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January 20, 2010
In the mailbag: Revolt Goes On At Freddy's
The Brooklyn Paper, Letters
Atlantic Yards prompted multiple missives to The Brooklyn Paper this week.
To the editor,
Freddy’s Bar is officially in revolt against New York State’s Eminent Domain Law (“Off with his head! Freddy’s Bar unveils guillotine to slay ‘Eminent Domain,” online, Dec. 27). When the time comes for the bar to be evicted, patrons will cuff themselves to the “Chains of Justice” that Freddy’s manager Donald O’Finn has installed on the bar.
The sheriff will soon be sent in to physically remove the patrons so that the bar may be taken to make room for the Barclays Center, but we have put the state on notice that people come ahead of the banks, and we will not allow the Barclays Center to replace our corner of Prospect Heights.
Why are we announcing that we will break the law? Why are we arranging buses for eminent domain haters from around the country to join us for the inevitable standoff?
...If the state needed our bar because it is building a hospital, or a firehouse, or a road, OK. We wouldn’t be happy, but we would abide by the law. But the current law allows the Ratners of this world to mail order other people’s real-estate from the government catalog!
We will win the fight on the day of the great siege of Freddy’s Bar. Why? Because people like bars. And people hate banks.
...Steve deSeve, Brooklyn Heights
To the editor,
The impending street closures in Prospect Heights are not only premature, but they are being imposed with inadequate notice to the community (“Block buster! State preps road demapping around Atlantic Yards arena,” Jan. 15).
These plans were devised by the developer’s chosen consultant, handed to the Department of Transportation, and issued to the public with two weeks’ notice. There has been no opportunity for the community to comment on these plans, or suggest changes. While that is typical of the way this project has proceeded, it is not typical of the way the city has operated in recent years, and it is a disturbing return to autocratic form.
...Finally, I question the necessity of closing Pacific Street between Carlton and Vanderbilt avenues at this time. Since no construction will occur there for some time, why now? Is this to give more room for the extensive surface parking lots, soon to make Prospect Heights the doormat for Long Islanders who can’t be bothered to take the LIRR?
Robert Witherwax, Prospect Heights
Posted by eric at January 20, 2010 11:29 PM