Forest City Ratner publicly announces rally, led by Sharpton

Three basketball players. One (office) building. A careful effort to ensure there's no typographical overemphasis on the Nets, as in a previous poster. Such are the details of the latest Atlantic Yards E-newsletter, which consists of the graphic at right.

The musical guests include reggae star Maxi Priest and "Brooklyn's own Second Step," which may be this funk/soul group. Forest City Ratner is apparently not aiming at the indie rock crowd. Perhaps the opportunity to celebrate "Brooklyn's renaissance"--or the appearances of "current and former Nets stars, elected officials, and community leaders"--is lure enough.

The press release

A press release offers two headlines:
REV. SHARPTON, CURTIS SLIWA, UNIONS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ISSUE ADVOCATES CELEBRATE BROOKLYN, URGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Groups Rally in Support of Atlantic Yards, Saying Brooklyn Needs Investment Now More than Ever

Translation: Forest City Ratner needs subsidies now more than ever, as its own leaders acknowledge.

Will the Rev. Al Sharpton, a recipient of the developer's largesse, be as good luck for Atlantic Yards as he was for former Newark Mayor Sharpe James?