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June 9, 2012
Church, Civic Groups to Rally Sunday Over Atlantic Yards 'Broken Promises'
Prospect Heights Patch
More than two dozen churches have teamed up with Atlantic Yards watchdog groups to demand that state and city officials step in to make sure the developer delivers the jobs and affordable housing he promised.
The coalition has organized a rally on Sunday, June 10 at 3 p.m. at the corner of Atlantic and South Portland avenues to make their concerns heard.
“The assembly will demand the promised housing and jobs from the developer, Forest City Ratner Companies, which has received over $200 million in subsidies to date without equal public benefit or investment,” said a press release from Brown Memorial Baptist Church, which organized the rally along with 25 other central Brooklyn churches and Atlantic Yards watchdog groups Brooklyn Speaks and Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn.
“Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, zoning overrides, and the power of eminent domain were given to developer Forest City Ratner in exchange for affordable housing, permanent and construction jobs, and public benefits," said a news release from Brooklyn Speaks, a coalition of neighborhood groups.
"More than five years after the project’s approval, New Yorkers still aren’t close to getting what we were promised,” the release continued.
Area politicians, including Councilwoman Letitia James and state Senator Velmanette Montgomery, are slated to speak.
Posted by steve at June 9, 2012 7:06 PM