State Lawmakers Hold Hearing on Atlantic Yards

State lawmakers have held a hearing on the Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, even though the project was approved three years ago. As WNYC's Matthew Schuerman reports, Friday's gathering was a raucous one.

Sound: Crowd booing...

REPORTER: Construction workers and other supporters of the project packed the 200-seat auditorium in Brooklyn where the hearing was held. Throughout the four hour hearing, they shouted down the lawmakers holding the hearing and accused them of trying to delay the project, which is three years behind schedule. One man told Senator Bill Perkins to go back to Harlem.

SPEAKER: We want the project. You should go back to Harlem

REPORTER: Perkins heads the legislative committee that oversees the state agency that oversees Atlantic Yards and said he had a responsibility to ask questions. The developer, Forest City Ratner, is promising to break ground finally this fall.

For WNYC, I'm Matthew Schuerman