Forest City Ratner's hand--via BUILD and the 77th Precinct Clergy Council--in some supportive comments to the ESDC

Just in case you're wondering how so many people commented in favor of Atlantic Yards to the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) before the most recent approval in September, well, it didn't happen spontaneously.

As the screenshot at right suggests, the Rev. Cecil Henry of Calvary Community Church made sure to not only send his comments to the ESDC, he also CC'd Forest City Ratner employee Brigitte LaBonte, who notably helped guide Delia Hunley-Adossa as she MC'd a June 2008 "Brooklyn Day" rally."

Henry is VP of the United Clergy Council of the 77th Precinct, as noted in the letter at bottom. The Precinct Community Council is headed by James Caldwell, also the head of Community Benefits Agreement signatory BUILD (Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development). Both Caldwell and Henry appeared in a 2005 advertisement supporting the reelection of Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Two letters

Below are two letters from Henry, reflecting Forest City Ratner talking points. (Click to enlarge.) Note that Henry rather sweepingly claims that all the members of his church support the Atlantic Yards project. (And here's another Crown Heights clergyman for AY.)