Our Time PressThe Local Paper with the Global View

At a City Hall press conference convened by Councilwoman Leticia James, several ministers, with church congregations located in the area of Ratner’s proposed development addressed the question of the arena proposal.

Reverend Perrin of Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church:
“Why no to the Nets arena?” Because economic progress cannot be made at the expense of our long-standing democratic rights and freedoms.  Otherwise, we have no right to impose on a regime in Iraq, intervene in Haiti or keep an embargo against Cuba.  Truth may be that what we are seeking to impose on other countries is a cynical application of certain capitalist values that sometimes have an ugly side.

This ugly side we are witnessing in the proposed new development of the sports complex, while threatening to run over the residents as if they are not to be counted.  What is more troubling is the widespread feeling among many that there is nothing that anyone can do to stop this because  “it is a done deal.  Only God is ineluctable, against which it is vain to struggle.  The voice of consciousness must be raised, however lonely that voice may be.” 

Reverend Herbert Daughtry
House of the Lord Church:
Our church is located several blocks from where this arena is to be constructed.  We have been in this community thirty-five years and no one has come to us about this project.  They have pushed this on this community and some of us have stood to say you can’t do that.  We are calling for a summit meeting of all the appropriate personnel and see what can be worked through.  Our position is that we are not absolutely against anything or absolutely for anything, we are absolutely against the usurpation of authority and power in our community.  If we use the model of the World Trade Center reconstruction process, we can perhaps do something that would be satisfactory to all concerned.

Pastor Trufant
Emmanuel Baptist Church:
“I am not opposed to development being done.  What I am opposed to is the manner in which it is being done.  I speak not as a disinterested party, I have pastored and lived in this community for almost fourteen years, and the development makes my question not so much why it’s being done but rather where and how it’s being done.
I think there are other places where it could be done, for example, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where there’s more than ample space.  There are other areas of Brooklyn where there are large tracts of land that are available.  The project could be the impetus for economic development in those areas. 

One of the things that doesn’t make sense to me is the placement of the development on one of the major thoroughfares, one that is already congested.   This smacks of development that is not consistent with key concepts of contemporary development, where the stakeholders, the current businesses and residents and the developers have a win-win scenario.   This seems to be a win-lose scenario, development done in the interests of big business. 
It doesn’t seem to make sense that the people who have built this community and improved the quality of life in the corridor should be displaced.”
Reverend Clinton Miller of Brown
Memorial Baptist Church: 
“We ask the question, ‘What are we going to be using the taxpayer’s money for?’  ‘Are we going to use it for building arenas and stadiums while there is still a dirth of affordable housing, quality education and jobs.  Or are we going to give deference to those with resources we don’t have?’  Let’s use the taxpayer’s dollars for something that is needed first and build an arena later on.
 
Councilman Charles Barron
“I want to thank my colleague Letitia James who is doing an excellent job on this issue and who is bold enough to stand alone if she must.  We have serious questions on this issue of the abuse of eminent domain and the government taking private property for use by a private developer.  We are also concerned about commercial competition with existing businesses and the additional office space which may not be needed, given the develop going on in downtown Manhattan.  There is the concern about displacement of people from their homes. 
“Ratner says a hundred, the Prospect Height Action Coalition says 863, the census tract  says 350-400.  Traffic congestion and people suffering with asthma, we need to tell Jay Z and Bernard King that we know you are happy about basketball, but these issues are greater than basketball.  They make cutesy remarks around a very serious issue.  They need to come back to the community and get educated.  How dare they leave these influential members of our community out of the process.  Don’t think you are going to steam roll this through.  This is not a done deal.” 

