Another Political Twist for Atlantic Yards
The end-of-term politics around the Atlantic Yards project is getting very interesting. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who holds the project by the balls with his vote on the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), had the following to say about the project this weekend on WNBC: In Brooklyn, it’s a mixed bag. There are people…
The end-of-term politics around the Atlantic Yards project is getting very interesting. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who holds the project by the balls with his vote on the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), had the following to say about the project this weekend on WNBC:
In Brooklyn, it’s a mixed bag. There are people for it, people against it, and the proposal itself keeps changing somewhat. So we’ll look at it in a very favorable light because development is necessary down there, see how the developer responds to some of the criticism, either because of the mass of the project or some of the traffic.
In his analysis this weekend, Norman Oder theorizes that FCR “would rather compromise significantly with Silver before the end of the year than let the project carry over to a Spitzer administration that might take a closer look at the project.” How much of a compromise? As much as 20 to 30 percent, think Oder. Interesting.
Silver to View AY in Favorable Light [AY Report]
ESDC Certifies Yards Environmental Report [Brownstoner]
Anon 11:20
Most Brooklynites – and most of the world – recognizes the Atlantic Avenue station is one of the largest transportation hubs in any major metropolitan area on this planet.
If you want to pay $5 billion to reroute the transportation network away from your ritzy hood, feel free to pony up the money.
Otherwise, stfu. Everyone in Brooklyn has a right to benefit from the public resource that exists outside your front door. Deal with it.
Anon 1:10
Your inability to recognize people can legitimately hold a different opinion than you indicates you are a nut. Crazy people believe that there is only one viewpoint, their own.
You need professional help! Get some medication!
At the very least, get some tranquilizers. Your dream is crushed. AY will be built and there is nothing you can do about it. What are you going to do, keep posting your delusional drivel on this site until the day you die?
Brooklyn is one. We are diverse and united. You can’t divide us by using terms such as ‘black or white’, ‘east or west’, ‘poor or rich’, ‘long-timers or new transplants’, ‘nimbys or pro-developers’. We are one. Don’t you get it, We will not be divided by your labels.
Why not try something new for a start. Come to the table with some integrity and give us (the community) the respect that we deserve. Recognize that our concerns are worth consideration because WE LIVE HERE.
Your rhetoric is useless.
No one who earnestly lives in and loves this borough would sign on to this monstrosity without it going through the proper approval process.
Let the project be judged on the basis of its merits by exposing it to proper approval channels, not some backroom sweatheart deal.
That’s so funny that the paid-off Ratner goons are on this site again. Who else would call the opponents to the plan hippies? I guess if you call them racists or against affordable housing or against jobs then the numbers will out their lies. But when you start calling us names like hippies it once again shows how stupid and low this name calling is and how you have no supporters to call your own except for paid off profit-participants. I know for a fact that one of FCR’s top execs almost bought a house in Clinton Hill. But then they backed out of the deal because the exec’s wife was too scared to live in that neighborhood. That tells you what kind of people we are dealing with here. Suburbanites who want to sit in their lily-white pond and proclaim that they are just helping out the poor folks — when in reality they are just avoiding the reality which is that Brooklyn’s economic renaissance has come as a result of people who already live here and love it and want more people to come here who will appreciate it for what it is. Not to try to turn it in to a gated community for rich people who live in high rises. That’s not what made people want to live here. That is what will destroy Brooklyn. Also if you want to expand the initiatives that are already in motion what about more cops on the beats for up and coming neighborhoods like Brownsville, E. Williamsburg, Flatbush and Bed-Stuy. What about having the cops crack down on quality of life issues like noise? We know that putting money in to real issues is the way to get more developers to pony up money of their own to build more in Brooklyn. Real developers don’t have to get public money in order to invest in Brooklyn’s residential renaissance. Do some market research you goons and you would all make a lot more money that Ratner’s paying you by putting up housing that the borough really does need and want.
Arnelo, I will not write a letter on your or DDDBs behalf. Why? Because I, along with the vast majority of Brooklyn residents, think that Atlantic Yards is in the best long term interest of this borough. In fact, I encourage all Brooklynites to fight against these newly arrived anti-development zealots and the self-appointed “voice of Brooklyn”.
You do not represent me nor do you represent anyone who I know. For the most part, you guys are new to this borough, having just moved here in the last wave of gentrification. Despite having little roots in this borough, the anti-development crowd feels that they are astute enough and uniquely situated to dictate Brooklyn’s future. To this end, they are trying to hijack the borough’s biggest development initiative for purely NIMBY reasons and in the process have alienated 90% of the borough’s residents. Fortunately, true Brooklynites are not easily fooled and we will not allow DDDB or Norman Oder to ruin this once in a lifetime opportunity to develop such a large parcel of land for the betterment of our borough. Shame on you guys!
