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May 2, 2005
Markowitz Letter
Marty is sending this form letter (see below) to constituents who are concerned or opposed to Ratner's arena and high-rise tower proposal. Read it with a grain of salt:
The jobs figures are specious at best if much of the touted office space are to become residential as FCR is now claiming.
Marty is right that the EIS will finally "provide information on many issues that are of vital interest to the community." However, contrary to his claims, there is no mechanism for "ongoing public disclosure" and "community participation" in the state process. He might be confusing this with the local review process called ULURP, which, according to New York State, doesn't apply here.
The economic backbone of Brooklyn, since the decline of the manufacturing sector, has been small businesses. Many components of Ratner's plan are anti-small business (i.e. national chain and box store retailers and displacement of existing small businesses).
OFFICE OF THE BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT
MARTY MARKOWITZ
President
April 21, 2005
Dear Neighbor:
As your Borough President, I have an absolute responsibility to share with
you any information concerning the Atlantic Yards development and what it
will mean to your communities. My goal is clear - this project should be a
benefit and not a detriment to your community, and should work for all of
Brooklyn. Atlantic Yards will bring a national sports franchise - the NBA
Nets - to Brooklyn for the first time since the Dodgers left for Los
Angeles in 1957. It includes a brand-new, state-of-the-art arena designed
by one of the world's great architects, Frank Gehry, which will also be
used for events such as concerts, circuses, ice shows, amateur sports, and
community activities.
But the project represents much more. It includes thousands of units of new housing that will be guaranteed affordable to low- and moderate-income Brooklynites, including seniors. It includes new commercial and retail space that will create an estimated 10,000 permanent, full-time jobs. That's on top of about 15,000 construction-related jobs over the next ten years, all of which will be filled by unionized workers. Many of these contracts and construction jobs will go to minority- and/or women-owned businesses located in Brooklyn.
Atlantic Yards represents a huge economic and cultural boost that will propel us toward a better future for Brooklyn's families, and our children's families. Clearly, I support this project. But as someone who serves all of Brooklyn, I understand and share many of the concerns that those residing in the surrounding area have expressed.
All of us realize that there are legitimate concerns regarding this project. Now that the Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the City, State, and the developer, the real work related to planning and oversight begins. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Atlantic Yards will provide information on many issues that are of vital interest to the community, such as traffic and parking, public transit, parks and open space, community facilities such as schools and libraries, noise, air quality, shadows, zoning, land use, infrastructure, solid waste, social and economic impact, and neighborhood character. I am committed to ensuring that there will be a transparent EIS process and ongoing public disclosure of plans, because the best planning process is one that includes community participation.
People of good will can differ. And constructive opposition is something I value and cherish because I honestly believe that it makes for a better plan. If you have constructive suggestions regarding any of these issues, I urge you to submit them to me at askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.
Better yet, decide now to become actively involved in the community review process, which will begin with a public hearing regarding the scope of the EIS. Please watch for announcements of the date, time, and location of this initial hearing and other public hearings on my website, www.brooklyn-usa.org, as well as in your local community newspapers and other relevant websites.
We are all equal stakeholders in Brooklyn's future, and I fully respect that you care as much about that future as I do. I am confident that by working together, we can ensure that Atlantic Yards will become not only a great source of new jobs and affordable homes, but that it will help give many Brooklynites the chance they deserve to break out of poverty. I have only one agenda in my entire professional life, and that is to make life better for all Brooklynites.
Sincerely, Marty Markowitz
Posted by lumi at May 2, 2005 8:35 AM