When the Political, Real Estate and Financial power centers agree on a project, you have what they market as “a done deal.” Left out of the equation are the people, and on this project they intend to be players. 
Bling-bling marketing with celebrity names distracts some people,  but others see this project as a rich guys’ game.
“The politicians team up with wealthy businessmen on projects that are sold to the public as engines for economic development,” said former Yankee pitcher and author Jim Bouton.  Bouton was speaking in the back of Freddy’s, a prohibition-era bar on Dean Street that serves as an informal headquarters of the Prospect Heights Action Coalition, the group spearheading the fight against the arena.   “But all economic studies have shown that this is not true and in fact, jobs are lost and replaced with jobs at a lower level.    The real jobs go to the players and the owners.  But the arena overall  has a negative impact on the community.”   

Bouton says there are several characteristics of stadium that are common to all the projects.  They are never grassroots motivated, they are planned in secret, the people most affected are the last to know and they are always complicated in order to hide the subsidy.  He says that these projects are planned by businessmen who don’t like to compete, and enabled by politicians who don’t like democracy.
Bouton points out that  teams move, and  that Business and Real Estate Developer Ratner may want to move the Nets to Brooklyn now, but they may move someplace else later.  He describes it as a national problem and suggests that cities and states team up against the teams and agree not to give tax incentives to teams looking to move. 
“The profits are possible because the owners don’t have to build the stadium.   If stadiums were good investments, business people would want to build them.”
According to the door-to-door census done by Patti Hagan of the Prospect Heights Action Coalition, 864 people currently live in the 73 buildings scheduled to be removed.  200 of these people work out of their homes and there are additional four dozen small  businesses providing employment to the 237 people who come in for day jobs.  “Some of the housing they are calling ‘blighted’ cost over a million dollars.”   A local business owner noted that he pays his taxes, but “Ratner is not paying property taxes on Atlantic Center.”   
Down the road and across the way, the residents of Duffield Street between Fulton and Willoughby met to discuss the condemnation of their property as a result of the Downtown Development Plan, now moving through ULURP, the Uniform Land Use Review Process.   Many spoke of being stunned by the notices they received and were as one said, “Glad to see that someone had some information about what was going on.”  At one point it was suggested that this was a racial issue.  Irene Van Slyke of Community Board 2 disagreed saying “This is not a racial issue.  It’s greed.” 
Joe Wright of the Castle Coalition explained that the new rationale for eminent domain abuse is the idea of “under-performing” neighborhoods.  “A neighborhood can be called under-performing if another type of structure or business could bring in more tax revenue.  Using this logic, a row of single- family homes can be labeled under-performing because a high rise would generate more tax revenue.   But once that becomes the criteria, then any neighborhood can be considered under-performing.”
David Walker, a local property owner, said he recognized that the situation is one of “small businesses and home owners against big business.”  The situation was also simple for Joy Chatel, is chair of the Duffield St. Block Association.  Her husband died in her home, over her beauty parlor. “They want to steal this block plain and simple…
We the people must lock arms and stand for something.”  Homeowner Lou Greenstein said that none of the residents on the block knew of the meetings, “They did not give us a thought.” 
Back up at Hanson Place Methodist Episcopal Church, Councilwoman Letitia James was ticking off her list of objections to Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards Project.
“It’s an abuse of eminent domain, a land- grab deal that’s more about real estate than sports.  It’s unhealthy and will contribute to already- high asthma rates, it is designed for luxury and not affordable housing and I’m opposed to public financing for private gain.”
“We’ve been getting calls telling us to stay out of this,” said the councilwoman, “and the New York Post called me a traitor.   If by that they mean I’m a traitor to corporate interests, then yes, call me a traitor.”  In the question- and-answer period that followed, Chris Owens said of the Post editorial, “How dare you call us traitors for standing up for our homes! ”

Scott Bullock, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice/Castle Coalition told the gathering of over three hundred, that “You are not alone in this fight” and that “the good news is that there is a nationwide movement against eminent domain, courts are beginning to crack down.”  “Developers are taking land because it is ‘under-performing’.”  “If this is upheld, then nobody’s property is safe.”  The one good thing about eminent domain is that “it unites people,” said Mr. Bullock.
In order to be effective, he said to “dig deep into the project.  These things are usually rushed through and corners get cut that can be brought up in court.”  He said the group can expect to hear, “What are they objecting to?  They’re getting paid.”  “You people are against development,” and  “eminent domain will only be a last resort.” Which is like saying “sign it or I’ll kill you.  But don’t worry, that’s a last resort.”
All the smart money is riding on Ratner, but people may start to think about alternatives (see page 4) and the abuse of government power for private gain (accompanying article) as well as any public subsidy for the project  and the environmental impact. 
The battle has been joined and it will be a doozie.

