The Atlantic Yards project passed another milestone on Wednesday when the state's economic development agency released the final environmental impact statement, this time reflecting the 8 percent reduction (or whatever you want to call it) that the city Planning Department foisted upon the developer, Forest City Ratner.

The next step is for the Empire State Development Corporation to meet again to approve the general project plan, and then for the now-fabled Public Authorities Control Board to assent -- both of which could happen before Eliot Spitzer is sworn in as governor on Jan. 1.

Spitzer supports the 22-acre arena-and-housing complex, but he might have wanted to tinker a bit around the edges -- which, it now seems, he will not be able to do. E.S.D.C. Chairman Charles Gargano said he would respond to any concerns the Governor-elect raises in the next few weeks, but gave no indication he was willing to push final action into the next Governor's term.

"This thing is overplayed -- and I've seen this on a couple of projects -- about [how] we are trying to get projects done by the end of the year. We are trying to get projects done," Gargano told reporters. "Should we delay them because we are towards the end of the administration? Of course not. We should treat projects in their normal course."

- Matthew Schuerman