Monday February 4, 2013, 12:05 pm
Just a decade ago, Albee Square Mall was at the heart of downtown Brooklyn – it was home to dozens of local small businesses that hired hundreds of workers and catered to the neighborhood’s primarily working class residents. Then, in 2007, fifty businesses were uprooted and the mall was demolished – and then the land was handed over, along with a $20 million Recovery Zone Bond to a wealthy developer named Acadia Realty Trust.

While the tax-exempt bond was intended to revitalize distressed communities, Acadia isn’t planning on lifting low-income Brooklynites out of poverty with good jobs. Instead Acadia is building a huge luxury retail and housing development that will transform the once vibrant neighborhood square into a playground for the 1%.

Acadia is benefiting from at least $1.5 million in subsidies, but failing to return good jobs, truly affordable housing, or other benefits to the community. That’s why the company was inducted into the Corporate Tax Dodgers Hall of Shame on the steps of City Hall by hundreds of union workers, community leaders from Families United for Racial & Economic Equality (FUREE) and elected officials last week.

You've already signed our petition or postcard to demand that corporate tax subsidies be used to leverage good jobs and benefit our communities – not enrich greedy corporations like Acadia. Now, will you take the next step and share it with your family and friends by posting the petition on Facebook & Twitter? You may also forward the email at the bottom of this message.

“Phase 1” of the development was recently completed by low-wage, no benefit construction workers – and Acadia has already hired a low-road developer with a history of shoddy work for “Phase 2”. Judging by Acadia’s hiring practices thus far, the construction and permanent jobs are unlikely to provide decent wages and benefits unless we fight for – and win – a commitment to create good jobs.

Will you help us grow our movement to demand that corporations like Acadia, that take millions in public subsidies, should create good, local jobs and community benefits? Please share the petition with family and friends on Facebook & Twitter, or forward the email below this message.

Each year, New York spends billions of dollars on corporate tax subsidies in the name of job creation. Too much of this money ends up in the hands of companies like Arcadia that fail to create good jobs and community benefits. Together, we can build a better future for all New Yorkers - that means putting our tax dollars back into our communities and not into the pockets of the 1%.

Visit our action page to learn more about Acadia’s subsidy swindle and meet the other Hall of Shame inductees.

In solidarity,

Prerna, Nathalie and the ALIGN team

Monday February 4, 2013, 12:21 pm
Signed. Thanks!

Monday February 4, 2013, 12:31 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Sara because you have done so within the last week.

Monday February 4, 2013, 3:14 pm
Thanks J.L. for the action alert, info and link. Signed and noted.

Monday February 4, 2013, 3:15 pm
You cannot currently send a star to John because you have done so within the last week.

Monday February 4, 2013, 3:32 pm
Signed, thank you !

Monday February 4, 2013, 3:47 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Autumn because you have done so within the last week.

Monday February 4, 2013, 6:45 pm

Signed and tweeted - If the money is subsidies for a specific purpose as stated above, why then is this corporation not debunked, the owners in jail for theft, and the city, state and Federal government not stepping in to take over? So much corruption, so much waste.

Monday February 4, 2013, 6:50 pm
Thanks for spreading the word Kit! You cannot currently send a star to Kit because you have done so within the last week.

Monday February 4, 2013, 8:21 pm
This type of action is running rampant, the well will run dry. There is so much of this going on, including the Federal level which is one of the reasons our Country is being sucked dry by Corporations. With the blue smoke and mirror reteric about progress, and bullshit and more bullshit.

It is all mindboggling, and that the large number of people either believe it all or stick there head in the sand also amazes me....only United could we ever make changes.....

Tuesday February 5, 2013, 2:26 am
Noted and signed.

Tuesday February 5, 2013, 3:50 am
Thanks JL..my fiancee lives in Brooklyn, and it's really quite depressed and in some ways is decades behind surrounding areas in terms of opportunity and development in large part.

Tuesday February 5, 2013, 7:31 am
You are welcome Cal. Thank you for adding the description of the community impacted from your personal knowledge!

Tuesday February 5, 2013, 7:36 am
You cannot currently send a star to Giana because you have done so within the last week.

Tuesday February 5, 2013, 3:44 pm
Millions in subsidies . . . right into your pockets. How, exactly, are you better than the Mafia?

Tuesday February 5, 2013, 5:08 pm
noted & signed

Tuesday February 5, 2013, 5:15 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Natalie because you have done so within the last week.

Wednesday February 6, 2013, 1:19 pm
Noted. Can't sign. L♡ve ☮ Peace.