Develop-- don't destroy.

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DDDb is the leader and organized voice of a broad-based coalition of organizations opposing Forest City Ratner's proposed arena / high-rise project in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS:

Reached out to tens of thousands of community members by petitioning, maintaining web sites and e-mail lists, attending community board and block association meetings throughout Brooklyn, issuing direct mail, press media, and maintaining regular contact through a newsletter with a mailing list of thousands of supporters.
Recruited more than 250 volunteers who carry out the organization's work.
Become the information clearinghouse for civic organizations, individuals, journalists, and professionals looking for information and status on the issue.
Organized several community rallies–including a march from Brooklyn Borough Hall to City Hall–the largest of which was attended by 3000 people and supported by 40 organizations.
Led a collaborative effort with several other organizations to reach out to more than 400 community-based organizations in the area to engage and educate the community at large about the environmental review process.
Recruited dozens of local community-based groups and citywide government watchdog groups to create public letters demanding fiscal transparency, accountability, and adherence to the established legal process.
Held numerous meetings with citizens who live in the proposed development's footprint and surrounding neighborhoods.

RESEARCH

Researched and/or released and secured widespread attention for five major, detailed reports or white papers:

A professional economic analysis that found a $1.3 billion credibility gap in Forest City Ratner Companies' (FCRC) numbers http://dddb.net/public/KimPeebles.pdf
An analysis of the proposed arena's vulnerability to terrorist attacks http://dddb.net/security/index.php
A concise summary of the basic facts and financials of the proposed development http://dddb.net/dummies/index.php
An in-depth analysis, authored by Norman Oder, of the problems with the New York Times's coverage of the issue http://dddb.net/times/index.php
A report linking the city's 2012 Olympic bid tthe proposed arena: http://dddb.net/olympics/watchdog.pdf

POLITICAL OUTREACH and PUBLIC RELATIONS

Drove the successful effort to force the land-holding government agency (MTA) to release bids to the public.
Organized lobbying trips to Albany to educate state assemblymen and senators about what's wrong with the FCRC proposal and what type of development would truly benefit the affected communities. Met with legislators as well as their heads of staff in numerous private meetings.
Met with the district managers and chairpersons of local Community Boards 2, 6 and 8 and attended dozens of committee meetings to participate in discussion of issue.
Met with more than half of New York's City Council members and successfully lobbied for two major City Council public hearings. Provided expert testimonies at various official hearings and at public information meetings. Appeared and spoke at MTA board meetings.
Held numerous press conferences, driving the opposition's position in the media. Gave countless interviews to local, city, and national media as primary source for opposition viewpoints. Met with editorial boards of NYC's major daily newspapers. Quoted and cited in majority of articles published currently.
Exposed BUILD IRS documents showing $5 million payment from Forest City Ratner

ALTERNATIVE PLANS

Co-sponsored the creation of three alternative development plans (for both an arena and for the site targeted by FCRC) that illustrate flaws and weaknesses in the FCRC Plan.
Participated in the Atlantic Yards Development Workshop, sponsored by Councilwoman Letitia James, that resulted in the UNITY Community Development plan. (http://dddb.net/public/UNITY.pdf).
Promoted and brought widespread attention to the UNITY plan in the months following the workshop.
Participated in the development of the community guidelines from the
UNITY plan.
Distributed the government's RFP and the community development guidelines to developers around the world. Located a developer that submitted a superior, financially viable, alternative bid, gaining national attention, forcing a 45-day delay in the process, and an increase of the FCRC bid by $50 million.

LEGAL INITIATIVES

Established a multi-faceted legal team including noted Civil Liberties lawyer Norman Siegel and top-ten-rated New York State law firm Young, Sommer to mount a range of legal challenges to the FCRC Plan.
Filed amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief to the United States Supreme Court in support of the New London, Connecticut homeowners in the landmark eminent domain case, Kelo v. The City of New London (www.dddb.net/public/DDDBamicusbrief.pdf)
Secured pro-bono legal consultation and advice for the lower-income tenants in the footprint of the proposed development.
Lodged a Conflicts-of-Interest complaint about the City Planning Commissioner's investment in the proposed project, resulting in the commissioner recusing herself from decisions pertaining to the proposal.

