DDDB Holds Fifth Fundraiser Against the Yards
Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, the Atlantic Yards watchdog organization, held its fifth annual Walk Don’t Destroy fundraiser on Saturday, which raised over $40,000 according to the Atlantic Yards Report. City Council Member Letitia James, DDDB spokesman Daniel Goldstein, actor John Turturro, and about 200 others walked the 2.3-mile route, which included a stop at Borough…
Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, the Atlantic Yards watchdog organization, held its fifth annual Walk Don’t Destroy fundraiser on Saturday, which raised over $40,000 according to the Atlantic Yards Report. City Council Member Letitia James, DDDB spokesman Daniel Goldstein, actor John Turturro, and about 200 others walked the 2.3-mile route, which included a stop at Borough Hall, headquarters of Borough President Marty Markowitz, a supporter of the Atlantic Yards development. This is about working-class people, Ms. James said as she marched across Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, according to The New York Times. This is about saving our homes and businesses against billionaires. We want our community back. The cash raised by the event will presumably go towards DDDB’s efforts to prevent the Atlantic Yards stadium and residential development project, such as its current lawsuit against the MTA for negligence of due process in its sale of land to developer Forest City Ratner.
Staying Power at Fifth DDDB Walkathon [AYR]
Walking Against the Bulldozers [NY Times]
Atlantic Yards: Suit Filed Against MTA [Brownstoner]
Photo by Tracy Collins
And, thanks Montrose, for your sanity. The real bottom line is this is a blog based on mostly anonymous opinions. Ratner does not give a rats ass what we think that is for sure. And if these posts exemplify what an actual neighbor is, then perhaps it is time to move on.
It is very easy to point fingers with out considering what it is like to walk in someone else’s shoes. Nasty uneducated uninformed name calling is easy, easy. It takes integrity to try and understand the situation around you, with out blind faith. I ain’t buying any of it. The whole thing wreaks of robbery and corruption. There are facts to back that up, infinite. But ultimately it is my belief and opinion, and I will as such continue to fight, despite the vicious name calling that goes on in a blog post.
northflatbushgirl
Actually there were a ton of businesses there, Ratner kicked them out.
Businesses actually have opened, but they have not thrived because, Ratner pushed out the residents who would have gone there.
Let’s build the arena, on your apartment, would you mind stepping aside, miss big mouth?
Yeah, did not think so.
But sure go on schilling for Bruce Ratner, I’m sure he’ll be there for you when you need a job and an affordable living space. Right.
“Because of DDDB this ONCE THRIVING neighborhood looks like SHIT! ”
Your argument backwards. That once thriving neighborhood was blighted by Ratner. DDDB was trying to save it. YOu call it “once thriving” and then claim Goldstein is wiling to raise his kids next to the yard. Your facts need some work.
BTW- the railyards are not empty. They are used everyday by the MTA- wherever did you get that notion? And Crown Heights is also an affected neighborhood. The majority of residents do not want AY as it is planned. In fact, I hardly think you can claim a majority of property owners and residents want the arena or AY. I don’t see huge numbers of them coming to the defense of Ratner and FCR.
Brooklynishome-
Brooklyn had a hotel (many in fact) – but they all closed, despite the need for event space for religious organizations, fraternal organizations, weddings, aniversaries, birthdays etc…
Those events moved across the river because Brooklyn was considered D-E-A-D.
Ratner built Metrotech, many other positives happened and THEN the Marriott was built –
and NOT by Ratner – it was built by Muss development, and it was only after the success of Metrotech that Muss went ahead with “Renaissance Plaza”. The idea that Muss would have went ahead with the Marriott without Metrotech coming first is laughable. The Marriott was considered a pretty risky investment even in 1996 a FAR from the sure thing you are trying to make it out now. Additionally, Ratner got no govt subsidies for “Renaissance plaza” since it wasnt Ratner who built it.
hey people, lets move on. Because of DDDB – this area has been blighted for longer than it should, Because of DDDB this area has become a dark and dangerous corner to walk, during the day and night, becuase of DDDB no new businesses have entered into this area, Because of DDDB new businesses have folded because they were relying on the stadium for revenue, because of DDDB, Daniel Goldstein has put himself and his family in dangerous jeopardy. Because of DDDB this once thriving neighborhood looks like SHIT!
Let’s move on and build something already.!!!!!!! An arena is better than the shitty looking empty railyard that sat for years in that neighborhood, when crack was being sold and used in that yard. No one complained then. Dan Goldstein was happy to raise his family in that neighborhood.
The majority of property owners and residents in the Ft. Greene, Prospect Heights and Park Slope neighborhood want progress and dont give a rats ass about DDDB. The residents who had to leave the footprint were the ones who got sweetheart deals!!! Property owners got great deals, and henry weinstein and the rest of the property owners in the area cant wait for a sweetheart deal!!! Everyone benefits including our neighborhood. BRING ON THE ARENA!!!!
FSRG:
The reason that the Marriott was successful was Brooklyn needed a hotel, period. With not hotel events for religious organizations, fraternal organizations, weddings, aniversaries, birthdays were celebrated on the other side of the river.
If you don’t remember, Ratner got a sweetheart deal on that site too. Once upon a time it was a municipal parking lot. Plus, FRC or whatever Ratner entity didn’t believe that the market would support the hotel. In order to build it, an agreement with the Brooklyn DA for office space was required.
With Metotech, the developer didn’t live up to many of the promises. If the past is any indication of the future, too few Brooklynites will ever see any benefit. The big winner will be the developer.
denton- I don’t think Ratner will allow anyone else to develop there. Unless he decides to sell of parcels.
“We need development at this site. We don’t need this particular developer or his shady practices.”
MM, I hope I’m wrong, but if Ratner doesn’t develop it, I seriously doubt anyone else will touch it with a ten foot pole. Millions of his money down the toilet?
oops- “from the city”