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Develop-
don't destroy
BROOKLYN
For Immediate
Release: July 22, 2005
Terrorism Threat in Brooklyn?
Security White Paper Raises Serious Concerns
DDDB and Community Call For
Full NYPD Security Review of Ratner AY Proposal
NEW YORK, NY–Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB) calls on all the
appropriate agencies, and elected officials to consider the critical issues
raised in the white paper, released today, Terrorism, Security and the Proposed
Brooklyn Atlantic Yards High Rise and Arena Development Project. The white
paper was reported on in today's NY Sun (http://tinyurl.com/86c8q)
and last week's Brooklyn Papers (http://tinyurl.com/7drol)
The final paragraph of the white paper reads:
It is
the position of the drafters of this study that the time to account for
security threats is now, before any commitments or final project approvals
are inked, and not after, when consequences become known and are deemed
unacceptable.
Christina Cope, a policy analyst at the United States Department of Defense
and coauthor of the white paper said, "This document addresses the need
for a comprehensive re-evaluation of the design for the Brooklyn Atlantic
Yards (BAY) proposal. Specifically, this timely re-evaluation may lend to
the incorporation of security measures into the complex's residential properties,
the arena, and the transportation hub." Ms. Cope continued, "By
altering designs that are susceptible to terrorist threats, the development's
planners would be taking a proactive stance in protecting the Brooklyn community
of residents, commuters, children, families and businesses and the proposed
development's community."
Unique aspects of the Ratner proposal's design, location, and use raise
critical security concerns at a location that was the site of a planned
terrorist attack in 1997 and sits above and adjacent to Brooklyn's largest
transportation hub. Whether or not a terrorist attack would ever occur at
the BAY development, security mitigations would require design changes,
terrorism insurance would be required, and terror alerts would ripple out
from the BAY site all the way to the East River crossings–cumulatively
these costs could be hõgh enough to affect the underlying financing of the
entire project during and after construction. The design and economic impacts
would also affect the construction timeline.
"We call on the MTA
to thoroughly review this white paper before making a decision on the disposition
of Atlantic yards. It is incumbent upon our politicians to call on the NYPD,
and other appropriate agencies, to conduct a full security and terrorism
review of the proposed Forest City Ratner plan for 20 skyscrapers and an
arena in Brooklyn," said Daniel Goldstein, DDDB spokesperson. "Today
we call on the NYPD to initiate such a crucial review for the safety and
security of Brooklyn's citizens and visitors.
The
white paper was mailed on July 20th to NYPD Commissioner Kelly (and
many of his deputies), OEM Commissioner Bruno, FDNY Chief of Department
Peter Hayden, NYPD Brooklyn North and South Borough Patrol Chiefs, and the
full MTA Board. The document was also sent to Senators Schumer and Clinton,
Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, and various City Council Members including
Public Safety Committee Chair Peter Vallone Jr., who will introduce legislation
that will give the Police Department veto power over all proposals to construct
buildings higher than seven stories in the five boroughs, as well as sports
arenas (http://tinyurl.com/dgprb).
The white paper, and cover letter can be found at: http://www.dddb.net/security
Hon.
Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly
NYPD
One Police Plaza
New York, NY 10038
July 20, 2005
Hon. Commissioner Kelly:
By sending you the attached document, we are representing the interests
of all New Yorkers, and particularly 48 community organizations that are
calling for proper oversight and review of Forest City Ratner's proposal
at Vanderbilt Yards, in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
We are sending you the attached white paper, Terrorism, Security and
the Proposed Brooklyn Atlantic Yards High Rise and Arena Development Project.
We urge you and your colleagues to give it deliberative consideration. The
document raises serious and unique issues that have been ignored to date.
Last week, when The Brooklyn Papers asked Forest City Ratner about this
document they had no comment.
The final paragraph of the white paper reads:
It is the position of the drafters of this study that the
time to account for security threats is now, before any commitments or
final project approvals are inked, and not after, when consequences become
known and are deemed unacceptable.
We agree with this conclusion. We call upon the appropriate agencies, departments,
and elected officials to weigh in and thoroughly study the serious issues
raised within the document.
Sincerely,
Daniel Goldstein
Spokesman
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn
Cc:
Hon. Senator Charles Schumer
Hon. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hon. Mayor Bloomberg
Hon. Governor George E. Pataki
Hon. Borough President Marty Markowitz
Hon. US Congressman Major Owens
Hon. State Senator Velmanette Montgomery
Hon. State Assemblyman Roger Greene
Hon. City Council Member Letitia James
Hon. City Council Member David Yassky
Hon. City Council Member Bill de Blasio
Hon. City Council Member Peter Vallone Jr.
Joseph J. Esposito, NYPD Chief of Department
Michael Sheehan, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Counter Terrorism
David Cohen, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence
Joyce A. Stephen, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs
Michael J. Farrell, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives
Deputy Inspector Thomas Harris, NYPD Commanding Officer - 78th Precinct
Inspector James OConnell , NYPD Commanding Officer - 77th Precinct
Joseph F.X. Cunneen, NYPD Assistant Chief , Patrol Borough Brooklyn North
Joseph Fox, NYPD Assistant Chief, Patrol Borough Brooklyn South
Peter Hayden, FDNY Chief of Department
Salvatore Cassano, FDNY Chief of Operations
Commissioner Joseph Bruno, Office of Emergency Management
First Deputy Commissioner Calvin Drayton, Office of Emergency Management
Peter Kalikow, MTA Chairman
Katherine Lapp, MTA Executive Director
Roco Krsulic, MTA Director of Real Estate
David S. Mack, Vice Chairman, MTA
Edward B. Dunn, Vice Chairman, MTA
Andrew Albert, Board Member, MTA
John H. Banks III, Board Member, MTA
James F. Blair, Board Member, MTA
Nancy Shevell Blakeman, Board Member, MTA
Anthony J. Bottalico, Board Member, MTA
Micharel J. Canino, Board Member, MTA
Barry Feinstein, Board Member, MTA
James H. Harding Jr. , Board Member, MTA
Susan Kupferman, Board Member, MTA
Mark D. Lebow, Board Member, MTA
James L. McGovern, Board Member, MTA
Susan G. Metzger, Board Member, MTA
Mark Page, Board Member, MTA
Mitchell H. Pally, Board Member, MTA
Francis H. Powers, Board Member, MTA
Andrew M. Saul, Board Member, MTA
James L. Sedore Jr. , Board Member, MTA
Edward A. Vrooman, Board Member, MTA
Ed Watt, Board Member, MTA
Carl V. Wortendyke, Board Member, MTA
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