Those who have played chess professionally will know the meaning of "Exclam!!!!!!!" You see, it refers to when a player makes a brilliant move within the game; a move so good that it has the potential to change the outcome from there on in. In the game called chess -one of the oldest in the world- we record each player’s move(s) with symbols; and once you see an exclamation mark in brackets or parentheses (!) recorded next to a move, you are supposed to take a long hard look at the move and its relevance to the later outcome of the game. It sets the stage for the post-game analysis and for later evaluation.

The article describes in detail the ACORN-Working Families Party (WFP) Conglomerate. It then outlines how the Working Families Party asked public-advocate, borough president and city council hopefuls vying for its endorsement to agree to consult with the party before deals are cut on land use. The WFP asked for a commitment from these candidates to "consult with the WFP and its affiliates on development before deals with the developers are struck."

It asked that candidates “pledge to”: A) “Consider the advice” of the party “regarding your appointments” and B) Commit to consulting with” the party “on development before deals with the developer are struck”. This is already a substantial grab for power for a political party.

As described, WFP is not merely interested in using this power to increase its influence and increase its leverage. It is, itself, an actual beneficiary of the deals over which it seeks power.

The article then described in detail how the ACORN/WFP shakedown of developer Bruce Ratner, which eventually led to ACORN leading the fight for Ratner’s Atlantic Yards project, has lead to money flowing into ACORN’s coffers. As a result, ACORN head Berta Lewis proudly proclaims herself a "developer."

The article also describes in detail how Lewis shamelessly race baits anyone who dares to criticize or even question the project, while Lander, a Urban Planning academic, always rises to defend her integrity. Here’s a sample:

“To begin with, I believe it is unfair and untrue to suggest that Bertha Lewis or other individuals are seeking to profit from their organizing work, or from the deals that they cut with corporate and political power-brokers. Yes, ACORN cuts deals -- usually after substantial organizing and confrontation, often mobilizing many more people to stand up to powerful interests than the rest of us. But the goal of their deals is to win concrete, meaningful victories for low-income people…It is certainly fair to criticize the particular deals they cut (although I think they usually do very well), and to organize against those deals if you do not agree. And I suppose it is fair to criticize deal-making in general, in favor of a more radical or rejectionist politics which might somehow ultimately change conditions so much that new, far bolder things will be possible that seem inconceivable now.

But it is neither fair nor true to suggest some sort of self-dealing. There are lots of people in the world who are straightforwardly in business to make money, and who have become wealthy doing it. And there are people who have made plenty in the "poverty business." But Bertha and other ACORN staffers sure aren't getting rich, and they work extremely hard and long hours every day trying to win real, meaningful, progressive gains.

Second, I do not really see how it helps progressive politics to beat up on ACORN because they have built and can wield power.”

The article notes that Brad Lander was the first City Council candidate in the entire City endorsed by the Working Families Party this year, and is the party’s top priority. The article the describes why this should send a chill down the spine of anyone concerned about out of control development.

Lander cannot hide from this paper trail. He equivocated on Atlantic Yards in a manner which often provided its supporters with cover; he failed to criticize ACORN‘s race-baiting of his potential constituents, he accepted support from the Working Families Party, which is merely ACORN assembled for politics, and he strongly supports ACORN’s tactics and its agenda.

As “No Land Grab” notes, some serious questions have been raised about the WFP's role in elections and development. They are openly and notoriously trying to game the political projects to choose the people who will decide if their projects get built and their pockets get lined.

For reasons of expedience, Lander came out against Atlantic Yards in late May. Why did it take him so long? Even if we could take Brad Lander’s recent conversion on Atlantic Yards seriously, can anyone doubt where he will stand on every other ACORN project in the City, whatever its merits?

Need more proof that Lander is the Ratner/ACORN candidate?

Lander has sworn up and down he won't take developer money. Or so he keeps saying. But looking at Lander’s recent filings, we find that he has taken money from the most controversial development companies in Brooklyn.

You guessed it.

Richard Greenspan, project coordinator for Bruce Ratner's company Forest City Ratner, donated $2750 to Brad Lander's campaign on July 9th, 2008. Richard Greenspan not only works for one of NYC's biggest developers, but he is also the son-in-law of Charles Ratner the founder of Forest City Ratner.

You CAN'T get more developer linked than this money.

In fairness, I should note that Lander returned this money.

But the point isn’t that Lander took the money. The point is that they were so eager to give it to him. Greenspan and the Ratners see Lander is on their side.

And they didn’t get rich by being stupid.

Atlantic Yards is only the tip of the iceberg, and Lander is only the tip of the iceberg, but a a Lander victory is not only one more vote for the ACORN pro-development agenda, it is also an effective message to politicians that ACORN is the new sheriff in town and tribute must be paid in the form of your neighborhood.

The real questions is, given ACORN’s self-proclaimed status as a “DEVELOPER” and its power grab for pre-approval of all development projects, and all who would rule upon them, whether anyone concerned about over-development should help the ACORN/WFP axis put their favorite candidate on the City Council, which will only increase ACORN‘s power and their ability to wreck more havoc upon our communities.