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December 5, 2009
Pro Bono Barrister Verrazano Span Impact Worse Than Atlantic Yards
The Brooklyn Eagle
By Charles F. Otey, Esq.
This article compares the Atlantic Yards fight to attempts to keep construction of the Verrazano Bridge from decimating Bay Ridge. A mixed message results.
Here, opponents are encouraged to oppose the proposed Atlantic Yards project even as it is echoes empty job promises.
The DDDB people promise to carry on. And they should. Yet, in this troubled economy leaders such as Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Borough Marty President Markowitz have reiterated their support for the Atlantic Yards, which will bring thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in construction.
Where is the evidence for the statement that "Housing and business there will dramatically improve"?
And this is where any parallels between DDDB and the “Save Bay Ridge Committee” that opposed Moses in the 1950s must fail. Greater Bay Ridge — also identified as southwest Brooklyn — lost almost 15 per cent of its largely residential territory with construction of bridge approaches. In exchange, the remaining residents received only a massive polluting series of highways!
In sharp contrast, Downtown Brooklyn will see a healthier economy. Housing and business there will dramatically improve.
The following paragraphs indicate that it is "sensible" to oppose developer Bruce Ratner's plans, but the opposition still receives a scolding.
This is not to say that Ratner and his plans are valid and final. Solid and sensible opposition remains such as that voiced by Assemblyman Jim Brennan, who correctly complained to one newspaper that the Empire State Development Corporation, the overseeing agency. “has handed over to Forest City Ratner control of 22 acres of Brooklyn, no strings attached.”
Unlike the emperor-like authority granted to Robert Moses more than half a century ago, there are a myriad of legal and regulatory hurdles Forest City Ratner must yet deal with. If Ratner’s opponents are truly interested in developing Brooklyn, they’ll switch gears and direct their considerable energy and talent to making sure the final project serves the borough’s best interests.
NoLandGrab: When the proposed Atlantic Yards project is stopped, opponents will be more than happy to switch their gears and support the UNITY Plan.
Posted by steve at December 5, 2009 9:14 AM