Rally Against Wards Demolition & Screening of Brooklyn Matters
From Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn
Come to a Rally Against Ratner’s “Atlantic Yards” Project
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On Sunday, April 15, several neighborhood and civic groups will stage a “Rally Against Demolitions for Parking.” The rally will begin at 2 p.m., and will take place on Pacific Street, between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues, in Prospect Heights — within the footprint of the proposed project.
We believe that NO demolitions should proceed without input from the community that rectifies the many shortcomings of this proposed project. And while this rally has specifically been called to protest the demolition of buildings to create 1,400 long term “interim surface parking” spots for Ratner’s contractors and employees — for, perhaps, decades — there are numerous other reasons why DDDB opposes the “Atlantic Yards” project itself. (See below).
We encourage you to attend the rally to demonstrate your opposition, not only to the demolitions, but also to Bruce Ratner’s “Atlantic Yards” project as a whole. Please bring your signs, DDDB shirts, and voices — it is very important to have a strong turnout.
DDDB continues to lead the effort to resist and reshape the “Atlantic Yards” project. In order to protect the community’s interest, we have organized and filed two lawsuits, and we continue to fundraise for the legal fees. The latest suit, filed last week in New York State Supreme Court, seeks to overturn the environmental review and state approval of the project, and also seeks an injunction barring any of the announced demolitions — throughout the project site — at least until the court renders a decision on the suit.
The other lawsuit, in federal court, challenges the abuse of eminent domain for “Atlantic Yards,” alleging that its use violates the United States Constitution. If that suit succeeds, it will not only protect the plaintiffs’ homes and businesses from government seizure, and beat back the abuse of eminent domain — it will make it impossible to build the arena, or the skyscraper-laden superblocks planned by the developer.
Both of these lawsuits are entirely funded by you, the community. We are grateful for your support!
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DDDB continues to believe that while development above the Vanderbilt Yards is a good idea, the framework for all large development projects should arise from the communities affected, not from a private developer whose underlying goal is to make as large a profit as possible.
Among our most serious concerns about and objections to the “Atlantic Yards” project are the:
— undemocratic and unaccountable process used to date,
— abusive use of eminent domain to seize our neighbors’ homes and businesses for Forest City Ratner’s private purposes,
— inappropriate siting of an arena in a residential neighborhood,
— wildly out-of-scale size of the project,
— extreme density of the project, which would severely strain Brooklyn’s infrastructure,
— hugely overblown promises of jobs and housing, when the reality is actually a very small number of new, permanent jobs and low-income apartments,
— massive amount of taxpayer subsidies earmarked for the project.
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> Catch an Upcoming Screening of “Brooklyn Matters”
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“Brooklyn Matters,” the acclaimed “Atlantic Yards” documentary by Park Slope urban planner, historian and filmmaker Isabel Hill, has been playing to increasingly large crowds in Brooklyn, throughout New York City, and even as far away as Philadelphia. You have two chances to catch it close to home during the coming week. (Running time for the film is approximately 55 minutes.)
This Saturday, April 14, at 4:00 p.m., Freddy’s Bar & Backroom, the epicenter of the “Atlantic Yards” resistance movement — and a one of the plaintiffs on the federal eminent domain lawsuit — will offer a screening of the film followed by a discussion with representatives of several local community organizations.
Freddy’s Bar & Backroom
485 Dean Street (corner of 6th Avenue)
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Directions
Next Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m., Park Slope Neighbors, in partnership with the Fourth Mission Committee of Old First Reformed Church, will show “Brooklyn Matters” at Old First Church. This screening will also be followed by a panel discussion, featuring several people appearing in the film.
Old First Reformed Church
126 7th Avenue (corner of Carroll Street)
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Both screenings are free and open to the public. Visit www.brooklynmatters.com for more information about “Brooklyn Matters,” including a full lineup of upcoming screenings.