Launches Campaign in the Name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

To enthusiastic chants of  “Charles in Charge,” and “Here comes the Mayor,”   Councilman Charles Barron, accompanied by his wife Inez (“the love of my life and the greatest supporter of my life’s work”), and his son, Jawaanza, (“I thank him for lending me to the movement.”) announced his candidacy for Mayor on the steps of City Hall, January 19, 2004.  Councilman Barron’s statement is below.

I want to say on the Day of Observance of the birth of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that I intend to be the 109th Mayor of New York City. 
Many want Dr. King’s message to be stuck in 1963 with “I have a dream”.  But Dr. King, in his last years of 1968, had a radical vision.   He was going to Washington D.C. for a Poor People’s campaign and he was going to stay there until  Congress delivered a more equitable distribution of the wealth of goods and resources in America. 
We launch this movement in the name of Dr. King.  We’re calling for a new structure in New York City.  We’re calling for  a racially balanced, gender-balanced Administration and structure for New York City. 
Too few white men have too much power and that must be changed.  That has to stop.
We’re developing a People’s Platform that we’re going to take across this city.  We’re going from borough to borough to fully develop our platform. 
This is how we’re going to deal with crime: economic development and job creation.  Police containment is not the answer.  We believe in community policing coupled with economic development.   People don’t commit crimes because there are not enough police or prisons, they commit crimes because of poverty that leads to hopelessness.  If you want crime to stop, then give people jobs, opportunities and economic development.  I believe in real affordable housing plans.
Those who are making $25,000, $35,000 a year deserve a home, too.  In East New York, Brownsville, the South Bronx, Harlem, Jamaica we deserve real affordable housing. 
And we’re going to talk about education for liberation: liberation from poverty, liberation from academic ineptness,  liberation from the structure of the Department of Education.  ‘Leave no child behind?’ No, they want control over the $12 billion budget so they can leave no millionaire behind.
 One hundred and sixty-six million dollars for Snapple to sell our children colored sugar water that’s not good  for them?  We want to bring in people like Dr. Adelaide Sanford, Frank Mickens, Dr. Sheila Trannum and really show this city how education can be done.  
Yes, we need smaller class sizes.  We need a culturally-relevant curriculum.  One-size-fits-all curriculum makes no sense. 
CUNY!  We want free tuition for CUNY.  We can do that.  CUNY used to be free when it had a different complexion.  But when the student’s complexion changed, and their class changed, then came tuition.    CUNY students work too hard to have the budget balanced on their backs. 

