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December 1, 2008
Brooklyn at Eye Level: Press notice, pr and planning
The New Yorker, GOINGS ON ABOUT TOWN
BROOKLYN AT EYE LEVEL
The Civilians (“Gone Missing”) present a work in progress, which is based on interviews with the players on all sides of the controversy surrounding Bruce Ratner’s proposed Atlantic Yards project. Dec. 4-7. (Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn. To make reservations, which are required, visit www.brooklynateyelevel.org.)
“Ratner was trying to help all these people. He doesn’t just take your property, he offers fair market value. If you’re gonna say no cuz you wanna be in the way of progress . . . it’s gotta be this country, based on majority rules, right? So, if the majority of people want something, you can’t have the few naysayers say no, cause then you know what? You’d never make progress the rest of our lives. And you have some beautiful buildings that are gonna be built there . . . think about that one . . . the mayor approved it, the city council approved it, everybody approved of it, right? So everybody can’t be wrong and these few people are right. " — Proud Brooklynite
NoLandGrab: Here's more proof of the success of Bruce Ratner's pr machine. Only three "yaysayers" had approval of the project, representatives of the Governor, State Assembly Speaker, and State Senate Leader. Since Atlantic Yards is a state-sponsored project, the City Council had no approval over the project, and the Mayor is a primary backer, though he didn't have any formal approval.
Three "yaysayers" and a jumble of lies and misinformation, is that democracy?
“I don’t see the average family in Brooklyn, particularly a low-income family, being able to function in those buildings effectively [proposed Atlantic Yards Towers]…When we worked in Bed-Stuy, on BS Restoration Corps. . . there was this woman who leaned out her window and said, “give us affordable housing. But make sure I can yell at my kids on the street.” You just can’t do that in a 40-story building." — Urban Planner
Posted by lumi at December 1, 2008 5:12 AM