Brooklyn, NY -- "I urge Reverend Sharpton to reconsider his decision to support the heavily subsidized Ratner Nets Arena proposal," said Gloria Mattera, Green Party candidate for Brooklyn Borough President, upon hearing that the Reverend Al Sharpton had announced his support for the project. "Our Brooklyn residents deserve leaders who will stand up for them against multibillionaire developers."

Sharpton has claimed the arena and tower project will provide housing and jobs for local residents. Current Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz supports the project. Mattera maintains that the $1.6 billion in public subsidies could be used to create jobs to perform much needed social functions.

"Low-wage retail and fast food jobs are already plentiful," said Mattera. "The public should not subsidize this kind of employment, but funds should be used to create jobs that improve our qualify of life."

"Reserving 1/2 of the planned apartments for families earning less than $100,000 a year will not help most families in a borough with a median income of $31,000," said Mattera, who noted that current residents will be evicted to make room for the project. "Jobs and housing can be created without displacing people and without creating secondary displacement by building over the railyards. The big-box development these types of projects attract will devastate the small businesses lining Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street without any guarantee that local residents will be hired."

"Reverend Sharpton has in the past been a persuasive voice against big-money influence on local politics. I hope he will reconsider his decision and stand up for the majority of Brooklyn residents who oppose the Ratner development project," added Mattera.