CBN Press Conference
Monday, September 17, 2007
8:30 AM
Pacific Street & Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Hey, ESDC! How good IS your word, anyway???

The COUNCIL OF BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOODS will hold a press conference 8:30 AM, Monday September 17, 2007 at the corner of Pacific Street and Vanderbilt Avenue to demand that the ESDC honor the promises it has made and answer crucial questions about the safety of the residents of Prospect Heights during the Atlantic Yards project construction preparation.

“132 days ago the ESDC pledged to hire an Ombudsman to represent Community concerns and problems during the Atlantic Yards preparation and construction,” said CBN Steering Committee member Eric McClure. “That’s twice as long as the ESDC allowed the public to respond to last year’s Environmental Impact Statement. That was a complex and huge task, but somehow the Community got it done. What’s the holdup on keeping their word to the Community?”

The ESDC has repeatedly rebuffed offers from the Community to participate proactively. (See articles below.) They haven’t responded to numerous complaints about problems that have already occurred. What, exactly, is the problem?

Given the recent track record of ESDC projects, including the disastrous fire at the Deutsche Bank building in lower Manhattan, these questions are literally life and death.

Elected officials and community leaders have been invited to attend.