| Tip of the Iceberg: Forest City Ratner Funds BUILD with $5 Million.
07/02/05
Brooklyn Papers
In Bruce
We Trust
By Jess Wisloski
"I would add something else-- even more importantly,
you have Bruce Ratner's word. That should be enough for you
and for everybody else in the community."
Mayor Bloomberg--at the CBA signing
ceremony, when interrupting Ratner, who was answering a question
about the enforceability of such a non-governmental document.
12/25/04
Brooklyn Papers
Power
Brokers
By Jess Wisloski
"An audience member [at a joint meeting of Commnity Boards
2,6,8] asked if members of the two groups were getting paid
by Forest City Ratner for their support of the project. Stuckey
[Forest City Executive VP] balked, and refused to answer the
question, instead saying, "Why don't you ask them yourself?"
A chorus of boos came from the ACORN and BUILD activists who
largely packed the audience.
Afterwards, Stuckey told The Brooklyn Papers he didn't
answer the question because, "It was insulting. Of course,
BUILD and ACORN are not getting paid."
11/24/04
Brooklyn Downtown Star
Two
Press Conferences, One Boycott
By Nic Kovac
BUILD President James Caldwell:
"We are grass roots, and we're not at the table for ourselves.
We're at the table for the community."
04/29/05
The NY Sun
RIFT
DEVELOPS AT CITY COUNCIL OVER RATNER'S ARENA PROJECT
By Julie Satow
BUILD COO Marie Louis:
Brooklyn United for Innovative Development, or BUILD, also
supports the Atlantic Yards development - and has been the
target of rumors that Mr. Ratner is its financial backer.
The first vice president at BUILD, Marie Louis, called the
claim "a malicious and outrageous lie."
09/21/05
Brian
Lehrer Live (CUNY-TV)
Brian Lehrer (23:55): "So to what extent, just by
way of full disclosure, is your group funded by Forest City
Ratner?"
Marie Louis (24:01): "Wow, I mean, we are not funded
by Forest City Ratner. You know, from the time, from
our inception, we've been asked that question all the time,
and it's you, know, very interesting to us, especially many
folks coming from communities of color, you know, we wonder
why is it that folks think that we cannot think for ourselves?
Why is it that we cannot have our own authentic perspective
on this project and have one that's multi-dimensional and
comprehensive."
Brian Lehrer (24:27): "So when we called them and told them we were going to do this segment and who would they like to refer us to as a spokesperson, they referred us to your group."
Marie Louis (24:36): "Because they know that we're,
first of all, we're one of their partners now especially since
we signed the Community Benefits Agreement, um, our
group, along with the seven other groups, making eight altogether
who signed the agreement with them, we're partners with them,
on this project, especially as the Community Benefits Agreement
is concerned, so of course, you know, if we're going to talk
about the project, our perspective would be brought to bear."
03/23/05
Amsterdam News
Blacks remain divided over Ratner development (link no longer
active)
By Tanangachi Mfuni
CBA Signatory Reverend Herbert Daughtry:
"I resigned because I felt they weren't doing anything,"
said Daughtry, who together with BUILD leader Caldwell firmly
denies being paid off by Ratner in any way.
03/26/04
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Pro-Ratner
Group Focuses On Jobs, Affordable Housing
By Ben Silverbush
Former BUILD President, Darnell Canada:
BUILD's previous president, Darnell Canada, resigned recently,
charging that fellow group members were seeking financial
gain, rather than giving the interests of the public the proper
attention.
01/23/04
BUILD's Website (BuildBrooklyn.org)
Assemblyman
and BUILD Founder Roger Green:
Finally, history teaches us that the process and the protocols
used toward the building of communities will inevitably impact
the quality of life within our communities. It is in this
spirit that I have joined with a number of community activist
including Tenant representatives, Block Association representatives,
Precinct Council members, business and home owners to establish
a new organization entitled B.U.I.L.D - Brooklyn United for
Innovative Local Development. This organization will serve
as a voice for all of those concerned neighbors who seek to
unite our communities towards an enlightened development.
