No Land Grab

Eddie Hampton
[Street address withheld]
Brooklyn, NY 11233

Mr. Bruce Ratner

April 6, 2007

Dear Mr. Ratner,

My name is Eddie Hampton, I am a retired New York City Police Detective, who has lived in Brooklynfor more than 35 years. I am also a long time community activist , I started my activism, around the time when the city was closing Sydenham Hospital in Harlem. I have marched in numerous demonstrations and have worked for, and with many local elected officials in New York City.

I remember marching with then Assemblyman Roger Green to try and save Cumberland Hospital, we couldn't get any air time from the major media, I have marched with then Council member Annette M. Robinson and Assemblyman Al Vann about crime and the lack of police protection in Bedford Stuyvesant, guess what, no major media would air our grievance.

It is truly pathetic that a few white people, I have never seen more than 25 protesters, can hinder a project with so much promise for the people of Brooklyn. Two weeks ago about 12 white protesters came out onPacific Street and I saw CBS, WABC, New York 1 and several other news media covering this event, I wonder why? Is it because it has been reported that Rapper Jay Z has some ownership in Atlantic Yards and the Nets? Is it because some Black African American construction workers might get jobs? Is it because some Black African Americans Executives might be given positions in management. Is it because as has been rumored that some Black African American businesses may get contracts to run concessions in the new arena?

I have heard the complaints by some of the protesters regarding Atlantic Yards. I have heard them talk about traffic congestion in the city, I have heard them talk about preserving the facade of some of the buildings, I have heard them talk about immanent domain issues and etc. These issues have not stopped any project in New York City other than the West side project in Manhattan which also promised jobs to the chronically unemployed in this city.

I have traveled all over this city into almost every neighborhood and there is a building boom almost everywhere. If traffic patterns and imminent domain issues were applied to other projects as they are applied to Atlantic Yards, you couldn't build anything anywhere in this city. What could be more congested than 42ndStreet, new construction is going up over there. Donald Trump is building numerous high rise buildings on the upper west side of Manhattan, what about traffic congestion there? Wall Street probably the most congested section of New York City, guess what, new construction going on down there.

It just seems unfortunate that the management of Atlantic Yards appear to be laying down and not fighting back. They need to call it what it is. This no more than economic racism coming from the power elite, I have read Carl Marx' Communist Manifesto and understand that the authority of the bureaucracy is threatened by a strong middle class.

There are people in this city who are guardians of White Supremacy, who continue to deny Black African American men and women opportunities in this city.

Sincerely,
Eddie Hampton
cc: Various Elected Officials
Various News Media