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August 18, 2011
The “Battle for Brooklyn” Is Our Fight, Too
Cary Brazeman's Dream City Blog
Lucky Angelenos are getting a new stadium boondoggle of their own, so maybe tomorrow's Los Angeles debut of Battle for Brooklyn can help mobilize the opposition.
This weekend a movie opens in Los Angeles that everyone who cares about neighborhoods should see. It’s about a controversial development (including a sports arena … fancy that) that will change the character of a neighborhood forever. The plan was developed with little community input and opposed by local leaders, but supported by the New York mayor and state officials.
“Battle for Brooklyn” is the story of residents who stood up to defend their neighborhood, and assert their rights to some level of self-determination for their community’s fate.
I won’t tell you how it all ends, except to say that the development site, which was declared blighted and condemned in part because of dilapidated parking lots, now might remain an even bigger parking lot for years to come … the poster child of eminent domain abuse.
Out of the fire emerged a local citizens group, “Develop – Don’t Destroy Brooklyn” that united 21 community organizations. Its founder is Daniel Goldstein, who has inspired me as founder of LA Neighbors United.
...[C]ome see “Battle for Brooklyn” this weekend with me at the Laemmle theater in Beverly Hills. I’ll be there Friday and Saturday nights on behalf of LA Neighbors United, with Goldstein and others involved in making the movie. We may be on opposite sides of America, but the battle for Brooklyn is our fight in Los Angeles, too.
Related coverage...
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, From New York to California "Battle for Brooklyn" Resonates
As Battle for Brooklyn is about to open in Los Angeles on Friday August 19th, one week after L.A. City Council approved an MOU for a new NFL stadium, LA Neighbors United founder and activist Cary Brazeman explains to Angelenos why the film is important is important viewing for them.
Smells Like Screen Spirit, Battle for Brooklyn | Review
Those of you who have been following this saga in the news headlines already know how this story ends. The Nets — whom Ratner has since sold a majority ownership share to Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov — are scheduled to begin playing basketball in the Barclays Center in time for the 2012-2013 NBA season. In other words, the corporate interests of Goliath trounced David.
Posted by eric at August 18, 2011 12:49 PM