This is a BROOKLYN PROJECT and taxpayers and residents who support this project in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Canarsie, East New York, Carroll Gardens, Brownsville, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Boerum Hill, Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, Brighton Beach, Marine Park, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Flatlands, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, Williamsburg, Kensington, Bushwick, Prospect Heights, Greenpoint, Prospect Lefferts Garden, etc., all have a stake in Atlantic Yards and in Brooklyn’s future. These neighborhoods and residents get to decide what is best for Brooklyn, not merely a small and organized minority of anti-development-hippie-nimbies!!
For you information, I live in Fort Greene, I’m well educated, I own a brownstone, and I’m a white collar professional. I’m sorry if I don’t fit your cookie cutter description of those who support this project.
these guys are so transparent. They ought to take a course in credibility and integrity. But wait, that’s not something you buy, you either have it or you don’t.
The inter-generational thing, grandfather, father, son, etc. was priceless.
If you like AY that much, why don’t you have them relocate it to your neck of the woods.
If you’re so in love with the idea of AY, why don’t you give up your house (eminent domain) for the good of us all. I’m sure you would gain immediate sainthood.
By the way, David’s back. I guess he’s doing clean up and damage control for the mess that his fellow goons made lastt week.
Anon 11:01
I won’t attack you, just call you very naive and uninformed. Also for the last time, the Vanderbilt yards are located in PROSPECT HEIGHTS not Downtown Brooklyn!!!
Here’s my letter which takes one minute to send by going to
http://dddb.net/php/PACBLetter.php
Dear Governor Pataki, Speaker Silver, and Majority Leader Bruno:
In the coming weeks, it is expected that the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB) will be asked to vote on the publicly subsidized, $4.2 billion Forest City Ratner Atlantic Yards development proposed for Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
However, on October 26th homeowners, business owners, and tenants in the proposed project site, who are facing the taking of their properties by eminent domain to clear the site for the development, filed a federal lawsuit. The suit charges that the takings by eminent domain for this project are unconstitutional, and it seeks to halt the takings of the properties for transfer to the private developer, Forest City Ratner.
The arena, and several other major components of the proposed project, cannot be constructed without the use of eminent domain.
It is imperative that the PACB postpone any vote on the proposed project until the courts have resolved the eminent domain question.
I believe that it is incumbent upon you, as guardians of the public trust, to ascertain the constitutionality, through the courts, of the exercise of eminent domain upon which the proposed project is contingent, before taking any vote.
If the PACB were to approve the project prior to judicial resolution, substantial numbers of buildings at the site could be demolished. If at a later date, however, the courts were to disallow the use of eminent domain, many aspects of the project, including the arena, could not be built, and the community would be left with a demolition site amid acres of vacant land. This uncertainty regarding the project’s viability, prior to a court decision, requires a postponement of any decision by the PACB.
I urge you to postpone any PACB vote on the Atlantic Yards proposal until the eminent domain issues are resolved in the courts. It is the wise and responsible thing to do.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver,
Brooklyn seriously needs additional economic growth and development. I’m just very pleased that NYC and NYS politicians are doing everything in their power to position our beloved borough for the 21st century. Brooklyn, in and of itself, is a first rate city and its residents are deserving of a thriving downtown business and modern residential center. IMHO, Atlantic Yards is good for Brooklyn in that it will promote much needed residential and commercial development east of Flatbush Avenue; in areas marked by poor schools, crime and high unemployment.
In addition, the vast majority of Brooklynites not only support Atlantic Yards but we also welcome other vital projects such as the Downtown Development Plan, BAM Cultural District, the Williamsburg Waterfront Development Plan, Brooklyn Bridge Park and development of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Together these initiatives will serve the borough’s future well.
Moreover, we are also ecstatic that the NBA’s Nets will be relocating to Brooklyn too! Brooklyn always had its own unique and separate identity and having our own sport franchise is long overdue. The Brooklyn Nets are going to be an awesome team and I can’t wait to take by son to games the same way that my grandfather took my dad to see the Brooklyn Dodgers. These are exciting times for Brooklyn and because of our business and political leaders the borough’s future is indeed very bright. Thank you Assembly Speaker Silver!!
And to those who oppose AY please do not attack me because I stand with the majority of Brooklynites who support this project. Many of us have roots in Brooklyn that span many generations and we are entitled to have our own opinions as are you.
So how do we hold these end of term deals accountable by those pols who survive the “lame duck” period. We let em know how we can show them the door the next time they come up for reelection.
Beautifully written, 9:37…I completely agree!