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July 22, 2009
It came from the Blogosphere...
The Real Fort Greene, Support Tish James on July 27th at Moe’s
Blogger Carlton Banks plugs a Tish James fundraiser.
Letitia “Tish” James, Fort Greene & Clinton Hill’s City Councilwoman, is up against three opponents in this year’s Democratic primary. As most you probably know, Councilwoman James is a true advocate for the people of the 35th district. On issue after issue she has stood up against powerful forces within this city for the benefit of her constituents. Whether is be the blatant cronyism behind the Atlantic Yards project or the push to renew Myrtle Avenue or standing up to Mayor Bloomberg in his quest to circumvent established term limits (bypassing the will of the people by way of the City Council) or pushing for the NYCHA to hire residents to work on building renovations, Councilwoman James has distinguished herself if a city known for corrupt, self-absorbed politicians.
Delia Hunley-Adossa, president of the 88th Precinct’s community council, is probably the strongest opponent. As the signatory for the Community Benefits Agreement associated with the initial approval of the Atlantic Yards project, she has the backing of Bruce Ratner’s real estate powerhouse. Given the level of power he wields in this city his backing cannot be taken lightly. He’s bought everything else so a city council election is probably a bargain to him.
Who Walk in Brooklyn, Novelist Jim Knipfel’s Park Slope Liebestod
Atlantic Yards manages to find its way into a conversation between historian Brian Berger and writer Jim Knipfel.
Brian: NYC and Brooklyn politics are such a fiasco it’s amazing some people still act smug about how ‘liberal’ the city is—hah! At the same time, if there’’s one good thing side-effect of so-called Atlantic Yards is it forced some people to realize just how corrupt and insipid the corporate media is. Not that it connected Prospect Heights and Park Slope residents with their equally disaffected (but much less influential) brethren in the Bronx but maybe this is a strong first step towards a liberating nihilism?
...Jim: It boils down to a specifically American brand of nihilism that’s completely apolitical in nature—a kind of nihilism that says “we just want to watch the TV and drink cheap beer and not have to think about anything. Just tell us what to do.” It’s not a conscious, philosophical rejection of everything, but a quiet, unthinking acquiescence that amounts to the same thing.
Whether it’s Coney or Atlantic Yards or Times Square, it’s the same sort of deal. Lots of money gets tossed around as the spirit of the city is gutted and as a lot of people lose their jobs and homes. In the end no one really cares. What matters to them more than anything are traffic patterns. So long as traffic past their house doesn’t get heavier, well then what’s the problem?
ParkSlopeGreens.net, Important Develop Don’t Destroy Events and Rev. Billy House Party!
We Forgot Some Very Important Information In Our Message Yesterday.
1) Important Joint Community Board Meeting For Ratner’s Atlantic Yards
2) Atlantic Yards Protest
3) Joan Baez Fundraiser for Rev Billy (Repeated message)
4) House Party for Rev Billy
TEXTSCAPE, Coney Island project moving toward approval
So many major projects in NYC have either been killed, stalled or maimed -- Atlantic Yards, Convention Center, much of the WTC site -- despite some understandable misgivings about the Coney Island project, at least it's good to see something move forward.
NoLandGrab: Um, no, it's not. The Mayor's Coney Island plan is another disaster that will suck the life out of the People's Playground.
Yaros' Sports Report and Analysis, Miami Heat Trying To Mix It Up In The East!
The problem is, [Chris Bosh], more than a smaller player, needs guys around him to play well. The Knicks are lacking those guys. However, the Nets, are in far better shape from a player development standpoint. But, with Bruce Ratner apparently looking to sell the team and the Brooklyn idea all but over, does a superstar really want to play in East Rutherford or Newark? Only time will tell if a venue outweighs talent... or perhaps, neither team will sign anyone!?
Nets Daily, Architect Says Barclays Will Look Nothing Like Initial Renderings
James Poulsen, lead architect for Barclays Center, says his final design will look nothing like widely published–and heavily criticized–initial renderings…nor Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. He tells Sports Business Journal the design will be “less barnlike…something totally unexpected.” Poulsen, lead architect for Conseco and Seattle’s Qwest Field, adds it will evoke Brooklyn’s working class industrial history.
NLG: Why, maybe it'll look just like the Ward Bakery! Oh, wait, Bruce Ratner has already done his take on the Ward Bakery.
Posted by eric at July 22, 2009 10:59 AM