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October 16, 2007
This Week's Atlantic Yards Issue: Terror Risk
Gothamist
Jen Chung sums up the Atlantic Yards security issue, which may seem like the issue of the week, but as Chung notes, "DDDB has actually been worried about terror risks since last year."
NoLandGrab: Based upon the Gothamist 
comments section, it appears the public thinks that Atlantic Yards critics are really grasping at straws and are attempting to exploit the public's fear of terrorism.
Whatever — this issue has been on the radar for the past TWO years, primarily due to the work and efforts of Prospect Heights resident Al Rosner.
July, 2005
A white paper, "Terrorism, Security and the Proposed Brooklyn Atlantic Yards High Rise and Arena Development Project," was released. It has been available for download on NoLandGrab for the past two years.
December, 2005
A letter addressed to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, signed by local elected officials, requested that the NYPD undertake a security study of the Atlantic Yards project as it did for the Freedom Tower. This letter has remained unanswered.
July, 2006
White paper author Al Rosner issued an open letter exhorting public officials and the press to ask tough questions about "Glass-clad skyscrapers, next to a glass sports arena, above the third largest transportation hub in the city."
November, 2006
The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods Calls on Public Authorities Control Board for Terror Study (press release).
The Final Environmental Impact Statement issued by the Empire State Development Corporaton states in Chapter 24, page 235, "Emergency scenarios such as a large-scale terrorist attack similar to the World Trade Center attack, a biological or chemical attack, or a bomb are not considered a reasonable worst-case scenario and are therefore outside the scope of the EIS."
October, 2007
The announcement that Newark officals have authorized street closings for the city's arena illustrates the point that Atlantic Yards critics have been making for more than two years.
Posted by lumi at October 16, 2007 8:43 AM