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September 17, 2007
Residents Concerned Over Construction At Atlantic Yards
NY1
By Kristen Shaughnessy
Some residents who live near the Atlantic Yards project claim their well-being is at stake because there is no government oversight of the work, which is now in the early demolition stages. They point to the collapse of a 200-foot-long section of the parapet wall on the Ward Bakery building earlier this year as crews were removing asbestos.
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The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods says it has been more than 130 days since the ESDC promised to name an ombudsman so the community would have someone it trusted to go to with its concerns. At this point they say they doubt they'll get anyone like that.
"We have no confidence at this point that an ombudsman will be anything more than a figurehead to oversee a project to allow Ratner to run roughshod over the community,” said Candace Carpenter of the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods.
In response, the ESDC said it's met with various groups and elected leaders to get their input and added that filling the job cannot and should not be done quickly.
"ESDC has also been taking the time necessary to interview candidates before selecting an ombudsperson who will be a liaison to the neighborhoods in and around the project's footprint. Given the prominent role the ombudsperson will play it's important that we make the right choice, not the expedient choice,” the ESDC said in a statement.
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Posted by lumi at September 17, 2007 7:19 PM