Gothamist: Willets Point Community Board Drama On Tape!

Roxanne

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:51:34 -0500

why do we need community boards? I think they don't help in anyway.

handsomedevil

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:46:48 -0500

Meh. It's actually not the most compelling presentation - the 21 people who voted in favor could have fully understood the disparity between the previous demands and what they got and still voted yes. From the out-of-context clips in the beginning, it appears that some discussion did follow the reading of the letter (that's all that stuff about "strong-arm tactics" etc.) so somebody apparently got the opportunity to express disapproval. It was probably pretty obvious what was going on. If anything, the chairman looks like a dick for being so adamant about the conditions in the first place, but I suspect that leaders at the local level tend to lack nuance.

andoman

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:27:19 -0500

But where will I take my urban wasteland photos for my blog?

longacre

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:35:53 -0500

On one hand, I feel bad for the business owners. On the other, it's a disgrace that there's nowhere to hangout outside of two of the city's premiere events venues. How awesome would it be to be able to stop at a bar on your way to or from Shea/CitiField or the Open and get a beer, the way you can outside Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field? Why shouldn't that area be redeveloped from the shithole it is? At the end of the day, these guys are going to get paid, their land is not being stolen. Most of them can move and be successful somewhere else. Some will not, some will retire.

QueensCrap

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:24:44 -0500

Any time! The best part is the narrator's voice. Like we're watching a crime drama. (Actually, we are.)