Death in Atlantic Yards

Mark Winston Griffith

Death in Atlantic Yards

I thank Nicholas Confessore's November 12 piece in the New York Times - Perspectives on the Atlantic Yards Development Through the Prism of Race - for reminding us that the real wedge dividing up the Atlantic Yards political circus is not black or white, but green.

There are good and compelling reasons for people to support the Atlantic Yards project or to fight against it. But as a resident of Central Brooklyn and a black activist who has fought for neighborhood-driven economic justice for twenty years, I'm even more struck by the cost that those of us who consider ourselves part of the "black community" in Brooklyn have already begun to pay for this debate.

Let's be clear: The most recent conversation about Atlantic Yards did not begin with a sober reflection on how to "improve" downtown Brooklyn or the lives of its residents. It didn't have anything to do with developing a "blighted area" or the need to create jobs and affordable housing. It didn't grow out of competing economic development visions between white and black folks, or between the affluent and the poor.

It began with a developer buying the New Jersey Nets, taking advantage of his considerable political leverage in the City, deciding he wanted to appropriate a huge chunk of land in New York, and then spreading enough money around to protect his investment. And as Charles Barron so poignantly observed, "The devil could bring in a project and say it's jobs and affordable housing, and some of us will go for it, because we're on a survival level."

Along those lines, I consider myself a spiritual man. And so I want to take a moment to consider some parts of our collective soul that we black New Yorkers have lost or buried in Atlantic Yards.

I mourn the death of integrity - or at least the appearance of it - that some who have long enjoyed a reputation for independence and progressiveness, have suffered for mobilizing black support for the project while being on the Ratner payroll. As arrogant and reckless as Daniel Goldstein's "white masters" comment was, can any one deny the racialized demagoguery and black allegiances that Ratner's money has inspired?

I mourn the death of facts. Even the legitimate debate on issues like jobs and affordable housing have been so politically charged that an honest assessment of the project's true public benefits are virtually unattainable.

I mourn the death of self-determination and the value of resistance. For those who wish to write off anyone protesting the rise of the Atlantic Yards project as white, privileged cry babies, wait until the next time someone comes knocking on your door insisting they have a better idea for how to use your home.

I mourn the death of self-definition. Perhaps the most insulting and dangerous notion to come out of the Atlantic Yards debate is that jobs and housing are "black" issues. Meanwhile, quality of life and environmental concerns, the abuse of corporate power and eminent domain, questions of urban aesthetics and overcrowding - not to mention the potential for gentrification that will make every home west of Pennsylvania Avenue even more unaffordable - have been depicted by some as strictly "white" issues.

Certainly black and poor people can defend their self-interests and acknowledge the importance of bread and butter issues without having to deny the full dimensions of their humanity and membership in a broader community.

