Scores of people turned out to support the controversial Atlantic Yards project on Thursday at a rally paid for by the developer.

As part of Brooklyn Day celebrations, Forest City Ratner handed out free hot dogs and T-shirts at Columbus Park near Borough Hall. The developer’s $4.2 billion project in downtown Brooklyn includes offices, apartments and a basketball arena for the Nets.

“This is Brooklyn’s future,” Borough President Marty Markowitz said from the stage. “Nobody is going to hold it back, nobody. We deserve it.”

The developer said 3,000 attended the rally, held on a day city public schools were closed.

Along with families enjoying the food, music and warm weather, union workers turned out in force to back the project and the jobs it will bring.

Members of an opposition group – Develop, Don’t Destroy Brooklyn – showed up, too. They say a slow economy and tough credit market have hobbled the proposed development.

Group spokesman Daniel Goldstein called the rally “a blatant attempt to boost a project that is coming undone.”

Ratner spokesman Loren Riegelhaupt insisted the project is on track and that preparation work – including demolition – is well under way.

“Work is continuing every day,” he said.

Source: NY Daily News