« Today's rally coverage in the mainstream media | Main | DDDB Press Release: MASSIVE RALLY AGAINST RATNER PLAN »
July 17, 2006
More blogo coverage of boffo rally against bizarro/blotto project
Accounts of the rally in the blogosphere have kept popping up throughout the day, so here goes Round Two:
Gothamist, Thousands Protest Atlantic Yards Project
A brief synopsis of the rally coverage and solicitation of comments from those who attended.
Dope on the Slope receives today's "Golden LandGrab" award (aka "Grabbie") for sheer output. After yesterday's "Parasol Power" post, he followed up with these:
Neither the heat, humidity or harsh lighting were particularly camera friendly yesterday at the DDDB rally. However, this didn't stop scores of photographers and videographers from turning out for the event.
Inadequate Commentary
The Times reports that yesterday's rally was called to protest the size of Atlantic Yards, and "what many called inadequate public comment," which unleashes the following tongue-lashing (amongst other vulgarities that one gets to use when one is one's own editor):
Inadequate comment?!
COMMENT?!?!
To employ a bit of the Brooklynese I've picked up in the four years I've lived here - "Hey Gray Lady, I gotcher comment...right here! (include appropriate vulgar gesture)"
Those three words demonstrate why development in New York City is completely dysfunctional. Comment has never been the issue. We can comment until we are blue in the face, and frequently do.
...No, this isn't about comment. This is about empowerment and control of the destiny of our neighborhoods. As an earlier DDDB button used to say "our community, our taxes, our choice."
 |
A Crowd Gathers, But How Large? The New York Times estimated over 2000, the rally organizers said there were over 4000. Let's split the difference and say it was over 3000. During the two hours I was there, I would say they had enough passion and energy for 100,000. |
One If By Landgrab, Two If By Boondoggle
Yesterday Steve Buscemi rhymed "Forest City Ratner" with "William Shatner." But what rhymes with "boondoggle?"
Find out in Dope's 21st-Century update to the classic Longfellow poem, which inspired NoLandGrab's costumed stunt at yesterday's rally.
Fight for Progressive Development Heats Up
"This is white and black and progressive and working class saying no to a billion-dollar developer.” — NY City Councilmember Charles Barron
"Ask the right questions...Why wait until 2009 to be building housing we need right now?” — Rev. Clinton Miller of Brown Memorial Baptist Church
“Turn up the heat on these greedy developers.” — NY City Councilmember Letitia James
"State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, assured the crowd that she wasn't the least bit intimidated by her developer backed challenger, Tracy Boyland."
"Legendary Fort Greene activist Ed Carter promised... that Brooklynites weren't about to kiss any developer's ass."
"This deal is suffering from a long-term illness and we need to put it out of its misery." — DDDB spokesperson Dan Goldstein
Neighborhood Retail Alliance, Atlantic Yards and The Spanish Civil War
Richard Lipsky from NRA requests that we "hold the comments on how Richard Lipsky represents FCRC-stick to the arguments please," so we will.
The DDD people can out yesterday in Brooklyn and, depending on who you ask, generated somewhere between 2,000 and 4,000 folks to a rally against AY. If you accept the lower Times estimate there were more people who came out last week to an informal forum of FCRC to discuss the affordable housing opportunities at the development.
NLG stick-to-your-ribs commentary: For once we agree with Lipsky on an Atlantic Yards issue. No one would be "surprised" if more folks flocked to an airconditioned hotel meeting room looking for affordable housing than came to a rally in 90-degree-plus weather, where promoters didn't give out free stuff or the vague promise of "affordable housing." No wonder the seekers of affordable housing went home largely disappointed.
Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, NO LAND GRABBER IN COLONIAL COSTUME AT RALLY
NoLandGrab: We'll take this opportunity to explain that NoLandGrab booked Paul Revere to repeat his ride from 230 years ago. Paul Revere was riding Benny, a nine-year resident of Kensington Stables, Brooklyn. Many of Benny's friends lost their home when, last year, a barn leased by Kensington was sold to a developer, who has since razed the barn and plans to build luxury condos (for people, not horses).
Paul Revere warned rally attendees and picnicers in Prospect Park, "The OVERDEVELOPERS are coming!" Benny frequently chimed in with "Neigh, to Atlantic Yards."
Doughnut, The Great Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn Rally: Part 1. Power to the People
Klaus Kinloch posted some excellent images from the rally.
Curbed, Anti-Atlantic Yards Rally: Thousands Brave Blazing Sun,
Curbed carried coverage and photos from Gowanus Lounge. Don't forget to check out the slugfest on the comments page, where affordable housing advocates took the upper hand right out of the starting gate.
The Brooklyn Record, Atlantic Yards Update: Housing Prices and Rallies
The post is about last week's affordable housing info session and yesterday's rally with links to other blogs. The comments are about race and numbers.
Gumby Fresh, Swing A Dead Deal, Hit A Blogger
Though Gumby Fresh has been blogging on Atlantic Yards for a while, he was impressed with all the new voices that have joined the chorus.
For what it's worth, I got there a little late, and listened to Letitia James, State Senator Montgomery, Bob Law, Steve Buscemi and Rosie Perez. What's amazingly weird was that there must have been seven or eight bloggers there that I read, yet I have no idea which ones they are.
For someone who has begrudgingly given up Brooklyn Lager, Steve Buscemi brought a little levity to the rally:
Best moment from Steve Buscemi's slightly scattershot speech (and I paraphrase very slightly here from memory):
"I live, sleep, eat and drink Brooklyn. Mostly drink Brooklyn. Yep, Brooklyn Lager. [Boos, quite few of them]. No, not Brooklyn Lager, what's the other one? Six Points, yeah, Six Points. Damn, gotta do my homework before I get up here."
Brownstoner, Atlantic Yards Protest
After carpet-bombing the area with flyers for the protest, it finally went down at Grand Army Plaza on Sunday. While the NYPD estimated 600 to 700 people showed up, the Times and CBS estimated about 2,000. Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn - one of the organizers - had an even higher head count that came in at 3,200, revised downward from 4,000.
Somersalt Grand Army Plaza Protest
Steve Buscemi, Rosie Perez and several Brooklyn residents spoke about how they dont' want a Nets Stadium, apartment complexes that will overstrain the current traffic & sewer system (yikes), and basically want Bruce Ratner to go to Hell.
Posted by lumi at July 17, 2006 3:00 PM