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August 3, 2012
Assemblyman and Congressional Nominee Still Keeps Subway Office Hours
MetroFocus
by Georgia Kral
A half-block from the 78th Precinct and practically in the shadow of the controversial Atlantic Yards development, residents stopped and talked with Jeffries about the hot topics that residents of Prospect Heights and Park Slope are most likely affected by: affordable housing, development in the area and of course, the soon-to-open Barclays Center — the heart of Atlantic Yards.
Many of the area’s residents have come to terms with the fact that the Barclays Center is happening, said Jeffries. While a group of residents fought a long legal battle to stop the arena and the entire project from coming to the area, most people have shifted their focus.
“Before construction began, concerns were about whether it [Atlantic Yards] could be halted. Then it shifted moving on to concerns about how to deal with quality of life issues,” said Jeffries. “There’s still an active group of residents in Prospect Heights who are committed to mitigating the adverse impacts of the project.”
And over time, Jeffries added, there has been an acceptance of the reality of the development.
Kathryn, a resident of nearby Park Slope for 16 years who did not want to give her last name, agreed with Jeffries’ assessment of the state of the protest against Atlantic Yard.
“It’s a done deal, unfortunately,” she said. “But as residents it’s important for us… to continue to be proactive.”
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Prospect Heights Patch, Hakeem Jeffries Holds 'Subway Office Hours'
Ralph Vernon, a Prospect Heights resident for more than 40 years talked to Jeffries about how he is thankful for the jobs that the Barclays Center will bring, but is worried about the increased rent that will come along with the neighborhood becoming a destination.
“Times are tough and a lot of families are struggling,” he told Metrofocus. “This is affecting people who live here. People will have to move out.”
NoLandGrab: It's nice that Hakeem Jeffries is talking to constituents about the Barclays Center, but nearby residents don't need him to be their shrink — they need him to do something about it.
Posted by eric at August 3, 2012 10:18 AM