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September 26, 2012
Barclays Center Opens in Brooklyn with Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Jewish Voice
by Dr. Dan Miller
We celebrate Yom Kippur by celebrating The Jewish Voice's celebration of the Barclays Center, brought to us by Brooklyn's two greatest Jews.
The visions of a prominent Jewish family, a popular longtime popular borough president, a Russian billionaire and the mayor of New York City—not to mention myriads of local sports fans—came to fruition last Friday at the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn. The auspicious event was hosted by visionary real estate developer Bruce Ratner, who was joined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Barclays Executive Chairman of the Americas Thomas L. Kalaris, senior executives from Forest City Enterprises including Charles Ratner, Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yormark, and Lt. Governor Robert Duffy.
...Bruce Ratner, the Chairman and CEO of Forest Ratner Companies (FCRC) was humbled, visibly showing tears during his highly emotional speech as well as during his introductions of the dignitaries who sat on the stage. It was obvious that this new venture was a dream come true for Mr. Ratner as it was for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the leading cheerleader for Brooklyn, whose 2.6 million residents making it the fourth largest city in the United States. The project itself began almost a decade ago as an idea discussed between Ratner and Markowitz.
Sure it did. We all know that it was Stephen Witt who hatched the idea.
Posted by eric at September 26, 2012 10:30 AM