Council Member Letitia James, with Rev. Clinton Miller behind her in brown jacket, Rev. Clive Neal (with sign), and state Senator Velmanette Montgomery. Photo and set by Adrian Kinloch.

At clergy-led rally for arena justice, some new voices, some ironies, and a request for new oversight; "we're not just going to get caught up in the [Nets/Jay-Z] hype"

In the annals of Atlantic Yards rallies, yesterday's rally catercorner to the nearly-finished Barclays Center arena, was on the not-huge side, perhaps 130-150 people, but with new energy sparked by the several clergypeople, as well as four elected officials, two of them longtime project opponents representing the Atlantic Yards site.

And part of the message--bring the promised jobs and affordable housing now--came not without irony, as it echoed the message from Atlantic Yards proponents, issued when the project faced legal or jurisdictional roadblocks.

Then again, those proponents seem muzzled, by contract, dependence, or prudence, unable to even publicly demand the Independent Compliance Monitor required by the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) they signed, leaving Forest City Ratner, as one speaker yesterday put it, the fox guarding the henhouse.

And the Coalition for Arena Justice, organized by Rev. Clinton Miller of Brown Memorial Baptist Church, wants something more structural: stronger oversight for the project, with a role for representatives of local elected officials and local stakeholders. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not indicated such a willingness, but, as noted in the flier at bottom, there are significant contrasts between promises and results, the latter permitted by gently-written state contracts.

If the deep pockets behind the project, including Forest City Ratner, Barclays Capital, and Mikhail Prokhorov's Onexim, don't treat the community the way it deserves, Miller proposed, "We shouldn't go to the games, we shouldn't support the events, until they get together and do the right thing" (Given that the arena is now a regional attraction, only a major boycott could do damage other than reputational.)

(Also see coverage on Patch, which estimated 80 people. I think that's low, as the crowd--albeit with press and others--pretty much doubled during the day. Forest City thought the protest was ironic because it blamed the protestors for delaying the project. Actually, most had not played such a role, while the developer has managed the schedule to its own advantage. Also see video from AYInfoNYC.)

Criticism after neutrality

"We the people of Brooklyn have been sold a bad bill of goods," Miller said, contrasting Forest City Ratner's promises of jobs with the current results.

Several protest signs came with biblical references and a few people, as at right, approached drivers on Atlantic Avenue, sometimes drawing honks in support.

"Many of our churches have stood by to find out what the outcome would be," Miller said at one point, referencing how the tantalizing promises of Atlantic Yards--15,000 construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs, at the start, plus 2,250 units of subsidized housing--neutralized potential opposition, as well as drew support. Many of those protesting were new to the battle.

Indeed, Council Member Letitia James, the project's leading political opponent, was diplomatic enough to hail the clergy leaders rather than call out some for their reticence when the stakes were higher, such as before the project was approved.

She did challenge those who thought Atlantic Yards was a "panacea," asking, "Where are you now?" Some, she said, have apologized for protesting her. But James said says she still represents such people--"because I stand with ministers who tell me it's about forgiving." In the end, she said, "we've got to work together to ensure that this project inures to the benefit of all of us." She said she has a responsibility to ensure that the project does not remain a construction site for 25 years.
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