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Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park infographics: what's built/what's coming/what's missing, who's responsible, + project FAQ/timeline (pinned post)

At B2 site, 516 number on dumpster points to gap between letter and spirit of Atlantic Yards CBA

The photos here show work on the B2 residential tower going on inside the construction fence extending out from the Dean Street side of the arena.

Note the dumpster from A. Russo Wrecking, with the Long Island phone number: 516-239-8823. Russo's been in business since 1952.

As I wrote 8/5/10, citing a 3/19/07 post, the Atlantic Yards Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), negotiated mainly by black leaders representing (mostly new) groups in Central Brooklyn, has little connection with some of the beneficiaries. 

Indeed, as noted in a 2/20/07 press release, the largest contract was awarded to Russo, a (white) woman-owned business based in Nassau County.

So Forest City gets to report that it is fulfilling the letter of the CBA, as well as state requirements for M/WBEs (minority-/women-owned business enterprises), without necessarily fulfilling its spirit. As one-time project supporter Umar Jordan asked, generally lamenting the lack of work for locals, "Why is the phone on the truck a 516 number?"

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