BROOKLYN -- Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn voiced its outrage today at a report in the New York Post that Forest City Ratner was trying to buy homeowners' silence over FCR's Nets arena and development plan.

"I'd like to say we were as shocked and appalled as the rest of the community by this revelation, but living in the proposal site, we've already seen how they operate. The sad fact is, this is just the latest in a line of Soviet-style tactics that Bruce Ratner is using to push this deceptive, destructive, anti-democratic plan on the people of Brooklyn," DDDB spokesman Daniel Goldstein said.

"No community input or dialogue, no facts to back up his assertions about the plan's supposed benefits, no public accountability -- and now no dissent. They might as well call the team the Brooklyn Nyets.

"What we want to know is, what does Bruce Ratner have to hide? If this plan is such a slam dunk, as Mr. Ratner likes to say, why does it feel like he's shoving the ball down our throats? Why is he forcing people to sign away their free speech rights? And why won't he tell us how much in public tax dollars this project is going to cost?"

The NY Post article.

NOTE TO EDITORS:Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn will hold a press conference on Thursday June 17^th following a rally that FCR is organizing at Boro Hall in Brooklyn to promote its plans to waste hundreds of millions of tax dollars, forcibly evict people from their homes, destroy the Prospect Heights neighborhood.  DDDB leaders who are not bound by the Ratner gag order will discuss in detail the facts about this project that FCR is hiding.

WHAT: DDDB Press Conference following Ratner rally

WHO: Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn

WHERE: Steps of Boro Hall Plaza, Brooklyn

WHEN:Thursday, June 17th. Immediately following Ratner rally (11:30 a.m.)