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tel/fax:
718.362.4784
Please note our new postal address when sending
contributions to the legal fund:
121 5th Avenue, PMB #150
Brooklyn, New York 11217
About DDDB
Our coalition consists of 21 community organizations and
there are 51 community organizations formally
aligned in opposition to the Ratner plan.
DDDB is a volunteer-run organization. We have over 5,000
subscribers to our email newsletter, and 7,000 petition
signers. Over 800 volunteers have registered with DDDB
to form our various teams, task-forces and committees
and we have over 150 block captains. We have a 20 person
volunteer legal team of local lawyers supplementing our
retained attorneys.
We are funded entirely by individual donations from the community at large
and through various fundraising events we and supporters have organized.
We have the financial support of well over 3,500 individual
donors.
More about
DDDB...
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Statement on Eminent Domain Decision
For Immediate Release: February 1, 2008
Circuit Court Rules Against Homeowners, Business Owners and Tenants
in Atlantic Yards Eminent Domain Appeal
Plaintiffs Intend to Ask US Supreme Court to Hear Their Case
Plaintiffs Will Seek All Legal Remedies to Protect Their Homes
and Businesses From Seizure by New York State
New York, NY— The Second Circuit Court today ruled against 14 homeowners, business owners and tenants in their appeal of their lawsuit alleging that New York State's use of eminent domain to take their properties for Forest City Ratner's Atlantic Yards project violates the United States Constitution.
Plaintiffs' attorney Matthew Brinckerhoff said, "Today's decision is disappointing.
We disagree with its conclusion. We intend to ask the US Supreme Court to hear
our case, and will continue to pursue every avenue available to prevent the unlawful
seizure of my clients' homes for Bruce Ratner's enrichment. The court today affirmed
that the government is free to take private homes and businesses and give them
to influential citizens as long as one can imagine a conceivable benefit to the
public, no matter how small or unlikely it may be. Indeed, it does not matter
if all evidence points to a secret back room deal. All corrupt politicians need
do to insulate themselves from judicial scrutiny is claim a benefit to the public.
This is wrong. It should trouble all citizens who, unlike Bruce Ratner, lack the
power and money to coopt the governments' power of eminent domain for their private
use. We believe that the United States Supreme Court will welcome the opportunity
to clarify this area in light of its widely criticized Kelo
decision."
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn legal director Candace Carponter said, "Our support
of the fight of citizens to live safely in their homes, and operate safely in
their business, will continue. We maintain that the government's motivation in
using eminent domain for Atlantic Yards is not to benefit the public, but rather,
to benefit a single, very rich and powerful developer. The seizure of our neighbors'
homes and businesses is at the very foundation of the Atlantic Yards project.
It is a foundation that must not stand. Now is the time for our elected
leaders, who have frequently expressed grave concern about the abuse of eminent
domain, to publicly stand in defense of everyday Brooklynites and New Yorkers."
The 2nd Circuit Court's opinion on the case, Goldstein v. Pataki, can
be found at: http://www.dddb.net/php/reading/legal/eminentdomain
Posted: 2.01.08
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