It was a great day for Brooklyn, depending on who you ask….. Seven years ago, Jay-Z announced that as co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, that he would bring them back to Brooklyn, and today he did. The rapper, among several other stars and politicians, broke ground on the Barclay Center, the new home to the Nets. The move will create a proposed 16,000 union construction jobs, as well as 5000 permanent jobs for the city, as well as in addition to the Nets arena, three residential buildings, a day care facility, senior center, health care facilities, and affordable housing units.

“What I stand here and represent is hope for Brooklyn, New York City. I’m a son of Brooklyn, I’m from Marcy projects.” Jay said. “I think about growing up in Brooklyn in the Marcy projects and shooting jump shots, thinking I can make it to the NBA. Now I stand here as an owner of team that’s coming back to Brooklyn. The pride in that, and bringing that dream so much closer for people, brings me so much pride I get a little nervous about it. But I’m very happy, very excited about this day. And we did it again Brooklyn — shout out to B.I.G.”

Where does the controversy lie? Local protesters feel that the project will transform local neighborhoods, as twenty two residents and businesses have been asked to vacate the premises by April 3rd, otherwise facing eviction. Wearing oversized masks of New York politicians, protesters chanted during the ceremony, even holding a mock funeral for “the soul of Brooklyn.”

“I think it’s a very bad day for democracy in New York,” a protester told NY1 News. “It’s very sad. They’re supposed to stand for us, but they serve the developers. They don’t serve the people.”

But Jiggaman feels despite the controversy, ultimately the move will be greater for Brooklyn, in terms of job creation and bringing the community closer together.

“It’s a sensitive one. I’m from the people. I’m for the people. I could never be opposed to the side of the people. But this project, when you look at the numbers at the end of the day, was so overwhelmingly in favor of the people: the job creation, the housing that’s being built. It was difficult; you had to tread through that process lightly. But we’re here, it’s a fantastic day and it’s a celebration. It’s a beautiful day in Brooklyn and the hope that’s represented — on a small scale — is the same I felt when I saw Obama run for president: That we can be a part of something so grand,” he told MTV News. [Sources: MTV, NY1]