PUBLIC HEARING FOR "ATLANTIC YARDS" DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23RD – COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ESSENTIAL!
New York City Technical College, Klitgord Auditorium, 285 Jay Street (@ MetroTech, between Tillary & Johnson. On Wednesday, August 23rd, the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) will hold a Public Hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Forest City Ratner’s proposed "Atlantic Yards" project.

We urge you to do everything you can to attend this critical hearing. The ESDC has provided just five weeks for the public to review the 2,000-page DEIS and 1,000-page General Project Plan prior to the public hearing, and has required the submission of all written comment by September 22nd, a total comment period of just 66 days. By comparison, NYC allowed nearly four months for public comment on the new Yankee Stadium project, and a three-month review of the proposed Hudson Yards redevelopment.

This narrow window for public comment on the "Atlantic Yards" DEIS is symptomatic of a process that has severely limited the community’s input and scrutiny from the outset. By scheduling the hearing in late August, the ESDC appears to be trying to minimize public criticism of the DEIS, so it’s crucial that we don’t let them get away with it. Please prepare as well as you can: the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods (see below), www.atlanticyardsreport.com and the Brooklyn Papers (http://dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=134) have some great info to get you started; arrive at the DEIS hearing as early as possible, and sign up to speak; and let the ESDC know what you think.

This hearing is the only opportunity our community will have to speak out publicly about the DEIS. Please be there!

When: Wednesday, August 23rd, 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (BUT COME EARLY TO ENSURE YOU GET IN!)

Where: New York City Technical College, Klitgord Auditorium, 285 Jay Street (@ MetroTech, between Tillary & Johnson)

Mass Transit Access: A/C/F to Jay Street, M/N/R to Lawrence Street, 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall.