Governance reform

On Saturday, June 11, community members, civic organizations and elected officials came together to hear about how legislation now before the State Assembly and Senate can help make Atlantic Yards accountable to the public. Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries explained how, against the lobbying efforts of developer Forest City Ratner, a bill to require the Empire State Development Corporation to form a subsidiary for Atlantic Yards oversight has cleared two key Assembly committees, and is one step away from going to the floor. But as State Senator Velmanette Montgomery warned, it’s critical that New Yorkers make their voices heard because “we are dealing with an environment where money trumps almost everything. It is only the voters who are going to be able to match the leverage."

If you weren’t able to join us on Saturday and sign a letter to the State legislative leadership, please take a minute to email each of them now by clicking the links below. It just takes a minute, and your voice will make a big difference!

Send an email NOW!

(Photo: Tracy Collins)

Real Governance Matters

A Community Forum
2:00 PM, Saturday, June 11, 2011
Atlantic Terrace
673 Atlantic Avenue
Corner of South Portland St.

It’s been more than a year since Atlantic Yards broke ground, and more than four years since the project was approved. Now construction may take 25 years or longer. Promised jobs and affordable housing haven’t materialized, while hundreds of millions of tax payer dollars have been spent already. And in the near term, most of what Brooklyn may end up with is an arena and a massive surface parking lot.

How did this happen? And, more importantly, what can be done now to ensure that promised public benefits are delivered and construction impacts are reduced?

Join the BrooklynSpeaks sponsors, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery and other local elected officials Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 2:00PM for a community forum on real reform of Atlantic Yards oversight. Find out what community organizations and local legislators are doing to make Forest City Ratner and the Empire State Development Corporation accountable to Brooklyn and to New York City.

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell what is really going on at Atlantic Yards. A new video asks about public benefits, accountability, oversight, and the legal challenge to the project's environmental review. Does it have a happy ending? We'll have to wait to find out...