Is ACORN's Atlantic Yards Connection the Real Scandal?

ACORN at a rally for Atlantic Yards.

Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner's quid pro quo relationship with community organizing group ACORN is public knowledge, but now that the group is on the hot seat for those hidden camera humiliations, the Post takes another look. For years, ACORN has rallied its members to enthusiastically support the construction of Ratner's $4.9 billion NBA arena, and in exchange ACORN would help manage tenants for the 2,250 affordable-housing units still planned for Atlantic Yards, to be built someday in the unforeseeable future.

ACORN also got a $1 million loan and a $500,000 grant from Ratner last September to weather some financial trouble. That's not really news for those who've been following the embattled project closely, but the article does feature a juicy quote from Patti Hagan, a Prospects Heights activist and former operative for ACORN’s political arm. She tells the Post, "ACORN is a corrupt organization that had its silence bought by Ratner." But that's not exactly controversial either, since ACORN's Director Bertha Lewis has herself admitted that Ratner essentially bought ACORN's "political cover."

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By John Del Signore in News on September 21, 2009 6:01 PM

Comments [rss]

brokeland

ratner paid bertha for political cover, you don't care about tat Sommelier? then move on to something else.

Sommelier

Acorn? Halliburton, KBR & Blackwater are ripping us off for billions & we're focusing on this little operation? The GOP wins again, folks!

8IsEnough

It's not easy doing something about Blackwater, etc., in Iraq. But RATner, BUMberg, and AY are right under our noses, we will have to live with this horror on a daily basis, and we CAN do something about it by voting OUT everyone in favor of AY.

Amanda Harletsch

what about the wallstreet mess WE ARE STILL IN!?

nothing to to do with the GOP, yeah RIGHT!

brokeland

the rage about AY/Ratner/ACORN has nothing to do with the right wing stuff. nothing at all. it has to do with a compromised organization claiming they represent "the community" and "poor people" when all they are about at this point with Ratner/Atlantic Yards is a quid pro quo.

rbeshenk

I went to the initial acorn meetings for this project. Not surprised.

hunter.blatherer

If they're taking money from Ratner, I guess the prostitution rumors are true.

Amanda Harletsch

The rage is useful for the GOP.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/09/17/acorn_hysteria/index.html

starrygordon

Their being in bed with Ratner is useful for the GOP.

NannyState

ACORN ran a poverty pimp shakedown operation? I feel faint...

8IsEnough

What really bothers me is that our hypocritical mayor, who claims he is so honest and above all corruption, is the driving force behind this horror that is costing the middle class taxpayers so much. But what does he care about us? It's only his super-rich and corrupt cronies that matter. Eight is enough! Spitzer paid women. BUMberg pays developers, calling it a "subsidy", with our money!

longacre

Pick your poison. Bloomberg has little to gain personally from these deals, so I trust that there's at least some possibility of quality control going on, whereas other mayors get checks from the mob and other shady characters for doing similar work.

woodendesigner

It's time for the someone to put this project down for good and go after all of the public money that has been given for this project. It sucks, it's a bad idea, it's never going to happen and everyone is getting suckered out of a LOT of money.