Activists call for oversight at Atlantic Yards

BrooklynSpeaks, a coalition of civic associations and advocacy groups concerned about development at the Atlantic Yards site, announced yesterday that more than 1,000 New Yorkers have signed a petition calling for legislation mandating public oversight of the project, the Brooklyn Eagle reported. Bills introduced into the State Assembly require the Empire State Development Corp. to create a group responsible for governing the Atlantic Yards’ development, which is now expected to last for 25 years. “As the largest development project in Brooklyn’s history, Atlantic Yards must be managed with no less transparency and accountability than other important state and city projects, like Brooklyn Bridge Park,” said Assembly member Hakeem Jeffries. “We will not accept a private developer being given sole decision-making power over this project’s future given the significant public investment that has been made.” The Atlantic Yards Governance Act has passed the Corporations Committee in the Assembly, and is now before the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee and the Senate’s Rules Committee. [Brooklyn Eagle]