FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Colby Hamilton
Committee to Elect Gloria Mattera
437 2nd Street, Suite 2
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Tel: 917-627-8000
Fax 800-420-5307
http://www.ElectGloria.org
Colby@ElectGloria.org

Mattera Campaign Calls On Brooklyn Borough Hall for Restraint After Supreme Court Ruling

Brooklyn, NY -- June 24, 2005 -- In the wake of the Supreme Court’s eminent domain ruling Thursday, Green Party Candidate for Brooklyn Borough President Gloria Mattera called on Borough Hall to issue a binding declaration of restraint on the Ratner Arena proposal.

"The community is asking Borough President Markowitz to honor his commitment to the citizens of Brooklyn by promising us that eminent domain will not be abused," Ms. Mattera said. She noted that the Mattera campaign is asking for an official acknowledgment from Brooklyn Borough Hall.

"We completely disagree with the Supreme Court," she added. "When government officials have free reign to bulldoze people’s homes and destroy communities so that a few well-connected people can make a lot of money, something is terribly wrong."

"Mr. Markowitz needs to assure the people of Brooklyn that he will not abuse these new-found powers – and he needs to make it official," Ms. Mattera concluded.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision that New London, CT city officials can use eminent domain to clear out a section of the city for new residential and business high rises.