Today, the New York State Court of Appeals has ruled that the Empire State Development Corporation (continuing its long-running role as the tool of Forest City Ratner, developer of the proposed Atlantic Yards development in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn) is well within its rights to use eminent domain to force the transfer of private property from their current owners to the developer because the area is “blighted” and Atlantic Yards would be a “public benefit” to New Yorkers.
Although expected, I’m still very disappointed. I suppose we’ll all have to learn this lesson, again, the hard way. Maybe New London has some wisdom to offer us?
