Wednesday Linkage
HSBC Bank Building, Williamsburg. Photo by Tien Mao One Killed in Construction of Mikvah [NY Times] Asthmatics Protest Bushwick Building [NY Daily News] Parking Strollers to Stomp Arena [NY Observer] Broken Promises in North Brooklyn [NY Observer] More Bike Lanes for Brooklyn [1010 Wins] View from Schaefer Landing [Curbed] DDDB Addresses Insensitive Comments [No Land…
HSBC Bank Building, Williamsburg. Photo by Tien Mao
One Killed in Construction of Mikvah [NY Times]
Asthmatics Protest Bushwick Building [NY Daily News]
Parking Strollers to Stomp Arena [NY Observer]
Broken Promises in North Brooklyn [NY Observer]
More Bike Lanes for Brooklyn [1010 Wins]
View from Schaefer Landing [Curbed]
DDDB Addresses Insensitive Comments [No Land Grab]
Dan Zanes Rocks Brooklyn [Bumpershine]
I Like Brooklyn? [Flying Conundrum]
Crouchback, please review your argument. It’s utter nonsense.
Daniel Goldstein, described African-American supporters of the project as tools of “their wealthy white masters.”
To which you responded: “A bit of bad judgment on DG’s part given that the comment was made by e-mail. However, the truth can be offensive. ”
First, you clearly stated that DG’s bad judgment lied solely in the fact that he put his feelings down in email form and then stupidly disseminated it to the media. You did not condemn his statements but rather showed support for it: “however, the truth can be offensive.”
Second, how can you justify or defend this statement? DG made a sweeping and blanket statement with respect to African-Americans. He did not target specific civic groups or organizations, many of which are diverse. He did not state that ACORN and BUIILD are financially supported by FRC and thus beholden to Ratner. To the contrary, he attacked supporters of AY based on their race and invoked images of slavery and its dreadful history to get his vicious point across. For this DG got slammed in the press (rightfully so) and lost considerable goodwill in the AA community, even from those who are against AY. Shame on DG and shame on you!
Third, you assert that “these groups that claim to represent the AA voice in Brooklyn are not independent.” For the sake of argument, lets assume that this statement is true. Now what? What evidence do you have that they do not represent the viewpoint or perspective of the AA community? What “truth” are you referring to and what connection are you making about how that relates to AA support for the project? With respect to Al Sharpton and the rest of these self-appointed “leaders”, everyone with half a brain knows that AAs are not a monolithic group and thus incapable of original thought and independent decision making. However, does that mean that we can’t be in sync on this particular issue? Moreover, “raising questions” about the independence of certain organizations who support AY, even by the NYT, does not grant DG’s “concept” “truth” status and justify the statement that AA supporters of the project are tools of “their wealthy white masters.”
I support AY (along with many others both white and non-white) and I am not member of ACORN or BUILD, affiliated with FRC or beholden to Ratner. Am I not independent? Crouchback, the more I think about it, perhaps you are the puppet and DG/DDDB is your puppet master. Ever think about that? In any event, I think that I’m correct in stating, for lack of a better word, that both you and DG are indeed “tools.”
To BrownBomber:
1. I am not defending DG’s comment which was stupid and inarticulate.
2. I am defending what I believe was the concept behind his inarticulate statement, which is, that these groups that claim to represent the AA voice in Brooklyn are not independent.
3. The “truth” I am referring to is the number of articles in the press (including the NYTIMES, which some more extreme comrades would refer to as a Ratner propaganda arm) that have raised questions about the independence of groups like NY ACORN and BUILD that support Atlantic Yards.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/14/nyregion/14yards.html?ex=1286942400&en=1d1165c2fb2c214f&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss'%20target=
http://www.nysun.com/article/14922
“Independent” Group Admits Getting Cash From Ratner:
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/52976
4. I am generally willing to recognize when I have been an idiot or “an absolute idiot”. However, in this case, I cannot admit to it.
Cheers
FYI
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 7, 2006
Filed at 12:07 p.m. ET
NEW YORK (AP) — Police arrested a homeless man Wednesday on charges he started a fire that destroyed a historic waterfront complex last month.
Kuczera Leszek, 59, was held on arson, burglary and other charges.
He allegedly started the fire while trying to burn off insulation from copper cable he planned to steal and sell as scrap, police said.
The May 2 blaze in Brooklyn took nearly 36 hours to douse.
Officials said the fire was the city’s biggest — excluding the World Trade Center disaster — since a blaze at Brooklyn’s St. George Hotel in 1995.
The huge plume of roiling black smoke was visible for miles.
The destruction included a building that was the world’s largest rope factory in the late 19th century and a portion of the former Greenpoint Terminal Market, a place preservationists wanted listed as a city landmark.
I’m not defending DG but here is link to his apology and explanation.
http://therealestate.observer.com/2006/06/daniel-goldstein-apologizes-.html
I have little problem with AY as proposed and believe as whole would be good for NYC. Opponents have some legit objections but too often end up sounding short-sighted and provincial and wildly overblowing negatives – as in will ‘Destroy Brooklyn’.
Well said, brownbomber. Don’t be surprised if your questions don’t get answered.
“A bit of bad judgement on DG’s part given that the comment was made by e-mail. However, the truth can be offensive.”
What truth? Are you saying that AAs can’t form their own opinions and decide for themeselves what is best for their communities? Are you saying that they as a group do not have free will and are thus easily manipulated? Are you saying that DG’s statement was not wrong but for the fact that he put it down on email? All of this because some AAs support something that you are obviously against? For this you insult an entire race of people?!?
If so, then you’re an absolute idiot crouchback and no longer have any credibility on this blogsite. I sincerely hope that the troll posted under your moniker!
Regarding Goldstein comment, see attached link.
http://therealestate.observer.com/2006/06/wealthy-white-masters.html
A bit of bad judgement on DG’s part given that the comment was made by e-mail. However, the truth can be offensive.
Can someone quote the offensive statement attributed to Goldstein?
The article on Dan Zanes made a good point. His wife advised him to be funny about opposing Ratner’s project, and he seems to have succeeded. I propose that he be the new DDDB spokesperson. He’s funnier and more charming than Dan Goldstein, plus he has the name recognition.