ESDC Seeks Final Evictions Today
And then there was one. It was widely reported earlier this week that Freddy’s Bar, the long-time gathering place of Atlantic Yards opponents, had made plans to relocate at the end of this month. And now, with the ESDC set to formally request eviction orders from a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge today, The Brooklyn Paper…
And then there was one. It was widely reported earlier this week that Freddy’s Bar, the long-time gathering place of Atlantic Yards opponents, had made plans to relocate at the end of this month. And now, with the ESDC set to formally request eviction orders from a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge today, The Brooklyn Paper is reporting that all of the remaining residential hold-outs except for one have cut deals to relocate. We have successfully worked to find comparable or better housing for every family in the footprint except one, said Forest City’s MaryAnne Gilmartin. Not surprisingly, the last man standing is Daniel Goldstein the founder and face of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn. Based on a post on Atlantic Yards Report, however, his recalcitrance could have more to do with practicality than principle at this point: He’s still being low-balled on the value of his own apartment ($395 per square foot compared to a market average of $475 in Prospect Heights) and has only been offered apartments in two buildings so far. The final screwing in a screwed up process.
Goldstein Now, Officially, the last Yards Holdout [Brooklyn Paper]
ESDC Suggests Comparable Condos [Atlantic Yards Report]
Curtain to Fall on Last Atlantic Yards Holdouts [Crain’s]
Freddy’s Finds Amnesty in Park Slope [Brownstoner]
Amazing – even I couldnt have predicted a more poetic end….6 years of endless and worthless delays for which the community got nothing (except a hole in the ground for a longer period and extra court costs) and for which Dan Godstein is payed $2M.
Yup that pretty much sums up the “good fight” -> what a hero!
I think he made a fool of Ratner. Squeezed him til it hurt and then got more moeny out of him. Hats off to DG. Operated like a Wall St. financier.
“According to executives who have been briefed on the negotiations, Mr. Goldstein also agreed to a highly modified form of the gag agreement that Forest City had initially imposed on those it bought out, under which he would step down as spokesman for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn.
Mr. Goldstein said that he retains his right to free speech but is no longer allowed to “actively oppose the project.â€
So in the end, he lowered all of his supposed ethical standards and got bought out and hushed up!!!
ROTFLMMFAO at all of you supporting this low life scumbag.
OY VEH!
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/daniel-goldstein-last-atlantic-yards-holdout-sells-for-3-million/?hp
He’s a rich nimby now.
http://www.nydailynews.com/real_estate/2010/04/21/2010-04-21_last_atlantic_yards_holdout_daniel_goldstein_folds_makes_3m_deal_with_ratner_to_.html#ixzz0llZBcLzz
lol wonder how much of that he’ll use to continue the “good” fight…
I love the “the problem is Goldstein because he’s “quixotic” and his politics are not what we think they should be. He’s just a NIMBY.
What does that make Ratner? And please don’t tell me how much he cares about Brooklyn.
Goldstein has shown himself to be quixotic, not heroic.
Returning professional sports to Brooklyn will aid the borough more than people realize. People nationwide will begin to realize what we know: Brooklyn is a borough with its own culture that, even by itself, surpasses most US cities. (Plus, its conveniently located to Manhattan.)
>> “Daniel Goldstein’s personality and its perceived flaws and imperfections have nothing to do with fighting the good fight”
MM, I think perspective has a lot to do with it. Seems you believe the anti-AY fight is a good one, likely because it is a reaction against ED abuse, perceived corporate/gov’t corruption, etc., which is fine. In steps Goldstein and, I agree, from your perspective he is a great person to carry that banner (for all the reasons you note above).
I just don’t believe Goldstein was really fighting the “good fight”.
Now don’t get offended — I’m NOT saying standing up against ED abuse and cozy corporate/gov’t deals is a bad cause, I’m just saying these good motives aren’t _why_ Goldstein fought. What I don’t like about Goldstein’s approach has nothing to do with his flawed personality in general outside this issue. Comments about his hubris simply relate to how, IMO, his motivation re:AY was strictly NIMBY from the get-go, yet he co-opted all sorts of worthier causes I don’t think he actually cares about to deflect from his true aims.
Now that this is all done, I’m frankly a little surprised that the anti-AY crowd who was truly in this for the “good fight” remains so pro-Goldstein. As MM noted, he may have been the perfect person at the right time to prolong your fight. I can see why you were behind him when this was going on: you had the same interests. Now that the fight is over, though, please stop lauding the man … he never cared about the gov’t abuses he paid so much lip service to — and you’ll likely never hear him fight these abuses again — he just didn’t want to move.
Bupe, I seriously didn’t know. I keep my head in the sand on this issue on purpose. Clearly it has worked.