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November 25, 2007
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn Sunday Twofer
It's lovely that The New York Times is asking questions about the security for the planned Nets arena, but a few quotes from public officials would give greater depth to the story.
It's a shame that the Times was unable to, or did not, get comment from or cite a single city or state official, or any third-parties to give meaningful texture to the article beyond the NYPD's silence.
...
Perhaps the press will seek these people out and ask them: How are Brooklyn's 20-foot arena setbacks different than Newark's?
What Makes Brooklyn Different than Newark? - Nothing; not even the stonewalling.
From yesterday's article in The New York Times regarding the New York Police Department's security analysis for the planned Nets arena: "The Police Department has said that it does not comment on such matters. The department’s security analysis, which found that the arena was safe and streets need not be closed on game days, would stand."
In the case of the Prudential Center arena, the Newark Police Department seemed to suddenly realize, only days before it opened, that the facility was vulnerable because it isn't set back sufficiently from the street. Now street closings are required during event days.
A better decision-making process should be required for Brooklyn.
So at some point in that process, the Newark police department must have "found that the arena was safe and streets need not be closed on game days." And then when it was built and two weeks away from opening, the Newark police department looked at it again and changed their minds, and decided they must close two streets abutting their new arena.
Imagine if this same scenario plays out in Brooklyn. We don't have the luxury of closing Atlantic and Flatbush, two already clogged arteries. No amount of congestion pricing will be able to solve the problems at the intersection of Atlantic, Flatbush and 4th Avenues.
Posted by steve at November 25, 2007 5:38 AM