  
This city must understand.  When we call for reparations, it is a just call.  When we call for the payment for our ancestors’ work to build New York City, to build America.  When we get reparations, we’re talking about fixing up the hood.  We’re talking about fixing up the education system, better housing, economic development and job creation.  We’re talking about owning land.   That’s how you can give us reparations, by giving us land.  We’re talking about a moratorium on us paying taxes until you pay that debt, called reparations. 
Nobody in New York City should be upset with us talking about reparations, cause there’s something about people of African Ancestry- when we do well, everybody does well.
We will continue our fight to free political prisoners.  The freedom of political prisoners is critical.  We must understand that many of our brothers and sisters, languishing in the jails in this state and all across this country, because in 1960, J. Edgar Hoover, with COINTELPRO, called for the elimination of all Black activists.  They stood up for you and he declared war.  He said that they should be murdered.  Eliminated.  And they went about killing activists. 
In that period, there were people who fought back.  There are people in jail for doing nothing.  Some people in jail for fighting back.  And some people spent 30 years for whatever they did, after 30 years the time’s up.  Free our political prisoners. 
We’re talking about environmental justice.  There are too many waste- transfer stations, too many bus depots and sewage plants in communities of color.  They should spread the wealth.  We’re talking about quality and affordable health care.  We’re going to focus on our seniors and our youth.  We must develop a New York City that will prioritize its youth and take care of its seniors. 
Finally, we’re not going to balance the budget on the backs of the poor in this town.   Fees, fines and property tax.  We need a stock transfer tax, we need an e-sale tax, we need a tax on those who earn $250,000 or more.
We need to have the more affluent pay the bills.  They benefited during the better times. 
We have to unite the mayoralty with the city council and the unions.  It is only through that unity can we go to the state and get our fair share. 

We give $3 billion more to the state than they give to us.  We give $6 billion more to the federal government than they give to us.  It’s time for us to get our fair share from the state and the federal government and a Barron mayoralty is the best proposition to make that happen.
Finally, ‘Who is Charles Barron” “what makes you qualified to run for mayor”.
Before Giuliani became mayor he was a U.S. attorney. Before Bloomberg became mayor he was a billionaire media mogul, disconnected from the city.  Before Charles Barron becomes mayor in 2005 he will have spent 30 years as an activist in New York City and four years in the city council.  I will have balanced, with my colleagues, four $40 billion plus budgets.  Bloomberg and Giuliani?  None.  I will have passed, along with my colleagues on the city council, more progressive legislation on the living wage, affordable housing, equal access, predatory lending, lead paint with my colleague Bill Perkins.  We will have passed more progressive legislation than any administration in the history of New York City. 
This is a serious campaign.  While pundits are counting the money of the other candidates, I’ll be counting people because money doesn’t vote.  People vote.  We’re going to have all the money we need to win this election.
Contributions may be sent to: Charles Barron 2005, 545 Neptune Avenue, 19B, Brooklyn, NY 11224.

