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May 18, 2010
Atlantic Yards Was Not the Way to Do a CBA
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn
Ratner touted the Atlantic Yards "Community Benefits Agreement" (CBA) as a gem centerpiece of his project. But the CBA establishment understands that the Atlantic Yards CBA is bogus and does not compare favorable to legitimate CBAs. In other words, the CBA was a publicity stunt, rather than the historic agreement Ratner claims. (Note: When legitimate CBAs are struck, community opposition disappears, rather than builds over 7 years as it did with Atlantic Yards.)
Last night the Bar Association of the City of New York hosted a panel discussion titled Community Benefits Agreements: Time for Reform? One thing coming out of that panel is absolutely clear: if New York is going to have CBAs, the way they are done needs to be reformed entirely.
Related coverage...
Noticing New York, New York City Bar Association Program on Community Benefits Agreement Reform: Atlantic Yards Mega-monopoly as Unsurpassable Example of Abuse
Yes, in some respects Atlantic Yards tactics reflect a typical divide-and-conquer-the-community strategy like other CBA situations, but Atlantic Yards itself provides a textbook worth of material to show how Community Benefits Agreements can be manipulated and abused. And it’s likely unenforceable to boot!
Posted by eric at May 18, 2010 10:49 PM