State Senator Kruger never really explained who exactly the 500 or so protesters he bussed into the November 19th CIDC meeting were. He told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that they were, "from churches and civic organizations (though he declined to tell the Eagle which ones)." According to eyewitess accounts posted on the Coney Island USA message board one of these 'civic groups' was BUILD. This makes all too much sense. BUILD (Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development) describes itself as "an organization committed to supporting development as a means of creating economic opportunities to promote financial self-sufficiency and prosperity in socio-economically depressed communities." Others, however, would describe BUILD as a sham group which largely exists to create the illusion of widespread community support for developer Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project. BUILD's website claims that it is a 'myth' that they are financially supported by Ratner's development group, and that they rely on member support.
The New York Times reports:
Mr. Ratner's links to a different group, Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development, or Build, that has drawn the most attention from critics, who say it didn't incorporate until after the plans [for the Atlantic Yards project] were announced. The company has denied that it provided financial support to launch the group, but a spokesman said that as part of the community-benefits agreement, the company recently gave Build a $100,000 grant and covers its overhead costs.
The New York Times reports:
Mr. Ratner's links to a different group, Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development, or Build, that has drawn the most attention from critics, who say it didn't incorporate until after the plans [for the Atlantic Yards project] were announced. The company has denied that it provided financial support to launch the group, but a spokesman said that as part of the community-benefits agreement, the company recently gave Build a $100,000 grant and covers its overhead costs.
Labor activist Kim Moody's recent book, 'From Welfare State to Real Estate, backs up this claim, adding that in addition to the money, Ratner's group also provided BUILD with office space.
At last year's hearings on the Atlantic Yard project Kruger served the same function as BUILD, using his voice as a representative of Brooklyn community's to try to paint Ratner's project as a vehicle for helping Brooklyn residents. "We're not talking about the Nets Arena. We're not talking about Forest City Ratner," said Kruger, "We're talking about Brooklyn, we're talking about communities, we're talking about Brooklyn first." In reality, however, it was not the abstract ideas of 'Brooklyn' and 'community' that Kruger was advocating, but the actual construction of the neighborhood destroying Nets Arena by Forest City Ratner.
The Nov. 19th 'Community Information Session' on the redevelopment of Coney Island was in many ways identical to the hearing on the Atlantic Yards Development project. We have the same politician and the same sham 'community group' trying to portray the plans of millionaire developers as being in the best interest of the very neighborhoods which their development plans seek to destroy.
To Build An Arena, Developer First Builds Bridge [New York Times]
The Unbearable Lightness of Kruger's NIMBYism [Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn]
Brooklyn Pol Busts Coney Meeting [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
'From Welfare State to Real Estate' [by Kim Moody]
2 comments:
Omar - I have been living in Brooklyn all my life as my parents and grandparents did as well. My opinion - Atlantic Yards is the most important development to ever be conceived for Brooklyn. Coney Island ranks second. Together the 2 developments will lead Brooklyn into major competition with Manhattan. I think its beautiful what Ratner and Thor are trying to accomplish in this borough. And you know what, I really believe they will both accomplish it.
There will always be naysayers. Such is the environment in NY. But I think both developers have outsmarted the naysayers and will get it accomplished. Ratner should have the Nets here by 2010. And I think Thor played Coney perfectly by delaying everything with the condo plan when the main objective from the start was to take it to the next administration to get hotels with the amusements in the zone. Just a Brooklyn guy's opinion.
Bruce, I think you need to learn the history of the corporation of the town of Gravesend into the city of Brooklyn, and the city of Brooklyn into the City of New York. To say anything outside of Manhattan has a chance to economically compete against the financial muscle of Manhattan, either shows you are a very poor accountant, or just full of hot air :)
The relationship between Manhattan and the other parts of the city is a symbiotic relationship, both have their own niche in life, both cant compete directly against each other, whether it is housing or jobs.
Bruce
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