By Paul Sheridan
We have seen the first sketches for Bruce Ratner’s “abominable arena” for Brooklyn’s downtown area.  Elsewhere, others have analyzed its many problems: the taking of private property for profit, the loss of billions in future income to the city, the increased traffic and congestion, the poor aesthetics, the lack of land- use reviews, etc.
I am confident that Ratner will not get the Nets franchise, what we are seeing is a game where a wealthy corporation (a sports team) pits one city against another.  Even if he does manage to buy the Nets, the collective smarts and political power of many of Brooklyn’s residents will be able to keep this overblown plan from being built at this site, fancy architect or not.
That leaves us with the question of what should happen there, along Atlantic Avenue, east of Flatbush Avenue?  Planning for the growth, renewal, and for change in our city neighborhoods has been all too reactive for too many years.   Government leaders seem to sit and wait until private developers assemble enough land-or the rights to land-cheaply enough, then they propose building what will return the maximum profit to them, with the least outlay by them.  And if the public takes the major risks, investing its future income, all the better.  Politicians cheer from the sidelines.  Is this leadership?
It is time to be proactive.  I am as opposed to Ratner’s plans as much as any sane resident of Prospect Heights.  But after 15 years here, I recognize that the city, the community, the governmental owners of this land should be developing and improving these train storage yards.  Shouldn’t this space be developed?-The yards are fairly ugly, cold in winter, hot in summer, and could relatively easily be decked over for some good uses, but certainly not for any towers, neither offices nor housing.
The name that Ratner has chosen for his megalopolis in the midst of our low-rise brownstone communities, “Atlantic Yards,” should tell us something about the lack of imagination at work here.  It reminds me of suburban tract developments called Ferndale Woods, or Meadowlark Glen. They might have once had dales or glens, but all that remains are the street signs.  Ratner would remove the yards, but keep the name.  Let’s imagine a few other possibilities for this land:
Fifth to Sixth Avenues- a Public Market, above the rail yards.
An Atlantic Terminal Market if you will, covered overhead (with some interesting architecture?), creating an airy “indoors,” heated in winter, cooled in summer, as an incubator for small businesses-food sellers, both local and regional farmers and bakers, (much like the very successful Greenmarkets), plus crafts, books, music, etc.  There would be low start up costs for vendors, short- and long- term leasing, careful planning to minimize impact of delivery traffic.  Additionally, convert the storage yards below to an enlarged LIRR train station, to handle and encourage non-automobile commuting for the employees in millions of square feet of new office space planned to the north along Flatbush Avenue.  Every other rail track in the yard could be built over to become a station platform.  Brooklyn, New York City, and the nation certainly all need more rail traffic and less street traffic.
Sixth to Vanderbilt Avenues:   Low density, truly affordable, residential-commercial development Low to mid-rise (2-to 6-story) housing, with mixed apartment sizes, with some commercial spaces, generally smaller footage offices, for small businesses, lawyers, medical, as well as neighborhood-oriented businesses, but not regional, not “big box,” soulless malls.
One important question is what is the definition of affordable, a phrase thrown around a lot but with few specifics, much like being for mom or apple pie.  I think a good starting point for anyone using the term is “affordable for someone who earns less than I do.”  How about $1000 a month, or less, for a decent-sized two bedroom (900-1000 sq. ft)?  That would fit within the usual financial standards-25% of your income for housing-12 months  x $1000 = $12,000, which is 25% of a $48,000 yearly family income.
Some of the advantages to this kind of plan are: there is no need for condemnations using eminent domain; much lower construction and site- preparation costs; portions may qualify for federal funding (rail transportation); no city streets would be blocked off (the #63 bus could keep its route, for example); no need for 3000-car parking garages (though many in the area would like to see some off-street parking for the nearby 78th police precinct).
This plan might sound like Rouse-ification (think South Street Seaport), but most would agree that is better than Ratnerization!
I should add that I am an amateur here, I am not a city planner or an architect.  I think there are a lot of good ideas out there if the communities were truly involved, and not simply handed a plan.  As an example, my neighbor has a vision: she suggests re-extending the small streets that were cut off by the construction of Atlantic Commons and Atlantic Terminal. She wants to see streets like South Elliot and Clermont to go from Atlantic Avenue to Pacific Street.  She also suggests adding a new small street that curves, meanders even, down the middle between Atlantic and Pacific, from Fifth to Vanderbilt Avenues.  She puts in small-scale, in-context, housing similar to Atlantic Commons (using the best possible design!) and lots of green spaces on this “deck-over” of the yards, which would stay.  This is development that fits the need’s of borough of Brooklyn:  the neighborhoods, minimizes new traffic, does not cost billions, but millions.  It is most certainly not development that fills a developer’s pockets, or fulfills fantasies of politicians.  Here’s yet another radical idea: why not a real ballpark for the use of neighborhood youth?
One closing thought: We have not heard much from the residents of nearby Park Slope.  Maybe this project is not yet on their radar screen, or perhaps they hope that it will help their property values while somehow not impacting on their quality of- life?  Anyone who has seen Flatbush Avenue at a standstill, from downtown to Grand Army Plaza during rush hours, will understand that no neighborhood exists in a vacuum.  Pay attention Slopers, you will not like “Ratner’s Revenge,” I promise you.