Untitled Document

Visit DanZanes.com

Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn's
Position Statement

Who Opposes Ratner's Proposal?

Principles For Responsible Community Development On The Vanderbilt Rail Yards

Google News, Keywords: Eminent Domain

>> PLEASE DONATE <<
Our neighors need our help...

March 4, 2006
Vigil Marks Week Since Brooklyn Family Killed In Suspicious Fire

Make checks payable to:
The Fofana Family Fund
Reference #800764350
Carver Federal Savings Bank
4 Hanson Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
For more information, please call Council Member Letitia James
718-260-9191

"Community" Benefits Agreement btwn Ratner & 8 groups (pdf)

Housing MOU btwn ACORN and Ratner (pdf)

Memorandum of Understanding signed by Ratner, New York City and State.
MOU with NY City & State
(see MTA Letter to Forest City Ratner).

Develop–Don't Destroy Brooklyn is advocating to bring greater transparency, government accountability and community involvement to the development of the Atlantic Yards area in Brooklyn. We challenge Bruce Ratner's proposed Nets Arena and 17 Highrise development plan for the area.
What is Ratner proposing?

People in Brooklyn may want the Nets, but no one wants a secret, taxpayer- subsidized sweetheart deal forced on Brooklyn’s communities. We want a development plan that's good for Brooklyn, not simply good for Mr. Ratner and his friends.
What's wrong with Ratner's proposal?

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's list of achievements.

Thursday, October 16, 1pm. Public Hearing on Term Limits Bills. Council Chambers - City Hall. Details: Int 845 - By Council Member Felder (by request of the Mayor)
- A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to term
limits for elected officials.

Int 850 - By Council Members Weprin, de Blasio, Gioia and Liu - A
Local Law to amend the New York City Charter, in relation to providing
that any changes to term limits for elected officers must be submitted
for the approval of the electors.

Preconsidered Int____ - By Council Members James and de Blasio – A Local Law - To establish a Charter Revision Commission to draft a
new or revised City Charter.

Res 1640 - By Council Member Avella - Resolution calling upon the
State Legislature to adopt legislation amending the State Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL) to give the City the authority to provide in its Charter that any change in the City's term limits law must be subject to voter referendum.

Governmental Operations * Addition Simcha Felder, Chair.

Friday, October 17, 10am. Public Hearing on Term Limits Bills. Committee Room - City Hall. Details: Int 845 - By Council Member Felder (by request of the Mayor)
- A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to term
limits for elected officials.

Int 850 - By Council Members Weprin, de Blasio, Gioia and Liu - A
Local Law to amend the New York City Charter, in relation to providing
that any changes to term limits for elected officers must be submitted
for the approval of the electors.

Preconsidered Int____ - By Council Members James and de Blasio – A Local Law - To establish a Charter Revision Commission to draft a
new or revised City Charter.

Res 1640 - By Council Member Avella - Resolution calling upon the
State Legislature to adopt legislation amending the State Municipal Home Rule Law (MHRL) to give the City the authority to provide in its Charter that any change in the City's term limits law must be subject to voter referendum.

Governmental Operations * Addition Simcha Felder, Chair.

Saturday, October 18, 5:15pm. Walkathon 4: Nighttime Walk to Raise Funds for the Fight Against Atlantic Yards. Starts in front of Bob Law's Seafood Cafe. 637 Vanderbilt -- btwn St. Marks and Prospect Place. Please Mark Your Calendars for October 18th when DDDB will hold...

For this year's Walkathon, which depends upon your active participation and sponsor solicitation, we are doing something new. The walk will take place in the twilight hours and the walkers will carry candles to shine a light on the numerous abuses of Ratner's Atlantic Yards plan.

The walk will start in front of Bob Law's Seafood Cafe (637 Vanderbilt -- btwn St. Marks and Prospect Place) and finish with a walk after party including free food and live music at the Brooklyn Lyceum (227 4th Avenue at Union Street).

Registration for walkers will start at 5:15 in front of Bob Law's Seafood Cafe, and the walk will start go from 6:15 - 7:30

Your support and participation are more important than ever as we approach the completion of the fifth year in the fight against Atlantic Yards and for responsible, democratic development.