‘Brooklyn Fairy Tale’

Regarding the editorial “Brooklyn Fairy Tale” [June 6, 2005], the most insidious aspect of the nonbinding, “affordable” housing deal between Forest City Ratner and ACORN, trumpeted by Mayor Bloomberg, is this: The mayor, President Markowitz, and Bertha Lewis made a big hoopla about a 50-50 housing deal at a Brooklyn Borough Hall press conference about two weeks ago.

One week later, at a City Council hearing on the Atlantic Yards proposal, FCR announced that what was once 4,500 proposed housing units is now 7,300 housing units, with no commitment at all to make any of those 2,800 additional units “affordable.” So what was loudly called a “groundbreaking”50-50 agreement is now, in reality, a nonbinding agreement that would include a minuscule 6% of housing for truly low-income earners and 24% for “moderate” earners, leaving 70% luxury.

That’s called bait and switch. And guess what? Half of the rents of the so-called affordable units are market rate rents that you could find walking into any real estate office in the areas surrounding the proposed development in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. We, the taxpayers of New York City and State, are subsidizing Mr. Ratner’s market and luxury rate housing – as well as the most expensive private sports arena ever built – to the tune of $1.6 billion, and rising, in public subsidies. Why?

DANIEL GOLDSTEIN
Spokesperson
Develop – Don’t Destroy (Brooklyn)
Brooklyn

‘Bronx Terminal Market’

Re: The claim that small businesses are being bulldozed at Bronx Terminal Market [“Analyst: Mayor’s Bronx Market Deal Shows His Hubris,” Julie Satow, June 2, 2005]: By investing nearly $400 million – one of the largest single private sector investments ever in the Bronx – the project will create enormous opportunity, and is designed to help small businesses in numerous ways.

First, small, local mom-and-pop shops will have an opportunity to locate in the community-oriented shop area that will ring the retail center. Second, The Related Companies also will participate in the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation’s “Buy Bronx” program, which seeks to hire Bronx-based businesses whenever possible. Finally, the project will draw in thousands of shoppers to the area who will also visit other local stores along major retail strips such as 161st Street. This significant private investment will support and elevate the economic foundation of the existing neighborhood.

The Bronx deserves the more than 5,000 permanent and construction jobs that will be generated by this project. Gateway Center at Bronx Terminal Market will be an anchor for the Bronx’s continued economic revival.

DAVID STEARNS
The Marino Organization (On behalf of The Related Companies)
Manhattan

‘Disposition Emerges’

Re: “Disposition Emerges as Issue at Brooklyn College,” Jacob Gershman, Page 1, May 31, 2005. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) expects institutions to provide evidence that candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skill, and dispositions that enable them to help all students learn.

NCATE defines dispositions as the values, commitments, and professional ethics that influence behaviors toward students, families, colleagues, and communities, and affect student learning, motivation, and development. In addition to a teacher knowing subject matter, assessing dispositions helps determine how well an individual relates to children, both individually and collectively. “Dispositions … might include a belief that all students can learn, a vision of high and challenging standards, or a commitment to a safe and supportive learning environment.” The aforementioned examples are directly from the NCATE standards.

NCATE first included dispositions as part of its standards in 2000. A consortium of 34 states had developed model state licensing standards, which included dispositions in the early 1990s, and most states used this model to develop their licensing requirements. NCATE followed this lead, as preparation must be aligned with licensing requirements in any profession.

NCATE does not prescribe specific dispositions that institutions must follow. NCATE expects the school, college, or Department of Education (1) to determine what dispositions it wants the candidates to possess as they leave the institution to enter the teaching profession, (2) to articulate the dispositions, and (3) to develop assessments which help determine whether candidates possess those attributes and behaviors. Assessments usually incorporate skills and dispositions simultaneously.

ARTHUR E. WISE
President, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Washington, D.C.

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