Marie Louis of BUILD writes on DAILY HEIGHTS: “I think it would be great to have a public debate between BUILD and DDDb on the value of Atlantic Yards and the CBA to our community. We believe in our mission of using the development process to create and connect people to sorely needed employment, business, affordable housing and educational opportunities. We must close the wealth, unemployment and poverty gaps that has rendered our community into a state of socio-economic apartheid. Pockets of wealth in the midst of neighhorhoods grappling with extreme rates of poverty, unemployment and underclass entrapment.”
“Instead of complaining about challenges or ignoring them BUILD recognized the hope and the potential to connect people to opportunties through the Atlantic Yards / Nets Arena project. Opportunities to help make a dent in the local unemployment and poverty crises by changing the paradigm for how development transpires in neighborhood. Consequently [BUILD] launched a movement to secure a Community Benefits Agreement for Atlantic Yards- Announced at our first conference on Sunday, February 9, 2004 on the steps of City Hall.”
“We praise God for blessing us with the success of signing a CBA on Monday, June 27, 2005.”
“Again, my parting words are: I challenge Develop Don’t Destroy to a public Debate on The Value of FCRC’s Atlantic Yards and why it would be detrimental to our community for it to not move forward.”
LINKS:
Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development [buildbrooklyn.org]
Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn [dddb.net]
REVEALED: The Source of BUILD’s Wealth [Daily Heights]
BUILD Burns Midnight Oil on Vanderbilt Ave. [Daily Heights]
Are “Angry Yards” Protesters Ratner Puppets? [Daily Heights]
A public debate sounds like a great idea. I would love to go see that.
It would have to be a real substantive debate though, not just taking turns reciting sound bites like in the Presidential debates.
It would be a shouting-down match, and I have a pretty good idea who would win. Nevertheless, I proudly offer my services as moderator to ensure both parties adhere to the rules. Dan?
This is a very interesting idea, and I would love to attend if both parties debated for real. I think the entire neighborhood and press would be interested.
Speaking of “pockets of wealth,” let me throw out a point for the debate: The *brand-new* massive silver Cadillac that pulls up in front of BUILD each day… what better instrument to contrast the “extreme rates of poverty, unemployment and underclass entrapment” in the surrounding neighborhood?
Lucas,
I think that being able to pay the mortgage on a luxury condo while volunteering full-time is a much better example of the contrast that you mention.
oh do you Jack-a?
I don’t know, Jack, that BRAND NEW massive silver Cadillac pulling up to Build every day expresses that contrast pretty succinctly.