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October 24, 2006

BrooklynSpeaks on the Arena and Eminent Domain

BrooklynSpeaks and the Municipal Art Society have received some flak for not taking a strong position on the Arena and Eminent Domain. [NoLandGrab has noted that the group posted a statement about the issue of eminent domain, which was buried somewhere on its web site.]

In order to clarify things a bit, BrooklynSpeaks recently posted this statement:

The Arena
BrooklynSpeaks believes that, before the project can move forward, measures must be in place to mitigate the enormous potential impacts associated with the Arena. These impacts could include: the overwhelming of our transit system; thousands of new vehicular trips in an already congested area; and the creation of a secondary parking industry that would blight the surrounding neighborhoods. To read more on our principle that the project must include a transportation plan that works, click here.

Eminent Domain
BrooklynSpeaks believes that the public process for making land-use determinations, including decisions concerning the use of eminent domain, should be as fair, transparent and open as possible, and involve the public in a meaningful way. This is especially critical when the use of eminent domain is contemplated, because the power of the state is subject to abuse if the public process fails to sufficiently involve all affected parties. The BrooklynSpeaks sponsors believe that the public process for Atlantic Yards so far has been flawed.

link

NoLandGrab: The one thing that BrooklynSpeaks doesn't say is that, in reality (and as far as developer Bruce Ratner is concerned), the arena construction can't go forward without using eminent domain.

So, if eminent domain is a practical barrier to the arena and BrooklynSpeaks has taken a concrete stand against using eminent domain when "the public process for Atlantic Yards so far has been flawed," then it is curious that the coalition has not added it to the list of issues that need to be resolved "before the project can move forward."

Posted by lumi at October 24, 2006 10:23 AM