Community boards to Ratner: Stop your fibbin’

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rescinded a promise that the community boards could review the CBA before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.