FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2002

CORPORATION COUNSEL CLARIFIES CITY’S
ROLE IN LEASE TO FEE CONVERSION PROCESS

          In response to questions from both the public and the news media about the lease-to-fee-conversion process, City Corporation Counsel David Arakawa issued the following statement.

        “Corporation Counsel and Special Deputy Corporation Counsel Lex Smith have advised the Mayor that the City’s process--both the City Council’s and the Mayor’s—is governed by the current law and the Coon case that was recently decided by the State Supreme Court.  Under the current law, the City is required to move forward with the filing of the lease-to-fee condemnation once applicants and the project have been determined to meet the criteria for condemnation.

          “These three projects have all been determined to have met those criteria.  Therefore, the Mayor will allow the lease to fee to proceed without his signature.”

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