest in preparation for an indeterminate run next year, and for others like him.

"I don't think it's possible to break it down into a black or white issue," he said.
But, he added, "It is always good to have labor behind you."

Avella has been less gentle in his criticism for the plan or the overall development history of the Bloomberg administration.

"This will put family-owned businesses into bankruptcy," said Avella. "They haven't been addressing community concerns, and they have a bad track record."

This puts Avella, himself a prospective 2009 mayoral candidate, in a position which potentially antagonizes both the administration and organized labor.

"As a resident of Tony Avella's district, I won't support him if he isn't creating jobs," said Whitestone resident Jim Conway, the political director for the Local 14 Operating Engineers Union.

Before the Council votes this fall, Liu, Monserrate and Avella will have to weigh the risks and benefits of endorsing the plan or remaining opposed.

Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf advised them to stick to their guns.

"It's wise to take a community advocate position, and it's always smart to be against eminent domain," he said. "Some might say that they are risking alienating the labor vote, but labor alone has never won an election for anyone."