A documentary worth watching: Battle for Brooklyn (dir. Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley, 2011), which chronicles the eight-year fight against the Atlantic Yards project, which displaced residents and businesses to bring the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn. Can the doctrine of eminent domain be made to serve private enterprise? If you’re name is Bruce Ratner, the answer is yes. As Elaine quickly realized, the story is rather Wire-like. The fix, as they say, was in.
Battle for Brooklyn is both dispiriting and inspiring. Those who resist lose. Yet again and again, they refuse to give up. Their effort makes me remember this observation from Philip K. Dick: “Just because something bears the aspect of the inevitable one should not, therefore, go along willingly with it.”
Related reading
Battle for Brooklyn (The film’s website)
Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Battle for Brooklyn
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