Impotence, minimum accountability and lack of oversight: That’s how elected officials and local leaders who gathered for a press conference yesterday characterized public involvement—or the absence thereof—in the Atlantic Yards planning process. The meeting was organized by Brooklyn Speaks to call for the creation of governance bodies that would ensure community involvement in Atlantic Yards planning. Speakers including Councilwoman Letitia James, Democratic District Leader Jo Ann Simon, Assembly member Jim Brennan and Municipal Arts Society President Kent Barwick emphasized that Atlantic Yards has sailed through the state’s approval process without the formal public review normally granted to major developments. Some of the most talented people on the planet live in Brooklyn, said Barwick (at left), and yet there’s no public involvement in its largest development.

So what does the Brooklyn Speaks crowd want? It’s proposing the creation of a project oversight entity made up of city appointees, representatives from Forest City Ratner and local elected officials. The body would be responsible for approving all changes to the project and would in turn be advised by a state- and city-funded stakeholder council comprised of Community Board members and civic leaders.

The press conference was held less than a day after news broke that Forest City Ratner would still receive hundreds of millions of dollars in a carve out to the compromise version of 421-a tax abatement legislation. More than one speaker noted that the project shouldn’t receive any of the hefty public subsidies it’s been promised until Brooklyn residents are more fully involved in the project’s planning. Governor Spitzer is preoccupied right now, but he needs to pay attention to what’s going on in Brooklyn, said James (at right). There should be no public subsidies for Atlantic Yards until there is community involvement.
Reforming the governance of Atlantic Yards: A roadmap [Brooklyn Speaks]
Pols Seeking Say on Arena [NY Post]
421-a Compromise Reached; AY Carve-Out Reduced [Brownstoner]
New Docs Suggest AY Project Riskier Than Thought [Brownstoner]
Marty Axes CB6 Members Who Opposed AY Project [Brownstoner]