Pictures from yesterday's rally

I think that the question shouldn't be where, but why.

Why doesn't "Ratner the Benevolent" work with LIU/Brooklyn College to build a campus? New Jobs=yes Housing=yes Retail=yes. I guess that it isn't as sexy.

The only way a lot of people in Brooklyn will see a game at the arena is by putting on a tray of sodas. Prove me wrong... please.

Q: When is pointing out an obvious truth considered inflammatory?
A: When said truth is something that the moderator does not want to hear.

Forgive me, I apparently forgot the rules of this board. Pro-arena posters, such as ratnerville, sje, and a number of *anonymous* posters, are permitted to make emphatic comments on this topic, but when someone on the other side does the same, it’s suddenly out of line. So out of line, in fact, that the moderator, who says little to nothing about others posting anonymously, feels the need to drop hints about my identity. Still, I appreciate the reminder. It’s always beneficial to know that a double-standard exists.

Your population figures mean nothing. At 41%, whites are the single largest group, but they still do NOT constitute the majority of Kings County residents. Majority means a minimum of 51%. But if you prefer to go with your “proportional” argument, that’s fine with me, because it only proves my point. Anyone who attended or has seen photos of the rally knows very well that (1) whites comprised far greater than 41% of the marchers, and (2) that blacks comprised far less than 37% (their proportion in Kings County). 200 black Brooklynites attended a community forum? With surrounding communities containing tens of thousands of residents, that’s a pathetic turnout, especially given that this project is moving forward so rapidly. Makes one wonder how many black Brooklynites approve of this project. The only attempt to answer this question was a methodologically flawed study by Pratt (see BUILD’s web site for details on this). And many black and Hispanic politicians have spoken in favor of the arena, including Roger Green, Carl Andrews, Tracy Boyland, Yvette Clark, Diana Reyna, Sarah Gonzalez, Eric Martin-Dilan, and Kendall Stewart. Regarding money individuals, let’s not forget Jay-Z.

Hence, as a concession, I’ll rephrase my original statement: “Whites comprised a highly disproportionate number of protestors, while blacks were severely underrepresented.”

Happy?

“Then again, anonymous posts are not disallowed.”

Correct. And as long as others on this board are permitted to post anonymously, I shall continue to do the same. That is, if you can resist the urge to out me.

I took the bait. I knew one day you'd provoke me, you crafty devil.

Sorry it looks like a double standard to you. I've tried to make it clear that people should not be posting anonymously. The only reason why I haven't disabled anonymous posting entirely is because of the "logout bug" that seems to affect a lot of Mozilla users.

"Why doesn't "Ratner the Benevolent" work with LIU/Brooklyn College to build a campus? "

This is another ridiculous statement. Brooklyn College already has a beautiful campus and LIU just completed a new theater and is building a new sports/wellness complex. They don't need Ratner to help them because they many other donors and supporters.

Subject: Go nets in Brooklyn

Ben wrote: The vacant apartment were not vacated by force. If someone moves because they get a new job somewhere else or needs more space, there is no need for them to be compensated and no requirement that the units be re-rented.

People are talking about eminent domain abuse and people being forced from their homes. Ratner has said that he does not want to use eminent domain and would rather work on a win/win situation for everyone involved. This is showing that he is willing to do that. Another developer may have simply made the case for ED and been done with it. This was the big fear at the beginning of this process and Ratner is showing that the fear is unfounded.

If in the end there are a stubborn few who will not move for any amount of money on principle then I say screw them. Developing this site will do great things for Brooklyn as a whole. I think the greedy ones are the ones that want to prevent the development from happening because they are trying to deny the city a major source of jobs and income to fund more schools, parks, firehouses, subways, etc. Right now that site contributes zero to this community and the greedy ones are the ones that want to keep it that way.

Ben,

I totally agree with you. A lot of people around here do not want change or advancement for this community. They would rather an empty rail yard and abandoned buildings be apart of this community which = ugly and dangerous. Nothing but a bunch of left wing liberals that have nothing better to do but protest. Who has time for that? Why can't we move forward? How about more jobs? Everyone compalins about jobs! Everyone protested about the elections but guess who won.

Develop Don't Destroy... great clause, great theme. Hey, any new institutions, businesses, and housing that works with the community and for the community would be a beneficial commodity. I'm sure most would welcome that type of improvement. But, how in great Caesar's Ghost will plunking a stadium in the middle of an already clogged artery of downtown Brooklyn benefit anyone? There must be 20 other locations that would prove more functionally successful. I'm all for a pro sports team here, but that junction of Atlantic and Flatbush is already slowing and somewhat disconnecting access to Manhattan and back to Brooklyn. The only way I see it working successfully is if there is an elevated Super Highway some twenty stories above the current infrastructure. It just doesn't make sense. I don't think protestors are enraged about this for the sake of protesting. A stadium just shouldn't be built there.

I love the way the Republicans and capitalists in support of Ratner so freely resort to describing any type of opposition as left wing nutjobs, or Democrats who have nothing better to do than to protest, or liberal robots. The location, reason, financing of the stadium brings about great concern dealing with the quality of life. Of course people who will be effected are going to express this.