How to Make Your Own Free Parking Near the Atlantic Yards Site

dailyheights

I, for one, am looking forward to the Jay-Z concert.

whynot_31

It will be excellent

dailyheights

He's got 99 problems but Ratner ain't one.

boygabriel

MMMHMM.

booklaw said:

Eastbloc, are you so committed to no-holds-barred capitalism that you are willing to countenance fraud (i.e. Ratner's) as a way of increasing one's fortune?

Ratner promised first-class architecture by a preeminent architect, and then, once he got the necessary approvals, he substituted cheaper and drabber designs by a far less renowned architect.

He promised jobs for the local community, jobs which never materialized.

He promised affordable housing... Don't hold your breath.

He literally bought off the opposition by funding a phony community group to support his positions.

One doesn't need to rationalize to pillory Ratner.

The opinions I've expressed here are my own... i do not speak for Brooklynian.com.

whynot_31

If you like, I will feign disgust at Ratner's savvy.

But shouldn't we also look at ourselves, our political and judicial system, and the leaders that allow the Ratner's of the world to act in this manner?

Shouldn't we demand that future leaders of organizations like ACORN not be so gullible?

Shouldn't we insist that things like Community Benefits Agreements have deliverables that are not able to be postponed until we forget they exist?

I know we are not supposed to blame ourselves because that would be allegedly blaming the victim, but aren't we the ones who allowed ourselves to be represented by fools (like Bertha and Marty)?

Didn't we have a role in putting them in those positions?

Didn't a lot of the people that surround us actually believe the promises, despite being warned they should not?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor

By the way:

A. I hear the Queens aqueduct casino and conference center will be lovely. It will definitely be nicer than the underused race track and flea market that currently occupies the space.

B. What is the latest on the NY Islanders? Are they coming to Barclays? That would be awesome.

I can't decide: Either this isn't a democracy, or the people are getting exactly what they want and deserve.

...Jay-Z is the master.

eastbloc

Don't confuse booklaw and BG with "the people", most of whom could give a rat's ass about Atlantic Yards.

To the extent there was community action concerned with the project, they did fight it. They lost, regardless of any merit of their arguments.

Move on. Or better yet, make the most of it. Open up a hot dog stand or something.

boygabriel

Don't confuse eastbloc with residents of neighboring areas.

He thinks if someone gets away with something it must be legal and most of all: moral and undeserving of commentary.

eastbloc

No, I just question your stubbornly reductionist associations, which single-mindedly ascribe everything bad and nothing good to Atlantic Yards.

It's a form of willfully ignorant bias that I choose to confront with skepticism. I'm sure there are legitimate gripes one can have with the project, but who could possibly trust you to point them out?

You and your kind do a disservice to truth itself.

whynot_31

eastbloc said:

Don't confuse booklaw and BG with "the people", most of whom could give a rat's ass about Atlantic Yards.

To the extent there was community action concerned with the project, they did fight it. They lost, regardless of any merit of their arguments.

Move on. Or better yet, make the most of it. Open up a hot dog stand or something.

I think everyone agrees it is a great spot for an arena, and that it will be a financial success. Some just feel the developer got a much better deal than the public.

If we are to avoid deals of this sort to private developers in the future, lots of changes need to be implemented. The AY saga showed just how out-gunned neighborhood residents are when they attempt to stop such projects.

Speaking of hot dogs, lots of people seem to be opening restaurants and bars along Flatbush.

threecee

whynot: everyone doesn't agree that this is a great spot for an arena. new york city zoning forbids siting an arena adjacent to or in residential neighborhoods for the fact that the operation of this type of business has effects that most would agree are not compatible with residential areas.

whynot_31

threecee-

If you are correct on the zoning rules, apparently they were over ridden or effectively ignored by the interests discussed above.

Without having effective methods to enforce them, people should have no illusion that the laws and zoning codes designed to protect the pubic will be enforced.

This Battle for Brooklyn was lost, but will we win the next one?

Nice job on the film, BTW. It cast a bright light on how our government and "society" actually works.

homeowner

Eastbloc, just out of curiosity, what good do you think has come from Atlantic Yards as it exists today?

threecee

whynot_31 said:

threecee-

If you are correct on the zoning rules, apparently they were over ridden or effectively ignored by the interests discussed above.

Without having effective methods to enforce them, people should have no illusion that the laws and zoning codes designed to protect the pubic will be enforced.

This Battle for Brooklyn was lost, but will we win the next one?

Nice job on the film, BTW. It cast a bright light on how our government and "society" actually works.

Yes, NYC zoning was overridden by NY state (aka ESDC). Their reasoning was that because 8 of the 22-acre site is the MTA Vanderbilt rail yard, AY is a "state" project, and therefore, does not have to follow NYC zoning. This zoning override was vigorously opposed, but obviously, unsuccessfully.

I completely agree with you about having no illusions in law and justice when those with money and connections can pretty much do as they please.

Glad you liked the film, but I cannot take any credit (assuming you were complimenting me). Yes, we lost this battle, but we learned many valuable lessons and formed a valuable network. Hopefully, we will be better equipped to deal with the next one.

boygabriel

Hopefully, we will be better equipped to deal with the next one.

hear hear