ACORN is being tied more closely to Bruce Ratner and the Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, New York which is being subsidized with $1.6 billion of taxpayers money. The public-financed redevelopment plan relies extensively on eminent domain. This would leave many long-time business owners and residents being ejected.
Occupants of Atlantic Yards protests have been going on since they learned that the buildings in the area would be torn down.
ACORN New York director, Bertha Lewis, blames the protest on race, even though there are many black people who are being displaced. Meanwhile, it is known that Ratner had a hand in devising the low-income housing portions of the plan in his development. In return, ACORN would be shaping who lives where. What Lewis and ACORN left out was that Ratner quietly directed $1.5 million in grants and low-interest loans to ACORN after major foundation support disappeared due to an embezzlement scandal. Recent expose's about ACORN activities, including indictments for voter fraud, may have slowed down the organization but it stands to bring in $5 million annually in housing revenue so it won't give up the project easily. Sources: http://www.openmarket.org/2009/09/21/acorn-tied-to-brooklyn-land-grabber/ http://nymag.com/news/features/18862/index6.html Want to participate in the discussion? Add your comments. Want to stay informed about politics in the U.S?
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Comments
Acorn blaming race because thier projects are rife with scandal?
Holy Cow!!! I am shocked! Just more of B-HO's buddies being exposed for the crooks and cheats they are. Where are the black voices of those who stand to be evicted? Race . . . uh, huh. Yeah. Right. Enough with race already.
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