"We are very concerned about the scale and scope of Ratner's 'Atlantic Yards' proposal. The lack of transparency, the absence of genuine community input, and the bypassing of political oversight is very troubling. We are proud to join and support the work of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn in the struggle they are leading to protect our communities from proposed overdevelopment and in their advocacy for sensible, community-friendly development that can work for all of us."
­ Jo Andres, Artist and Steve Buscemi, Actor and Filmmaker

"Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Dan Doctoroff is our new Robert Moses, the unelected destroyer of neighborhoods, the man who gets his way through eminent domain and public authorities. But who is our new Jane Jacobs? Will it be citizen groups like Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn?"
­ Christabel Gough, Preservationist

"To my mind Ratner's plan does not respect what is unique, inherent and crucial to Brooklyn's landscape and history. The ‘Atlantic Yards' proposal is completely out of character with the existing scale and mocks Brooklyn's beautiful diverse cultures. His vision will increase traffic, pollution and asthma. Heath and I moved to Brooklyn for light and space and air. If Mr. Ratner lived here he would understand what we love about it and why we want to preserve our open skies."
- Michelle Williams, Actor

"As a firefighter widow, we cannot overlook the myriad issues concerning the safety and security of the Ratner project.  Not only have skyscrapers been proven unsafe, but terrorism preparedness is a key issue the development review process has not addressed.  In the past two years, numerous firehouses have been closed in the area surrounding the 'Atlantic Yards' site, increasing response times and overwhelming an already depleted fire department."
­ Marian Fontana, Author and Activist

"Ratner's plan doesn't belong in Fort Greene. It suffers from gigantism and would cast a long shadow over our community. This is a vibrant, historic neighborhood that has been steadily growing and improving from within; the last thing it needs is to be so radically altered in the name of development."
­ Jhumpa Lahiri, Author

"I've lived in Fort Greene over twenty years and seen it pull itself up out of the hole red-lining banks and crack dealers put the neighborhood in. It has grown and matured into one of the most attractive communities in the city. The ‘Atlantic Yards' development would not only destroy Fort Greene's progress, but put a big, sun-blocking, traffic-clogging, subway station-taxing boondoggle amid the beauty of brownstone Brooklyn. It won't benefit the current residents or enhance the quality of life in the area. This is a Trump-sized mistake in a borough that doesn't need or deserve 'development‘ like this."
­ Nelson George, Writer, Filmmaker & Cultural Critic

"The fact that this proposal has proceeded as far as it has without adequate public debate or vote is just an obscene abuse of power."
­ David Salle, Artist

"I have signed on to help in the efforts of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn to fight Forest City Ratner's over-development plan for the ‘Atlantic Yards' project in Brooklyn. The project is an urban planning disaster and should be stopped in its tracks. For the longest time I wasn't paying enough attention to this situation. I thought that it was far enough away from my house that it wouldn't affect me to any great degree. I thought that it was inevitable. I was completely wrong on both counts!! This is a critical time for those of us who live in Brooklyn to become engaged. Sixteen skyscrapers and a sports arena is more than our communities can handle, but this plan can be defeated!"
­ Dan Zanes, Children's and Family Musician, International Pop Star

"Sports is supposed to be most fundamentally about fair play. The Ratner stadium ploy is not fair play for the people of Brooklyn, but a battle of power and money against the will of a proud people. Whatever side wins will say a great deal about the future of Brooklyn and the entire city of New York."
­ Dave Zirin, Sports Commentator

"Development that is out-of-scale, conceived without public input, and built for the well-to-do threatens the health and well-being of the neighborhood and the city.  The Atlantic Yards development is such a project.  We must go back to the drawing boards in order to protect the citizens of New York."
­ Dr. Mindy Fullilove, Author and Professor

"The work and mission of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn is truly commendable and worthy of support and validation. Where injustices exist, the voices of reason and "rightness" must seek to rise above the chatter. DDDB is one such voice that shouts with clarity and the kind of integrity and potency that must drown the billowing public relations noises of a developer and government leaders dead set on misleading our community, distorting objections and derailing the very keen government system established to embrace equitable development."
­ Reverend Dennis Dillon, Chief Executive Minister, The Brooklyn Christian Center

"As a person raising a family in Brooklyn, I already expend a fair amount of effort trying to circumvent the ugly, thoughtless and intrusive constructions that have resulted from top-down projects (many created by Bruce Ratner) and are oblivious to the communities in which they've been placed. The last thing that Brooklyn needs is one more of these. I will do everything in my power to stop the Atlantic Yards project, not only because it is a monstrous eyesore that will disrupt and hobble a community I've grown to love, but because of the bullying, backdoor manner in which it is being foisted upon a population that doesn't want it, and would be forced to live with it."
­ Jenny Egan, Author and Journalist

"New development at the Atlantic Yards must serve the people and culture that have made downtown Brooklyn the world-class location that it is today. Instead of selling out for short-term profit, development at the Atlantic Yards should be an investment for the long term."
­ Marshall Brown, Architecture Professor and Lead Architect on the UNITY Community Development Plan