By Akosua Kathryn Albritton
The Funk Won’t Let You Down
The players of instruments and their Web sites are honored for African-American History Month.  What players and what music?  The musicians who introduced funk.  It is only fitting to start with the entity that tells us to “Tear the roof off the sucker”; “S?%t, G#d D#mn!  Get off your !ss and jam”; and who showed a generation the flashlight’s true use.  Yes, it’s George Clinton.  George Clinton has the intergalactic mission to advance soul into the time of funk.  He acknowledges James Brown as the root and funk the fruit that he bears.  His Web site, www.georgeclinton.com, is unsurprisingly dynamic and fun.  The site is heavy on color and unimposing animation.  In fact, a visitor has the option of entering the site’s Flash or HTML version.  With three choices of beats to play while clicking through, a great online experience is had.  The content is arranged in the categories of “Da Tour” (concert dates and locations, ticket sales); “Viagraphy” (lists all musicians who ever played for the Parliament-Funkadelic All- Stars); “Cyber Sto* (online store of T-shirts, hooded pullover sweatshirts, baby bibs, jerseys, etc.); “Funkateerz” (downloads, the message board, games, and the funkcyclopedia); “Mugshotz” (photogallery-George Clinton resembles reggae legend Burning Spear); “Video Clipz” (the funkitorium is powered by QuickTime and WindowsMedia 9); and “Contact” (e-mail addresses for fans, business inquiries and the press).  The Web site has several download selections and video clips of the Fuji Fest 2002 concert in Japan.
WWW.chakakhan.com satisfies die-hard  aficionados.  Violet is the dominant color and photos of Chaka and her glorious mane abound.  The Web site is a testament to Chaka Khan being self-possessed at 50.  Her departments are “Home”, “Biography”, “News”, “Discography”, “Tour”, “Foundation”, “Media”, “Soundtracks”, “Gallery” and “Contact.”  Chaka compassionately requests that visitors refrain from using vulgarities when using Club CK’s message board.
This Web site is a marketing tool for her Chakalates (gourmet chocolates), media appearances, and Chaka! Through The Fire, her autobiography.  She has a foundation to assist women and children and a literacy project.  The site misses the mark by not doing e-commerce.  Rather than buy online, the site refers visitors to retailers.  The foundation will benefit when donations are accepted online.  There is redundancy within the departments.  For example, similar information exists in “News” and “Press Release”.  This is the case for “Accolades”, “Soundtracks”, and “Discography.”  The site is under construction; perhaps the Web designer will make changes.
The Ohio Players produced funk examining the emotions and deities (there are fire deities and honey-loving deities).  This band doesn’t maintain a Web-site.  Rather, //wfunk.com/ohioplayers/ is the unofficial online home.  Though static, the site has many photos and much information.  Content departments include “Music”, “Band”, “Images”, “Press”, “Links”, “News” and “Credits.”  “Music” is a database of their albums.  “Band” records the changes in the band’s lineup.  “Links” connects visitors to other funk artists’ Web-sites.  The site uses simple technology with few navigational tools.  In fact, it’s one long scroll up and down.  It was updated March 2002.  The site closes with an interview with Sugarfoot and Merv.
Earth, Wind and Fire (EWF) continues the transcendental, mystical funk conquest through www.earthwindandfire.com.  The Website uses a celestial background to merchandise music, clothes and other goods.  The essential tools powering the site are frames, QuickTime and JAVA2.  The departments are “The Promise” (online CD sampling, sales, and product review); “Live In Rio” (online CD sampling, sales and product review); “Shining Stars” (the official story of the band on DVD, online music and interview sampling, sales and product reviews); “News” (upcoming media dates); “Store” (selling T-shirts, tourbook, magnets, etc).  The product reviews are independent critiques so flaws and beauty marks are revealed.  EWF embraces downloadable music by converting their music to MPEG4 files.  Though the Webcast offers to download speeds, the playing is quirky.  The site also offers video clips; tour dates arranged by the month and links to individual band members’ Web sites and other sites that mention EWF.
Quick  Mentions
Are you a bookworm?  Do you have a penchant for research?  It may be in your genes.  Do you want to know more about your African heritage?  Visit www.timbuktufoundation.org to learn about West Africa’s glorious empires, old university towns and their libraries.
To prepare for a spring technology conference, I need a count of column readers.  Please e mail akos_a@juno.com by February 24.  Thanks much.