Protesting Ratner's Atlantic Yards Ground Breaking

Protesting developer Bruce Ratner's 'Atlantic Yards' Ground Breaking.

Today was the day, and it was a sad one!


After years of fighting the good fight, it had come to this: police corralling protesters behind barricades as politicians arrived for the groundbreaking ceremony in black Chevy Suburbans, safely hidden from the crowd behind tinted windows.
It was a surreal scene and illustrated how disconnected our public officials and their cronies are from the citizens of Brooklyn.

Slowly, the crowd made its way towards Atlantic Avenue, along the construction site and towards the white tents which had been set up for the 'dignitaries.' In unison, protestors chanted: "Brooklyn is not for sale" and "Crooks, lock them up."

Up on rooftops, police observed the crowds' every move. Helicopters hovered overhead. (Was it really necessary to have members of the NYPD Counter Terrorism there? They must have been very, very afraid of us.)

All this 'protection' must have cost the city quite a bit of money. Our tax money at work, I guess.

As I said, to me, it was a very, very sad day.






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Come Out To Protest Atlantic Yards Groundbreaking Tomorrow

PROTEST ATLANTIC YARDS GROUNDBREAKING!

Dear Readers,

While we have been busy here in Carroll Gardens fighting for a clean Gowanus Canal and for the contextual re-zoning of our lovely brownstone neighborhood, a much bigger fight has been going on against the Atlantic Yards project.

Community activists have worked tirelessly to protect Brooklyn from Bruce Ratners wrecking balls, but corruption, greed and our self-serving politicians are a powerful force to reckon with. The objections and concerns of Brooklyn residents were disregarded at every turn.

Tomorrow a big rally is being organized to protest Bruce Ratner's groundbreaking ceremony. I will certainly be there to join my Brooklyn neighbors. Please be there as well.

The message below is from Brooklyn Speaks:


Protest groundbreaking at Atlantic Yards 3/11/10

As you may have heard, on March 1, New York Supreme Court Justice Abraham Gerges issued a decision that clears the way for the condemnation of private properties through the State’s power of eminent domain.

With that decision in hand, Forrest City Ratner will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its billion dollar Barclays Center Arena on Thursday, March 11th at 1:30 PM. The exact location for the groundbreaking is not yet known.

Members of the surrounding communities are quite naturally very angry and disappointed by this turn of events. We have long fought against the misuse of taxpayer funds for this highly speculative project which will deliver virtually no benefits to the public, but instead is poised to cost the public millions of dollars. Instead of breaking ground for the promised 2,250 units of publicly subsidized "affordable" housing, the developer, Mayor and Governor will dig in for an arena that will house nobody and will be a money loser for New York City.

Our neighbors and colleagues Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn will be staging a two-stage counter demonstration that day. Consider taking a long lunch break and joining them to express your feelings about what’s happening – and what’s not happening (like affordable housing and jobs) – at Atlantic Yards.

First: The Groundbreaking to Bury the Soul of Brooklyn will take place at 12:30 pm on Thursday, March 11 in front of Freddy's Bar in the project footprint at the corner of Dean Street and 6th Avenue.

After the burial: protesters will gather outside Freddy’s and walk to the site of the official groundbreaking and rally against the project that was never destined to deliver on its promises, but will now deliver a pittance.

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This Sunday, Freddy's Bar Hosts (Maybe Its Last) Art Show

photo courtesy of Vanishing New York

Freddy's Bar and Backroom has been an integral part of Brooklyn for decades. Unfortunately, the venerated watering hole is in the path of Bruce Ratner's 'Atlantic Yard' project and will have to vacate from its location soon.
But this Sunday, Freddy's back room will host what may be its last art show.
Fellow blogger, Ms. Found In Brooklyn, is part of the show.
Please don't miss it.

13 Years of Art in Freddy’s Backroom:
What is Gone is Not Forgotten

Sunday, March 7th 6pm.

Freddy’s Bar and Backroom responds to New York State Supreme Court Justice Abraham Gerges ruling that will allow the condemnations to move forward on the building housing Freddy’s Bar on Dean Street by holding an art retrospective of 13 Years of international as well as local Art exhibited in Freddy’s backroom. (This will still give us Months to continue the fight, we will never die.)

From Painting to Video to the Museum of Drunken Art, this show will exhibit a wide variety of Fine Art from Freddy’s finest artists. Proceeds will go the “Hand Cuff Fund” for the Chains of Justice that were installed into the physical Bar at Freddy’s on 12/20/09.

Artists: Katie Welty, Margot Spindelman, Steve Pauley, Nancy Drew, Lisanne McTernan, Donald O’Finn, Steve DeSeve, Dirk Richarson, Dan Sagarin, Peter Teraberry, David Strome, Andy Friedman, Haynes Atkins, and Tim Harrod.

Freddys Bar & BACKROOM
485 Dean St. @ 6th Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 622-7035

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