B.U.I.L.D. will work within the process that is being set-up
by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to ensure community
input into this historic development. I would also like to
acknowledge that Bertha Lewis of ACORN and Tenant activist
Darnell Canada among other will be reaching out to the affected
neighborhoods and the larger community so that this process
might be as democratic and transparent as possible.
04/23/05
The Brooklyn Papers
Pols
call for city review of Ratner's arena
By Jess Wisloski
BUILD COO Marie Louis:
"There is no real justified or legitimate reasons for
opposing the project," Louis said.
07/15/05
DailyHeights.com
BUILD
Lays Down the Gauntlet on Daily Heights [Exclusive!]
By Marie Louis posting on DailyHeights Blog
BUILD COO Marie Louis:
"Instead of complaining about challenges or ignoring them
BUILD recognized the hope and the potential to connect people
to opportunties through the Atlantic Yards / Nets Arena project.
Opportunities to help make a dent in the local unemployment
and poverty crises by changing the paradigm for how development
transpires in neighborhood. Consequently [BUILD] launched
a movement to secure a Community Benefits Agreement
07/15/05
DailyHeights.com
BUILD
Lays Down the Gauntlet on Daily Heights [Exclusive!]
By Marie Louis posting on DailyHeights Blog
BUILD COO Marie Louis:
Again, my parting words are: I challenge Develop Don't Destroy
to a public Debate on The Value of FCRC's Atlantic Yards and
why it would be detrimental to our community for it to not
move forward.
07/25/05
NY1
MTA
May Vote On Atlantic Rail Yard Bids As Soon As Wednesday
By Boby Cuzza
BUILD COO Marie Louis:
"No one was looking to do anything with those rail yards until
Forest City Ratner came along," said Marie Louis of BUILD.
"It is important to not allow this very important project
to be derailed by folks who are just bitter."
08/05/05
The Forward
New
York Skyline in the Balance As Real Estate Titans Square Off
By Nathaniel Popper
BUILD President James Caldwell:
"I don't want to make this out to be a black versus white
situation," said James Caldwell, president of a pro-Ratner
group called Build, "but it seems like that's what it's turning
out to be."
05/30/05
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
We
Control More Than Half of Atlantic Yards Site, Says Ratner
By Raanan Geberer
BUILD President James Caldwell:
Councilman Charles Barron (D-East New York) attacked the developer
for planning only 20 percent for low-income residents, and
called the 50 percent market-rate apartments "luxury
housing." "You can't afford those apartments,"
he said to Markowitz, "and neither can I." He also
was suspicious of the developer's promises of jobs for low-income
residents, and charged that the new residents would "change
the complexion of the area," weakening the voting power
of the area's black and Latino residents. James Caldwell of
the Fort Greene-based, pro-Arena group BUILD told this reporter,
"I would be for this project if it only provided
10 jobs. Let's take away Barron's $100,000 salary and see
what he says." (Note, as BUILD President, Mr. Caldwell
receives a $125,000 salary from Forest City Ratner)
08/04/05
The Brooklyn Downtown Star
Big
Man, Small Bid: MTA Gives Ratner 45 More Days
By Emily Keller
BUILD President James Caldwell:
"No longer do young Black men have to stand on the corner
and speculate about what's happening - we are at the table
and we are being treated fairly," said James Caldwell, president
of BUILD, about Ratner's visits to the community during the
creation of the CBA. "FCRC is truly like an angel in heaven."
02/03/05
Brooklyn Downtown Star
Brooklyn's
Alphabet Soup- One Letter at a Time
By Nic Kovac
BUILD President James Caldwell:
They walked away from the table, he recalled. "This wasn't
a black thing. This was about blacks and whites going to the
table, but the whites decided to walk away from the table."
06/09/05
Brooklyn Daily Eagle (link no longer active)
CBA Signatory and ACORN Executive Director Bertha Lewis
"It is because of race and class that whenever you have
a small group of white liberals running and screaming about
something, people think its important. They don't have to
worry about affordable housing. They don't give a damn about
people of color. All they care about is preserving their little
Prospect Heights community."
|