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August 25, 2006
Atlantic Yards hearing pits pro vs. con in historic battle for Brooklyn
2,000 show up, only 100 get a chance to speak
Brooklyn Papers
By Gersh Kuntzman and Ariella Cohen
Because the hearing’s moderator chose to alternate pro-Atlantic Yards speakers and anti-Yards speakers, the visceral chasm between the two sides was abundantly on display.
For every unemployed speaker begging the state to approve the project — whose backers predict will create “jobs in the community” — there was a seemingly more affluent activist ticking off the traffic, transit, open space, noise and pollution shortcomings of the project.
For every Rev. Herbert Daughtry, who got $50,000 from Ratner after he came out in support of the project, there was a Lee Solomon, a resident of Fort Greene, whose opposition to the project has not earned her a dime.
For every union ironworker making brownie points with his union to testify, there was a community activist hoping to testify quickly so she could save on babysitting.
The article describes the cheering and booing (Marty Markowitz got both from both sides as he seemingly changed gears in mid-testimony), and some moments of comic relief from Community Board 6 Chair Jerry Armer and some guy named Mr. X.
NoLandGrab: Your Monday-thru-Friday NoLandGrabber was quoted in the article, dryly delivering part of the Park Slope Civic Council's testimony, which probably put everyone to sleep and disappointed those who were itching for a fight, or at least more theatrics.
Posted by lumi at August 25, 2006 8:27 AM