Still early in the fight for Atlantic Yards accountability

Daniel Goldstein has made a tremendous contribution to public awareness of the issues of process, transparency and equity associated with the Atlantic Yards project. It is regrettable that he and many others have been forced to leave their homes.

The struggle for reform of Atlantic Yards oversight, however, is just beginning. Before the project even broke ground, the Empire State Development Corporation had negotiated away most of the public benefits promised at the time of Atlantic Yards’ approval in 2006. And the agency agreed to allow the developer 25 years to build the project, tremendously magnifying the impact of its construction on the surrounding communities.

Decisions made about how the modified plan is implemented will have a huge effect on the project's neighbors and the people of Brooklyn. It's also unlikely that the 2009 modified plan will be the last time Forest City or its successors seek changes to what's been approved for Atlantic Yards. That’s why the sponsors of BrooklynSpeaks continue to advocate for accountability in decision-making on Atlantic Yards, and the meaningful involvement of the community in the future of development at the site, using all the means at our disposal. Over the last several months, we’ve heard this call joined by elected officials, journalists and even in the written decisions of our courts. This fight goes on for all concerned Brooklynites and New Yorkers.