Gothamist: Brooklyn Matters: New Film Skewers Ratner, Albany, Gehry

Daniel Millstone

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:56:14 -0500

"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

me

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 17:18:24 -0500

"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.

bobbo

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 12:29:12 -0500

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.

one more comment

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:54:45 -0500

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.

me

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:52:17 -0500

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.

me

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:44:28 -0500

"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..

dhex

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:52:07 -0500

"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.

Toby

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 19:01:06 -0500

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.

zk

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:23:34 -0500

"...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.

oyvey

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:20:58 -0500

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.

Bob A Booey

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 17:29:52 -0500

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.

ABC Girl

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:43:05 -0500

Enough about Brooklyn already!!! There are other boroughs you know!!!!

nullarooster

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:39:15 -0500

"...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.

Tim N.

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:13:22 -0500

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.

planetb

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:58:23 -0500

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. ----------------- 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.

null and void

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:42:07 -0500

It doesn't sound like they're trying to pass it off as journalism. They're not pulling a Fox.

nullarooney

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:22:47 -0500

Oh boy, I can't wait to see this bit of "fair-and-balanced" journalism.