Governance reform

BrooklynSpeaks has learned that Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries’ bill (A11431) reforming Atlantic Yards governance has passed the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee.

“The BrooklynSpeaks sponsors support the new legislation and are monitoring the legislative progress closely. Today, we are beginning a public campaign to see that the legislation passes both the Assembly and the State Senate and becomes law. For the last three years, BrooklynSpeaks sponsors have advocated for transparency with respect to project governance, as well as for the involvement of the public in the decision-making process. This legislation is an important first step towards those goals,” said Jo Anne Simon, District Leader of the 52nd Assembly District. “We encourage all Brooklynites and New Yorkers concerned about accountability at Atlantic Yards to sign our online petition calling for swift passage of this legislation.”

The BrooklynSpeaks petition is available at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/reformay/petition.html.

A coalition of Brooklyn elected officials and civic groups today gathered on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan on June 16, 2008 to launch the “Campaign to Reform Atlantic Yards,” an initiative to pass new legislation that would reform the governance of the Atlantic Yards project.

The Campaign was launched in response to the continued lack of accountability, transparency and public involvement in the governance of the Atlantic Yards project. Modeled on the Hudson River Trust Act of 1998, the Atlantic Yards Governance Act (A09012) would address this by creating the “Atlantic Yards Development Trust” to oversee the project with a board of state and city appointed officials. The legislation also would create a “Stakeholders Council” comprised of local residents appointed by local elected officials that would advise the Trust and provide an opportunity for meaningful impact.