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May 24, 2007
Marty Blogowitz: Binge and Purge
The Wonkster, Community Board 6 Overhaul
Gotham Gazette's political blog posted a short round-up of news of Marty's purge with links to the Times, Gowanus Lounge, Atlantic Yards Report and Brownstoner.
Gumby Fresh, What?
"Grumpy Fresh" refreshes his list of Atlantic Yards observations, including this one about Brooklyn's Cheerleader in Chief:
So Marty Markowitz is not really a very nice man after all. Well, I knew that, you knew that, and presumably now only the truly high watching NY1 in the morning will now not know that.
Gothamist, Beware the Wrath of Marty Markowitz
So this is how borough presidents wield power: Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has flexed his BEEP muscles by dismissing five members of Brooklyn's Community Board 6 - and their common quality was that they were vocal opponents of the Atlantic Yards project. And City Council members David Yassky and Bill DeBlasio also didn't reappoint four other members who opposed the massive $4 billion project that has been the source of community tension. Gowanus Lounge calls it "The Atlantic Yards Saturday Night Massacre."
She's leaving home, The purge
I've avoided commenting on the controversy over this massive development project because it hits so literally close to home, and because I wouldn't want to assert that I understood all of the minute details. In addition, I lean towards the side critical of the project, but am hesitant to claim that my guesses as to its future effects on the neighborhood are any more accurate than another's.
This political maneuver makes me uncomfortable, though, and enough so to mention it.
Joshing Politics, Markowitz Gets Tough On Atlantic Yards Opponents
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is usually known as a comedic and affable guy that parades around Kings County. However the stunt he pulled yesterday against the leaders of Community Board 6 was far from funny. The Board was one of Atlantic Yards' most vocal critics, citing the massive building project would over tax streets, sewers and schools. Their condemnation of the development didn't have any teeth because it was a state operation, but Markowitz did not care for their opinions. So he let them go from their positions on the board.
Daily Intelligencer, Marty's Purge: It's About Gowanus, Not Yards, Says a Survivor
We called CB6 member Jeff Strabone, another Yards critic whose own term isn't up until next year — and here the plot thickened. Per Strabone, Atlantic Yards was not the real cause of Marty's house-cleaning. Nope, Markowitz is looking a step ahead.
"The next big land-use item on the agenda is the Gowanus rezoning," Strabone explained, "and the Borough Hall's eyes are there."
NoLandGrab: Yeah right, Marty's purge had nothing to do with Atlantic Yards; his inexplicable attack on Fifth Avenue Committee's latest project in South Slope (link), despite wide community support, probably doesn't either; and everytime the cuddly Beep is seen going berserk in public probably means he's just off his meds or something.
Posted by lumi at May 24, 2007 7:30 AM