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ACORN Memorandum of Understanding press conference

Brooklyn Borough Hall – May 19, 2005

AFTER DEDICATING MORE THAN A YEAR TO THIS ISSUE, WE ARE PROUD TO SAY —

THAT WHEN WE BUILD A HOUSE IN BROOKLYN — WE BUILD IT SO EVERY BROOKLYNITE CAN CALL IT HOME.

BROOKLYN HAS A TRADITION OF SETTING THE STANDARD FOR PROGRESS IN AMERICA .

TODAY, ON THE ISSUE THAT IS MOST CRITICAL TO BROOKLYNITES AND TO ALL NEW YORKERS — CREATING DESPERATELY NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING — WE DO SO YET AGAIN.

I WANT TO THANK AND COMMEND ALL THE PARTIES HERE TODAY FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO MAKING THE DREAM I HAD WHEN THIS PROJECT BEGAN A REALITY:

MAYOR BLOOMBERG —
BRUCE RATNER AND FOREST CITY RATNER —
BERTHA LEWIS, IS-MEANY SPOLETIS, AND ACORN —
AND MY COLLEAGUES IN ALBANY AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
WITH A COMMITMENT TO BUILD A FULL 50 PERCENT OF ATLANTIC YARDS HOUSING AS AFFORDABLE — MORE THAN 2,000 APARTMENTS —

BROOKLYN IS NOW THE NATIONAL MODEL FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY FOR ATLANTIC YARDS TO BE A SUCCESS FOR BROOKLYN IS IF IT CREATES SUBSTANTIAL NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL BROOKLYNITES.

BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO THE THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE LANDMARK ARCHITECTURE, AND OF COURSE THE ARRIVAL OF THE BROOKLYN NETS —

THE REASON ATLANTIC YARDS WORKS FOR BROOKLYN IS BECAUSE IT WILL HELP MAINTAIN OUR ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.

I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PERSONALLY COMMEND BRUCE RATNER FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS TO MAKE ATLANTIC YARDS THE BENCHMARK BY WHICH FUTURE PROJECTS WILL BE MEASURED IN TERMS OF BUILDING COMMUNITY AND CREATING OPPORTUNITY .

THERE ARE MANY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND BUILDERS IN THIS COUNTRY.

BUT THROUGH HIS UNYIELDING DEVOTION TO WORKING FAMILIES — ESPECIALLY RIGHT HERE IN BROOKLYN —

BRUCE HAS PROVEN THAT NO DEVELOPER IN AMERICA HAS A GREATER SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS — AND NONE HAS DONE MORE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE AMERICAN DREAM.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK BERTHA LEWIS FROM ACORN FOR HER TIRELESS ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF BROOKLYN ’S WORKING FAMILIES.

YOU HAVE HELPED SECURE A HISTORIC VICTORY FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MOVEMENT IN BROOKLYN AND AMERICA — LET’S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING!

FOR ME, THE BEST PART OF ATLANTIC YARDS IS THAT WE’RE TAKING AWAY YET ANOTHER REASON FOR ANYONE TO LEAVE BROOKLYN — EVER!

BECAUSE THESE DAYS, PEOPLE DON’T LEAVE BROOKLYN SEEKING A BETTER LIFE.

THEY LEAVE BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD THE GOOD LIFE WE HAVE HERE.

AND HEY — IF THE U-N WANTS TO MOVE HERE TOO, FINE!