BrooklynSpeaks, a coalition of civic associations, advocacy groups, and affordable housing organizations concerned about development at the Atlantic Yards site, today announced that over 1,000 New Yorkers have signed a petition calling for legislation mandating public oversight of the project.

Since BrooklynSpeaks launched an online petition calling on legislative leaders to act on bills directing the ESDC to form a dedicated subsidiary for oversight, over 600 New Yorkers have signed on online and in hardcopy. Here are some of the comments of concerned residents.

BrooklynSpeaks has learned that Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries’ bill (A11431) reforming Atlantic Yards governance has passed the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee.

“The BrooklynSpeaks sponsors support the new legislation and are monitoring the legislative progress closely. Today, we are beginning a public campaign to see that the legislation passes both the Assembly and the State Senate and becomes law. For the last three years, BrooklynSpeaks sponsors have advocated for transparency with respect to project governance, as well as for the involvement of the public in the decision-making process. This legislation is an important first step towards those goals,” said Jo Anne Simon, District Leader of the 52nd Assembly District. “We encourage all Brooklynites and New Yorkers concerned about accountability at Atlantic Yards to sign our online petition calling for swift passage of this legislation.”

The BrooklynSpeaks petition is available at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/reformay/petition.html.