Mark Winston Griffith: Author Bio | Other Posts
Posted at 2:10 AM, Nov 17, 2006 in
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Dear
Mark Why are you mourning for? Welcome to New York City and New York State. The Empire State the most dysfunctional state government in the U.S. If you ever wonder how this could happen it was very easy. A number of civic activist and political activist could tell you this was a long time coming.
There are no easy solutions to problems or race, economic development, the dirty marriage of real estate issues and politics.
The painful reality is money is the god of this world.
Do you remember this guy who ran for governor this last election? What was his name oh yes John Faso.Terrible candidate for Governor great candidate for State Comptroller, because he is right about one thing. Taxes are too high in this state. Just like the price of housing will be too high in Brooklyn and the rest of the city.No one likes a Faso who has to bring the bad news. As african americnas too many times we prefer "Doctor Feel Good".
Unfortunantly Councilmen Barron was correct when he said "We are on a survival basis, If the devil came to Brooklyn and offered jobs we would fall for it". Mike Bloomberg/Dan Doctoroff both Ratners buddy's claim The Driving Real Estate bubble is Economic Development. Short sited and Dangerously retarded or as i like to call it "The Anti Economic Development".
I remember in a conversation with the councilmen who said "As elected officials we dont negotiate from a power standpoint".However if you asked elected officials they would say "Charles" does not know anything. The next time you elect someone why dont you find out what their negotiations standards are.
What do i mean by negotiation standards? Negotiation standards are "Does he or she look for the lowest standard possible?". You would be amazed how many people running around as elected officials have Low Negotiation standards. Bruce Ratner of Forest City has gotten away with Low Standards as a Developer for profit, because of family campaign contributions, 80 percent of his projects involed the use of Eminent domain to require the land.But he still gets the big projects, no matter how terrrible a jobs he does.
Metrotech was a pretty poor part of Downtown Brooklyn. Just because Metrotech was built, Everyone will say it was not a failure. However if you asked the people who live in the projects across the street from Metrotech. Jobs were not around for them.
The Ultimate Lesson we as an african american never learn is, the majority of us are on a survival basis. However we have to realize that Big Projects in Real estate don't necessarily mean they are for us.They are for construction unions who are good to bring in when you are trying to intimidate public officials and neighborhoods.
I have no problem with wanting to be at the table, But you need to shown you are a true power to dictate that negotiation, No insult to our local clergy, But we are no in the 60's anymore.I think it was the governor of california who said "You kids are soft",Right now that is us.
Big Real Estate Developers have dictated the political picture for decades. They have years of experience using Race to put one neighborhood and culture against another. Were you so surprised that Ratner went to organizations that were not in the immediate Project areas such as Prospect Heights or Fort Green. He looked around to areas such as Crown Heights, East New York and Bed Stuy, When he figures out the most vocal opposition would be white. I am sure he knew the majority of the african americans who opposed his instant gentrification plan were too busy to testify against it, or given up figuring its a done deal.
Here is an example way back in June of 2004. When the Downtown Brooklyn Plan was at the end of the landuse process. A friend of mine found out that the Duffield Street homes were probably Underground Railroad sites. Other than Councilmen Charles Barron how many of us African Americans came down to City Hall and testified to save the homes or do the research.It took Chris Moore finding out that the Bloomberg administration was using his name"Identity theft" to claim the homes were not Underground Railroad site. It took Mister Moore coming down and explaining he did not give anyone permittion to use his name, For Councilmen Avella to order a hearing. The City Council still approved the zoning applications for the Downtown Brooklyn plan. Curious which was more important with the number of african american s on the council. Ironically The Bloomberg administration is still claiming the buildings are not Underground Railroad sites, Still trying to annihilate those buildings.Oh and its being taken by eminent domain, a Black grandmother and her grandchildren live in one of the buildings.
But the story gets even more fun, During the August 23rd hearing for Atlantic Yares a certain housing organization mentioned in that New York times story who will remain nameless. Brought in their supporters on behalf of Mister Ratner, which included children. They got their supporters and the kids in such a wild mentality. That when Researcher Christabel Gough testified and said we should be interested in saving historical sights such as the Duffield Street homes, where Harriet Tubmen may have traveled. The Crowd and the kid were so riled up, the child said" I hope they tear down Harriet Tubmans home". Bill Batson who was running for State Assembly at the time had a conversation with the parent, Probably because they wondered how the hell it got to that situation.
So inconclusion as an African american and neighborhood troublemaker,who is trying to survive myself.I still have to ask what are you mourning for? Do you mourn because maybe the fight after Civil Rights was not really over? Could it be that we got too preoccupied with feel good. That in individual success that so many were left behind. Too many decades of following the wrong person.

I said I mourn. I didn't say I am surprised.

I use the word mourn because the conversation that you and I are having right now is not happening more often and more publically.

I mourn not so much because of the fact that money has dictated the terms of this debate, but because not enough people within our own (black) activist ranks have made the following point: That race has been twisted and manipulated in a grotesque way that has ill-served Central Brooklyn and the notion of smart debate around any future development projects. Ultimately we've allowed, at least publically, our interests and our values as a black community to be defined in the most narrow of ways. No matter how often it happens, that will always sadden me.