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The hard-hitting polemical film, Brooklyn Matters, lucidly articulates and amplifies the movement to stop Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards plan. Directed and produced by Isabel Hill, the film portrays the AY project as an outrageous scam to be perpetrated upon hoodwinked Brooklynites. Numerous interviews with critical residents, planners, critics, and elected officials portray a scenario in which a cynical developer and corrupt State agencies have hired gullible community allies and a star architect to conceal their true motives. The politics of the Brooklyn-based coalition, Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB), are evident in the film, although the work was independently created and funded by Hill, a former city planner.
Over two hundred people packed the Center for Architecture on LaGuardia Place for the public debut of the film last night. Released barely two weeks after the AY project received final approval from the State, the film may not be too late to catalyze a new wave of opposition. Several speakers in a post-screening discussion vowed that the AY project is "not a done deal," with two lawsuits currently pending and a host of practical uncertainties facing Forest City Ratner and the Empire State Development Corporation. Stuart Pertz, former member of the NYC Planning Commission, discussed the possibility that the project could stall before reaching fruition, in the manner of other aborted NYC projects over the past 30 years such as Westway (underground highway) and the West Side Stadium. The audience's largest laugh followed the film's recorded quote from Frank Gehry: "We're trying to understand what is Brooklyn, what is the body language of Brooklyn, and trying to emulate it without copying it." The 500-ft. Miss Brooklyn batted her steel eyelashes for a moment on screen.
Brooklyn Matters lines up community-level dissidents as well as major commentators such as the New Yorker's Paul Goldberger to form a gauntlet of scathing criticism. The familiar arguments against oversized superblocks, subsidized gentrification, unconscionable traffic congestion and inept public space are augmented by novel insights from people such as Bob Law, a former Civil Rights leader and radio personality who now operates a restaurant in Prospect Heights. Law dissects the racial politics of Forest City Ratner with barbed acuity, recounting his refusal to “swoon and fall at the feet of the project” just because the developer “waved a basketball” in front of the African-American community. Questioning Ratner's commitment to providing affordable housing and jobs, Councilwoman Letitia James says the developer broke his promise to hire local workers on his previous Metrotech project and is not legally required to bankroll the celebrated Community Benefits Agreement. Julia Vitullo-Martin of the Manhattan Institute adds, "Affordable housing is the trojan horse these days on big bad projects that shouldn't get done."
One of the more interesting allegations from the film is the charge that Ratner's own dealings created the abandoned buildings and vacant lots in Prospect Heights that were used to classify the area as "blighted" in last year's Environmental Impact Statement. Also shocking is the gag rule that residents within the development zone reportedly had to sign when they sold their apartments to Forest City Ratner. They had to agree not to criticize the developer in the press, in banners and signs, or via participation or donation to any organizations that opposed the project.
The targets of the film’s criticism are not given a chance to rebut the arguments or respond to the allegations of greed, corruption, and gullibility. But viewers should not mistake this clearly partisan perspective for a lack of "balance." Brooklyn Matters is not meant to give a fair trial--it is a last-minute counterpunch to the continual endorsements heard from Pataki, Bloomberg, Marty Markowitz, construction unions, and the non-profit groups that allegedly accept funding from Forest City Ratner. With the State Government holding the reigns instead of locally elected officials, all eyes are on the new Spitzer Administration, the courts reviewing the lawsuits, and the grassroots movement which could still rise to challenge the development and propose alternatives.
The next screening of Brooklyn Matters will be held January 18 at the Municipal Art Society.
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Oh boy, I can't wait to see this bit of "fair-and-balanced" journalism.
It doesn't sound like they're trying to pass it off as journalism. They're not pulling a Fox.
Nice piece Gothamist.
a few things.
Julia Vitullo-Martin is not a planner, she is a journalist and a fellow at a think tank.
you overstate the one-sideness, Bertha Lewis, BUILD, Rev. Daughtry and other project supporters are interviewed or caught on tape speaking on behalf of the project.
you overstate the preservation aspect of the film. only one building is discussed as worthy of preservation from an architectural and historical stand point and that is the Ward Bakery building which is. the other two buildings lovingly discussed are indeed beautiful buildings and well renovated.
there are no "brick box coops" in the footprint nor or any discussed in the film.
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as for the commenter above, please show the world one thing out of the mouth of Ratner, Marty, Gargano, Silver, Bloomberg, Pataki, DePlasco that is fair and balanced? and then please dispute a single statement made in the film Brooklyn Matters.
