Of all of the things Ratner surrogates and partners have done over the years,
this one seems to be THE most tone deaf (and offensive)...A "Community Benefits
Agreement Third Anniversary Block Party" in the Atlantic Yards footprint?
Are they kidding? Give us a break.
Other than staging rallies,
counter-rallies
and block parties, what are the CBA signatories doing?
"It's All About the Community" reads the flier from Ratner's partners
and surrogates. Really? Where have Ratner's surrogates and partners been while
those in the footprint have been fighting to stop the governmental confiscation
of their homes and businesses by eminent domain? And where have Ratner's surrogates
and partners been while those people in and around the footprint have suffered
near round-the-clock (we're talking jackhammers on residential blocks at 4am)
demolition and infrastructure work including jackhammering-backhoing-trench-digging-street-closing
creating noise, pollution and unsafe conditions all overseen by Forest City Ratner?
Call us crazy but we thought block parties were thrown by PEOPLE LIVING
ON THE BLOCK. Since the few remaining people on the block (Pacific Street
between Vanderbilt and Carlton) are rent stabilized tenants fighting to keep their
homes from eminent domain seizure by New York State for Forest City Ratner, the
fact that Ratner's surrogates and partners would take this in-your-face action
while pretending it has anything to do with the community or the block while ENTIRELY
ignoring the families on the block is...anti-community.
Also, since when do the police shut down a block for a "block party"
on a weekday when none of the residents on the block requested it?
Finally: "Historic Atlantic Yards Community Benefits Agreement?" Yes,
historic in the sense of
how NOT to do a CBA.
Ratner's surrogates and partners want to have a block party? They should go
to their partner's "commons" at 1 Metrotech and give those who live
in and around the footprint
some peace.
