BUILD
was formed by Roger Green in order to create support for the
project.
Excerpted from Roger
Green's Press statement at BAM Press Conference, Jan 23,
2004 (one month after Ratner project is unveiled):
"An Open and Democratic process...
Finally, history teaches us that the process and the
protocols used toward the building of communities will inevitably
impact the quality of life within our communities. It
is in this spirit that I have joined with a number of community
activists including Tenant representatives, Block Association
representatives, Precinct Council members, business and home
owners to establish a new organization entitled B.U.I.L.D -
Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development. This
organization will serve as a voice for all of those concerned
neighbors who seek to unite our communities towards an enlightened
development. B.U.I.L.D. will work within the process that is
being set-up by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to
ensure community input into this historic development. I would
also like to acknowledge that Bertha Lewis of ACORN and Tenant
activist Darnell Canada among other will be reaching out to
the affected neighborhoods and the larger community so
that this process might be as democratic and transparent as
possible."
BUILD came out in support of the Ratner project less than two
weeks after it was formed.
(See
BUILD timeline.)
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