Rejected!

Three central Brooklyn community boards are demanding that Bruce Ratner stop claiming the boards participated in a “community benefits agreement” between the developer and eight local groups.

In a mass mailing to several hundred thousand homes last weekend, Ratner claimed that Community Boards 2, 6, and 8 “served as advisors in crafting the CBA.” Says him.

“This statement overstates our participation,” the chairs of the three boards — Shirley McRae, Jerry Armer and Robert Matthews — wrote to Ratner last week.

“We were invited to play a limited role that ended months before … we were barred from attending the working sessions [for the CBA],” the letter continued.

The chairs also charged that Forest City Ratner Vice President James Stuckey rescinded a promise that the community boards could review the CBA before it was signed.

“Given the very limited role played by the three community boards in crafting the CBA, and FCRC’s overstatement of that fact, we are requesting that you discontinue all mention of our participation,” the letter concluded.

Stuckey defended his company’s mention of the community boards’ participation.

“While the community boards were legally prevented from being official parties [to] the CBA given their governmental responsibilities, they did play a role in the process,” he said in a statement.

“The question here is not a newsletter that talks about an important program, but rather the very real benefits, including jobs and housing, for nearby residents.”

Stuckey didn’t say whether future mailings will be amended to reflect the community boards’ concern.

 

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