It's about time for Spitzie to step in and shut this nonsense down now, and kick Frank Gehry and his fucking ugly buildings in their overinflated, overrated asses.
"...the film portrays the AY project as an outrageous scam to be perpetrated upon hoodwinked Brooklynites."
Could this be more far-out-there? An "outrageous scam" that countless professionals, politicians, and residents have endorsed? Please.
Enough about Brooklyn already!!!
There are other boroughs you know!!!!
Wait a second! People who were bought out at above market prices and are being offered below market apartments in the new buildings have confidentiality agreements as part of their sweet deals?
Shocking? Hardly.
When will these NIMBY whiners give it up already? The building of Lincoln Center and the World Trade Center displaced homes and businesses and made their surrounding neighborhoods better by their presence. Same will happen here.
Wait a second! People who were bought out at above market prices and are being offered below market apartments in the new buildings have confidentiality agreements as part of their sweet deals?
Shocking? Hardly.
wrong. fool.
how about that, nullarooster, professionals and polticians hoodwinked by an outrageous scam. Who could ever Iraqed that such a thing could happen.
"...countless professionals, politicians, and residents have endorsed."
Oh yeah, like they have never endorsed a bad idea before. Anybody would endorse anything for money or other beneficial gains.
Frank Gehry is not an architect and Bruce ner should go back to Cleveland. Apparently all of the Tri-State area's greedy sports team owning assholes are from Cleveland.
See: George Steinbrenner.
"professionals and polticians hoodwinked by an outrageous scam"
now this i have to wonder about.
state-supported construction for sports stadiums are always a losing proposition...for taxpayers. the rest of the folks involved? not so much.
"Wait a second! People who were bought out at above market prices and are being offered below market apartments "
liar, liar liar. what is outrageous is the use of public subsidies, ememinent domain and FORCING people to sell.
"as for the commenter above, please show the world one thing out of the mouth of Ratner, Marty, Gargano, Silver, Bloomberg, Pataki, DePlasco that is fair and balanced? and then please dispute a single statement made in the film Brooklyn Matters."
or the new york times (partner with ratner) daily news (owned by fellow real estate mogul mort zuckerman, or the politicians who have been bought by ratner..
When will these NIMBY whiners give it up already? The building of Lincoln Center and the World Trade Center displaced homes and businesses and made their surrounding neighborhoods better by their presence. Same will happen here.
The WTC made the surrounding neigborhoods better? What are you smoking? But, inaccuracy aside, why should the government become the tool of a developer - to favor one developer at the expense of the displaced businesses you don't care about? Do you advocate this for yourself or your neighborhood? then SHUT UP, you hypocritical, greedy developer.
More dubious is the film’s claim that various brick box co-ops earmarked for demolition are "beautiful buildings" that merit preservation at all costs.
I forget the name but the in addition to the ward bakery, the brick building on pacfic that was a condo definately is worth preserving. ..certainly better than anything ratner has ever put up...or will ever - not only is he nasty and corrupt - but he's a grossly incompetent developer.
Oh them gullibles...they be down on the plantation with them white slave masters, shuckin' and a-jivin'.
How subtly racist: Blacks too stupid to understand they're being taken for a ride.
I remember a time when liberals thought that economically and racially diverse neighborhoods, built in downtown areas, were a good thing.
Ah, but that was before real estate replaced politics as the main dinner party conversation among the chattering class.
"How subtly racist: Blacks too stupid to understand they're being taken for a ride."
Nice attempt to play the race card AGAIN forest city employee. Of course, as usual you're lying as both the film and article from the article: "Bob Law, a former Civil Rights leader and radio personality who now operates a restaurant in Prospect Heights. Law dissects the racial politics of Forest City Ratner with barbed acuity, recounting his refusal to “swoon and fall at the feet of the project” just because the developer “waved a basketball” in front of the African-American community. Questioning Ratner's commitment to providing affordable housing and jobs, Councilwoman Letitia James says the developer broke his promise to hire local workers on his previous Metrotech project and is not legally required to bankroll the celebrated Community Benefits Agreement."
but thanks for proving what everyone knows - forest city employees are, like their owner, low-lifes.
"Brooklyn Matter" is a movie. It's a good movie in that its well made. But it is not an EIS; it skips things, dramatizes them.
It has an anti-Atlantic Yards slant, but it is not disrespectful to those supporting the Ratner proposal. That's part of what makes it effective. It's a story about Brooklyn, but it has much wider implications for people everywhere about the community development process.
Those on both sides of the AY struggle, those interested in NYC and those who like a good movie should see it at the Municipal Art Society Jan 18th at 6:30pm