By Jill Colvin and Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
BATTERY PARK CITY — Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo heaped praise on the Battery Park City Authority Wednesday, calling it a model agency.
Earlier this month, a state Inspector General report revealed that the Authority wasted over $300,000 on lavish parties and meals, but Cuomo did not mention that while speaking to reporters Wednesday.
"The Battery Park City Authority done a lot of great work over the years," Cuomo said after delivering turkeys to the New York City Rescue Mission. "Battery Park City is actually a stellar example of private-public partnership. It’s taught in architecture schools all across the country. So it’s actually a great long-term success."
In the wake of the Inspector General’s report, some local leaders have called on the Battery Park City Authority to be phased out, but Cuomo did not mention that on Wednesday.
Cuomo will control the Authority’s board once he takes office in January and said he plans to do a "comprehensive review of all the agencies and all the authorities to see how we can streamline and reorganize to reduce costs while providing the services we need to survive."
At the same time, Mayor Bloomberg and Comptroller John Liu are considering exercising their option to buy Battery Park City for $1 and shutter the Authority. They would not need Cuomo’s permission to do so.
Cuomo did not directly address that possibility on Wednesday, and his spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
