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January 26, 2007
Predictable outrage over Atlantic Yards
Daily Gotham
The newest spat over Atlantic Yards features some of the usual suspects; on the one hand, there's Errol Louis, on the other, the Brooklyn Papers. This is Kabuki. If you, for example, should ever find yourself needing to know just what Louis' position is on a given issue, do this: imagine the most stereotypical black liberal you can, drawing heavily on all relevant clichés. Imagine what position this liberal phantom would take on the issue you're trying to divine; Louis will take exactly the inverse position to that. Try it; it's a parlor game of sorts in some circles, with an astonishing degree of accuracy.
The Brooklyn Papers, meanwhile, can be counted on to give column inches to every Yards controversy; the paper, perhaps, is seeing the need to expiate its endorsement of David Yassky some time ago.
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Barclay's is an especially unfortunate choice, needless to say. It's worth pointing out that a parking lot to be created nearby, peripheral to Atlantic Yards, would require the destruction of the historic Duffield Houses, an Underground Railroad site. There's a deep irony that people parking their cars en route to a game in Barclay's Stadium would be parking on the ruins of yet another legacy of slavery.Hence, the outrage. It is somewhat difficult to see insincerity in that. Some people, of course, are invested in finding it. Which could of course, if one were thusly inclined, be termed, well, insincere.
NoLandGrab: No one has invested more than "Caring Bruce," who has sincerely played the race card at every turn.
Posted by lumi at January 26, 2007 2:12 PM