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Astroturf for Ratner

Whenever Bruce Ratner and New York politicos appear in public to talk about the proposed Nets arena over the Atlantic Yards, there are usually two groups out in force: the opposition (Develop, Don't Destroy Brooklyn and No Land Grab) and the supporters (Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development, aka BUILD)). At these events, the BUILD supporters shout down the opposition, frequently calling them racists. DDDB and NLG have long suspected that BUILD were not "community activists," just a front group on the developer's payroll but BUILD has always claimed total independence.

BUILD has been lying. Today's Daily News reports that BUILD has finally admitted that they have received substantial support from Forrest City Ratner. If FCR and the city can't be honest about their supporters, how can we be sure that they are being honest in how they present the windfall that the City will receive after giving Bruce Ratner a $100,000,000+ gift?