Brooklyn, NY -- Gloria Mattera, Green Party candidate for Brooklyn Borough President, today called the proposed condemnation of homes on Duffield and Gold Streets an abuse of eminent domain. The homes, which were connected to the Underground Railroad, are part of seven acres of private property scheduled for demolition as part of the Ratner development plan in downtown Brooklyn.

It is a betrayal of public trust for our elected officials to use eminent domain for private economic gain," said Mattera, noting that current Borough President Marty Markowitz supports razing the occupied homes to make way for the Ratner project.

The Duffield homes have a rich cultural history and deserve our protection," said Mattera. We cannot allow the Ratner project to steamroll this historic site for personal gain."