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October 24, 2006
PRESS RELEASE: Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn Walkathon Raises Over $100,000 for Legal Fight Against Ratner's Atlantic Yards
Over 1,200 Donors Prep Fight Against Eminent Domain Abuse, Environmental Degradation and Undemocratic Development Process
BROOKLYN, NY— On Saturday, October 21st, at the Second Annual Walk Don’t Destroy Walkathon, Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB) raised over $100,000 for its legal war chest in preparation for looming legal battles against the abuse of eminent domain, a faulty environmental impact statement, and the subversion of democratic process engendered by Forest City Ratner’s “Atlantic Yards” development proposal.
On a beautiful fall day nearly 400 walkers and their 1,200 sponsors raised substantial funds in the one-day Walkathon held in and around Prospect Park in Brooklyn. After the two mile walk, walkers enjoyed a concert and heard speakers including City Councilman Tony Avella, DDDB Attorney Jeffrey Baker and DDDB Advisory Board member actor/director Steve Buscemi.
At the post walk concert at the Prospect Park bandshell, DDDB attorney Jeffrey Baker said, “The ‘Atlantic Yards’ proposal violates the UDC Act, the State’s environmental laws, and the U.S. Constitution. We are going to win this fight.”
Confirming the momentum and growing size of the opposition to Ratner’s mega-project, the money raised at the event nearly doubled the amount raised at last year’s First Annual Walkathon.
“As everyone knows legal representation is costly. And though we augment our attorneys with a superb team of local volunteer attorneys our looming legal fees could reach up to one million dollars,” said DDDB spokesman Daniel Goldstein. “This Walkathon is just a part of our ongoing fundraising efforts. We call on all concerned citizens, city, state and nationwide–all citizens who care about democracy, fighting eminent domain abuse, corporate welfare, and the right of communities to have a meaningful voice in their futures–to contribute to Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn’s legal fund over the coming months.”
Photos from the Walkathon can be found here: www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=291
Posted by lumi at October 24, 2006 7:14 AM