'Angry' Anti-Ratner Protest at the Brooklyn Museum
Between 80 and 100 people showed up to a Develop Don’t Destroy-organized protest outside the Brooklyn Museum last night, according to Atlantic Yards Report, to publicly decry the cultural institution’s decision to honor Bruce Ratner at a gala. AY Report’s Norman Oder says the protest “was notably angry,” with some in the crowd holding up…
Between 80 and 100 people showed up to a Develop Don’t Destroy-organized protest outside the Brooklyn Museum last night, according to Atlantic Yards Report, to publicly decry the cultural institution’s decision to honor Bruce Ratner at a gala. AY Report’s Norman Oder says the protest “was notably angry,” with some in the crowd holding up signs that said things like “Ratner is a liar” or calling the developer a “con artist” or proclaiming Atlantic Yards a “dung deal.” In a separate post, Oder notes that the Forest City Ratner Companies Foundation gave the museum $100,000 in 2005 and another $100,000 in 2006; the foundation’s donations from last year have not yet been disclosed. The gala last night cost from $500 to $1000+ a plate.
“Shame!” Crowd Outside Museum Shouts “Ratner’s Bad for Brooklyn” {AY Report]
Photo by Brit in Brooklyn.
Yeah, check out that diverse crowd digging Kanye:
http://gothamist.com/2008/04/04/murakami_party.php?gallery853Pic=10#gallery
More diversity, featuring the world’s 14th richest person at right:
http://gothamist.com/2008/04/04/murakami_party.php?gallery853Pic=13#gallery
By the way, 10:08, I protested yesterday and I gave more than 15% of my income to charity last year. Bruce isn’t close. So f**k you.
Ratner is a visionary and these protesters are LOSERS! how dare they! they speak for a tiny minority.
shut up shut up shut up
the protesters make me want to hurl.
let progress reign and these horrible people who want to promote keeping PH a ghetto slip and die on the bullsh*t.
Ghetto??
Visionary??
Die??
I’m sorry I just crapped my pants that is so funny!
Visionary to buy poor folks so you can build luxury housing? Oops there goes another crap in my pants from laughter.
Yea, you are someone we should rally beyond.
The problem with you “pro AY” and heck can we group this maniac with the guy who looks forward to the Nets ( as long as groups are being grouped), the problem is you are certifiable maniacs.
“I think it’s telling that there are a number of comments criticizing the protesters, but none that actually have anything positive to say about Atlantic Yards.”
Yet more hairsplitting. You want positive comments?
I look forward to having a professional sports arena in my neighborhood.
I look forward to attending a March Madness game in my neighborhood one day soon.
I look forward to seeing the Nets play in my neighborhood (even if they lose!).
I look forward to the train yards being covered with new office buildings and towers (even if it takes longer than anticipated and is developed by someone other than Ratner, I still look forward to it).
Satisfied? I didn’t think so.
Sincerely,
Anonymous and Proud
Well if that is the most self serving thing, then don’t know what is.
Why do you “NEED” all that?
Why can’t you have that, but with out grazing a neighborhood? WHY?
And, if understanding your non hairsplitting hairsplitting replies – you would rather have a sports arena, then housing or jobs for your neighbors. What if it were a dv shelter. You’d be the worst NIMBY of them all.
Glad you want all those things, lots of want those things, but what if you could have had that with out taking over other people’s property.
How is it not selfish to want an arena where someone lived, so you can watch some men in shorts run around and get paid far too much for it so they can then beat their girlfriends? Is that not selfish? Oh right because some of the people protesting might have some money, that makes your sports loving self serving desires, some how “worthy.” Sniff sniff – your positive wants sound like the whining of an 8 year old child.
Now I’m satisfied, but I’m sure you’ll find some way to justify, how your view is superior.
Thank you, KingstonLounge. I meant to post a URL to your blog in my post.
Polemicist, you are not paying attention. The only people deciding whether Atlantic Yards goes forward are the governor, Shel Silver, and Joe Bruno. Not one single local elected official has any say whatsoever. Do you really consider that adequate representation?
11:30, I was at the protest. Check out my blog, the url for which is kingstonlounge.blogspot.com, and take a look. While there is only one photo of gala attendees from this set (more on the way), the one photo is very characteristic of a very undiverse crowd. On the other hand, there were protesters of all ages, colours, shapes and sizes.
Ratner is a visionary and these protesters are LOSERS! how dare they! they speak for a tiny minority.
shut up shut up shut up
the protesters make me want to hurl.
let progress reign and these horrible people who want to promote keeping PH a ghetto slip and die on the bullsh*t.
11:28
You do have a voice. The law is made by people you elect.
Because your voice wasn’t heard, doesn’t mean you don’t have one. It simply means you are in the minority!
To anonymous guest at 11:09 –
Let’s see — you have 2 reasons to be in favor of AY (you list 4 but the first three are really just “I would like a basketball arena in Brooklyn”).
I disagree that this is a good spot for an arena, especially since eminent domain would be necessary to build one according to the current plan.
I very much appreciate that you can imagine that someone other than Ratner could develop the rail yards (and only the rail yards, please). I would like to see development there, too. Buinesses and housing sound like good things to me.
Based on Metrotech and the malls near the LIRR, I’d say that Ratner is an odd first choice to develop over the rail yards.
I think that AY is poorly conceived and could never be built except with massive public subsidies.