Clarifying Associated Press Story On
Atlantic Yards and Eminent Domain

We Aren't Going Anywhere!

Special Report By Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn

[January 5, 2010] Brooklyn, New York—The Associated Press ran a story over the
weekend headlined "As Brooklyn NBA arena project moves ahead, hopes dim for
neighborhood holdouts." It left out some key information.

(The big Atlantic Yards media item of the weekend was George Will's scathing
Washington Post column about New York State's perversion of "blight" to justify
eminent domain for Atlantic Yards.)

The Atlantic Yards project is not a "Brooklyn NBA arena" project. It is proposed to
be 16 skyscrapers and an arena for the Nets in the middle of low-rise Brooklyn
neighborhoods. The Nets and the NBA are just levers to gain 22-acres of valuable
real estate in the heart of Brooklyn. The project, announced by "developer" Bruce
Ratner in December 2003, bypassed all New York City and State legislative oversight,
despite the fact that it would be the largest project in Brooklyn's history, would receive
over $2 billion in taxpayer subsidies, breaks and gifts, uses eminent domain theft for
private gain, and includes a sweetheart land deal between the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority.

"The story of Atlantic Yards is that it is a politically corrupt deal, a land grab based
on the collusion of the highest levels of state government and developer Forest City
Ratner," said Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn spokesman Daniel Goldstein. "All the
problems that result—the irrational size of the project, the traffic that would result, the
extreme density without suitable infrastructure, the various negative environmental
impacts, the residential displacement—are symptoms of a broken system and a corrupt
process."

The AP article failed to mention two pending lawsuits against the project and two
pending motions in the state's high court which challenge the project's use of eminent
domain. The article also fails to mention the numerous legal challenges which will
shortly come when the state attempts to take title to properties and sever leases with
eminent domain.

"The article implied that I was getting ready to move out of my home, which the state
wants to steal and give to Ratner to build his billion dollar, publicly-subsidized arena
and the rest of his boondoggle. But I'm not going anywhere, and neither are my
neighbors who live and own property in the coveted project site," Goldstein said.
"We will not leave our homes unless all of our legal options to stay are extinguished.
And, if need be, others still will fight for their homes and businesses beyond that."

[DEVELOP DON'T DESTROY BROOKLYN leads a broad-based community coalition fighting for 
development that will unite our communities instead of dividing and destroying them. DDDB is 501c3 
non-profit corporation supported by over 4,700 individual donors from the community. 

As the legal fight moves forward, your financial support is critical. Please consider and end- of-year
tax-deductible contribution. Please donate to Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn so we can all win in
the courts: http://www.dddb.net/donate]

[See also EMPTY DOMAIN: Land Confiscated In "Public Interest" Under Supreme Court Eminent
Domain Decision Goes To Waste in Issue #54 of The SHADOW, as well as New Life For Eminent
Domain Lawsuit and Atlantic Yards Arena Bonds Appear To Be Illegal and Gov. Paterson Allows
ESDC To Move Forward With Eminent Domain VS Homes + Businesses Two Days Before Xmas]

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