Dear friends, Below is an informative and eloquent update from the Brooklyn Heights Association [BHA] on the screwy developments of the past few weeks. We need you to join us this Tuesday morning 9:00am at the NYU Dibner Pfizer Auditorium at 5 Metrotech Center. We remain undeterred from our focus on the future of Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 6. Imagine park visitors in 2026. How about in 2036? Picture Atlantic Avenue as a park entrance. What does your Pier 6 "park paradise" look like? Know with conviction that the financial justification to build at Pier 6 today - imminently - is completely unsubstantiated. That this vote on the 7th is not supported by sensible or wise policy-making. We seek more leadership from our Mayor and from the Park Corp's Board. We know it's a work day, but please come, even if only for a little bit. Much love to all. Lori Pier 6 The Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation (BBPC) recently announced that it intends to proceed with a plan to build two towers on Pier 6, one 315 feet tall and the other approximately185 feet tall (both including rooftop mechanicals), despite its failure to obtain the required State approval of the modification to the governing General Project Plan that it has been seeking for the past year. In an attempt to inject some reason into the process, our coalition earlier this week asked one of our elected public officials to convey a request for a meeting with Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, the Chair of the BBPC Board. On Thursday, she refused. BBPC management is seeking approval for this plan at a June 7th BBPC board meeting. While we continue to reach out to and raise new ideas with BBPC Board members directly, we have been forced to prepare for litigation. We are fortunate that Jenner & Block LLP, one of the foremost litigation firms in the country, has agreed to represent us on a pro bono basis. For more than a decade – long before there was any suggestion of including affordable housing in the Park – the BHA was clear that it would support real estate development at Pier 6 only if it was necessary to support the maintenance and operation of the Park. This requirement is set out in the governing General Project Plan. Brooklyn Bridge Park was intended to provide desperately needed open space for New Yorkers, not to be a vehicle for real estate developer profits or a means to address other City policies, however vital. The real estate financial expert hired by our coalition last year demonstrated that the Park has ample revenue without any Pier 6 development whatsoever. The BBPC has consistently refused to share data that it says demonstrates that more luxury housing is needed at Pier 6, responding only with critiques and broad statements that do not acknowledge the benefits the BBPC has inevitably achieved from the dramatic increases in Brooklyn real estate values that even the most casual observer would expect. Ironically, this decision based solely on projections is proposed to be made now, and a permanent massive complex constructed, even though in the relatively near-term the actual tax revenues will become known for the soon-to-open major development sites of Pierhouse, Empire Stores, and John Street. We urge all of our members who oppose the hasty construction of two unnecessary towers at Pier 6 to express their views to the BBPC. The members of the BBPC Board who will be voting on June 7th can be found at: brooklynbridgepark.org/pages/aboutbbp. Please contact them and ask that they not approve any proposal that includes building towers now. Come to the meeting on June 7th, which will be held at 9:00am at the NYU Dibner Pfizer Auditorium at 5 Metrotech Center. While the vote will likely take place before any member of the public is allowed to speak, your presence alone will send the message that our community expects our public agencies and leaders to keep the commitments they make.