On Thursday, October 15, 2009, NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery stood before the NYS Court of Appeals along with constituents from Brooklyn for their landmark challenge to the ESDC’s abuse of eminent domain. The Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, is being asked to rule on the legality of seizing private homes to benefit a private development, in this case, the controversial Atlantic Yards proposal. Senator Montgomery said, “We have a situation where the State of NY is participating in actually abusing the law of eminent domain…This really is the worst possible example of how government can interfere in the quality of life of the people in our State. But today we hope, and we anticipate that the Court will rule on the side of the people of the State of New York. “