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Second Issue of Ratner Rag a Calculated Fraud, Charges Mattera Markowitz a willing accessory in attempt to dupe voters three weeks before the election
Brooklyn, NY -- October 18, 2005 -- Gloria Mattera, Green Party candidate for Brooklyn Borough President, today strongly criticized Forest City Ratner for producing the second issue of "The Brooklyn Standard," which is printed on newsprint, designed to look like a newspaper, and handed out near newsstands and subway entrances. "The Brooklyn Standard is a giant advertisement for the Ratner Nets Arena and development project and filled with inaccuracies and outright lies about the project," charged Mattera. "It's obviously designed to compete with our local Brooklyn newspapers which have covered all sides of the arena debate. Even more disturbing is the timing three weeks before the election. Markowitz is promoted throughout the paper in an obvious attempt to sway public opinion in the upcoming election toward a candidate who will do Ratner’s bidding. Will this campaign contribution by Forest City Ratner be included in Marty’s next campaign filing?" asked Mattera. Some of the lies in the Brooklyn Standard: Lie: Forest City Ratner’s bid for the Atlantic railyard exceeded the MTA’s appraisal Fact: The bid of $100 million is less than half the appraised value Lie: Arena and buildings will not bring in more traffic than the area can handle Fact: Enormous increase in car and truck traffic has not been addressed in the development plan Lie: Contributions by New York State and New York City are $200 million. Fact: Project will consume over $1 billion in public costs over the next 30 years, including subsidies and tax abatements Lie: 50 percent of rental units will be affordable housing Fact: 50 percent is reserved for families making up to $100,000 per year, while the median income in Brooklyn is $31,000 Lie: Project will produce 15,000 construction jobs and thousands of office jobs Fact: Project will supposedly produce 1500 construction jobs a year for 10 years, and the number of office jobs has continually lowered from initial claims as Ratner trades office space for luxury housing "Markowitz describes the Ratner project as a "slam dunk," for Brooklyn, but on November 8 Brooklyn residents will get a chance to send Marty to the bench and elect someone who will give these development schemes the critical attention they are elected to do," said Mattera.
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