FOR RELEASE:        June 16, 2004

 

Develop Don't Destroy Condemns Nets Arena

Gag Order Reported in New York Post Today

DDDB to hold press conference Thursday 6/17 to tell public

what developer Bruce Ratner does not want them to know

 

BROOKLYN -- Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn voiced its outrage today at a report in the New York Post that Forest City Ratner was trying to buy homeowners' silence over FCR's Nets arena and development plan.

            "I'd like to say we were as shocked and appalled as the rest of the community by this revelation, but living in the proposal site, we've already seen how they operate. The sad fact is, this is just the latest in a line of Soviet-style tactics that Bruce Ratner is using to push this deceptive, destructive, anti-democratic plan on the people of Brooklyn," DDDB spokesman Daniel Goldstein said.

            "No community input or dialogue, no facts to back up his assertions about the plan's supposed benefits, no public accountability -- and now no dissent. They might as well call the team the Brooklyn Nyets.

            "What we want to know is, what does Bruce Ratner have to hide? If this plan is such a slam dunk, as Mr. Ratner likes to say, why does it feel like he's shoving the ball down our throats? Why is he forcing people to sign away their free speech rights? And why won't he tell us how much in public tax dollars this project is going to cost?"

For the Post story, go to: www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/23108.htm

For more information on this story, go to: www.developdontdestroy.org

 

NOTE TO EDITORS: Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn will hold a press conference on Thursday June 17^th following a rally that FCR is organizing at Boro Hall in Brooklyn to promote its plans to waste hundreds of millions of tax dollars, forcibly evict people from their homes, destroy the Prospect Heights neighborhood.  DDDB leaders who are not bound by the Ratner gag order will discuss in detail the facts about this project that FCR is hiding.

 

            WHAT:           DDDB Press Conference following Ratner rally

 

            WHO:             Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn

 

            WHERE:         Steps of Boro Hall Plaza, Brooklyn

 

            WHEN:           Thursday, June 17^th

                                    Immediately following Ratner rally (11:30 a.m.)

 

DEVELOP DON'T DESTROY BROOKLYN is a broad-based community coalition fighting for development that will unite our communities instead of dividing and destroying them.