DDDB Signs On Brooklyn Star Power for AY Fight
The group most widely associated with the fight against Bruce Ratner’s proposed Atlantic Yards project just made a big move to broaden its public appeal by putting together a 33-member advisory board studded with such high-profile Brooklynites as Steve Buscemi, Heath Ledger and Jonathan Safran Foer. Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB) is hoping the addition…
The group most widely associated with the fight against Bruce Ratner’s proposed Atlantic Yards project just made a big move to broaden its public appeal by putting together a 33-member advisory board studded with such high-profile Brooklynites as Steve Buscemi, Heath Ledger and Jonathan Safran Foer. Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB) is hoping the addition of the celebs will make it harder for Ratner and others to portray the group as some fly-by-night lightweight organization and provide some counter-balance to the starpower Ratner himself has enlisted to sell his vision to the borough. One new board member, actress (and Ledger fiancee) Michelle Williams, isn’t too keen on what the development would mean for her newly adopted neighborhood of Boerum Hill: “His vision will increase traffic, pollution and asthma,” she said. “If Mr. Ratner lived here, he would understand what we love about it and why we want to preserve our open skies.” “It’s very frustrating to realize that something with such a massive scale can be imposed upon from people who don’t live here,” said author and Fort Greene resident Jhumpa Lahiri. Maybe all these stars can pool some funds together to offer Bertha Lewis more money to sell out to them than Ratner did. Heck, Heath could even throw in a kiss that would top the smacker Lewis gave Ratner last year!
Celebs Join Ratner Foes [NY Daily News]
Announcement of Advisory Board Formation [DDDB]
They’re focussed on AY- as they make very clear. That criteria for belief is yours. Extell had a good plan- it was politics that made the MTA give it to Ratner.
B/C Extell isnt a plan that has any chance of being realized (MTA decided this, not me) – but if DDDB is truly for development (that can actually get built) clearly they must support something that has been built, is being built or is in plan to (actually) be built.
why shouldn’t Extell count? You need to do better than that to prove your point. Stacking the deck isn’t the way. If you were a professional researcher your data would be suspect because you set your parameters to prove your data, instead of using objective data to draw your conclusion.
DDDB’s “Responsible Development” = no development
evidence
please list any/all developments currently in planning, construction or completed (this criteria would exclude Extell’s rejected bid) that DDDB has supported, advocated for, or actively praised.
I don’t understand why people keep insisting that DDDB want no development, which is not the case. They want RESPONSIBLE development. Why do you keep putting words in their mouths?
you know what most (average) brooklynites care about? jobs and sports. mainly jobs. how shocking that these super-wealthy celebs would be so disconnected from their less fortunate neighbors. the area was already gutted for a stadium in the 50’s– that’s where the “blue skies” or whatever come from. it just took this long for someone to have the $$ (and for brooklyn to have the appeal in the eyes of rich people) to actually lobby effectively to put something there.
9/11 families are very concerned with infrastructure issues and emergency services. Marian became rather an expert on emergency servies, building issues and terrorist response over the last 5 years. She also lived in Park Slope for years where her husband was with Sqd 1. I think DDDB stands by their mission statement which is not opposing development, but fighting for more responsiblity and scale. Other than that, my guess is that DDDB wants her name recognition, as they do with Ledger, Williams, etc.
Her real views are sort of immaterial… how does being a 9/11 widow give your AY opinions any more weight than the next person. And I am not picking on her b/c I have the same question for virtually everyone on this so called “panel”
I honestly can’t say that about DDDB- what I am saying is that considering 9-11, and her support and work with Sally, I would say Marian’s main concern is the safety of any hi-rise. I don’t know of any of the families who oppose the building any skyscrapers, but they are pushing for buildings to be built with fire and terrorism needs addressed. I know very few people who are unrealistic enough to think they can stop skyscrapers.