NEW YORK, NY September 08, 2008 —When the Empire State Development Corporation held hearings last week on whether to declare property in West Harlem "blighted," no board members showed up. That's not unusual for the state authority, but it would be if another agency were in charge. WNYC's Matthew Schuerman explains.

REPORTER: The city planning commission and City Council require a quorum of their members to be present before holding hearings. When the MTA or Port Authority are considering toll or fare hikes, at least a couple commissioners show up. Landmarks preservation commissioners regularly come out for hearings, sometimes three times a month, and they don't even get paid.

But the bylaws of the Empire State Development Corporation don't require board members to be present when the public gives feedback, be it on Atlantic Yards, the Javits Convention Center, or last week's hearing on Columbia University's expansion plans. Instead, a spokesman for the authority says board members receive transcripts, which they have plenty of time to review before they vote. For WNYC, I'm Matthew Schuerman.