As Bruce Ratner goes public admitting he has no intention of fulfilling the promises he made to New York regarding affordable housing in his Atlantic Yards project, even former allies like Bill DeBlasio are now questioning just why New York City and New York State are giving him so much taxpayer money. On Saturday, May 3rd a major rally will be held where opposition will coalesce against Ratner. Among those sponsoring and publicizing this event are former supporters of Ratner, politicians who have previously been lukewarm in their opposition, and opposition groups that formerly didn't work together. In other words, Ratner may have finally shown his hand and all those who believed his promises or who weren't ready to take a strong stand now are feeling betrayed and angry. Saturday may be the beginning of the end for Ratner because for the first time I have seen the names of politicians who had been solidly, blindly behind Ratner cropping up among the opposition.

From DDDB (and about a dozen other sources!):

Community Groups, Elected Officials To Hold Major Rally To Demand Governor Paterson Call “Time Out” On Atlantic Yards Project

Last Sunday was the 3rd Annual Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn Walkathon to celebrate my son's birthday. Okay...so it is only coincidental that it always happens around my son's birthday, but my son has now gone to three of these events. And he always drags us along with him.

Sunday was a beautiful day for a Walkathon. Turnout seemed quite good and the path of the walk was excellent for demonstrating solidarity with the community. Last year went through Prospect Park, which may have been nicer, but didn't really connect with the affected community. This year we started at Freddie's bar in the footprint of Bruce Ratner's giganormous, overdevelopment sinkhole for taxpayer money, went up Flatbush, around Grand Army Plaza, and over to Soda bar where a party ensued. I always tell people these events are really fun, and I think the fact that we started at a bar and ended at a bar is indicative of the fun factor of the walkathons.

The "It's Not A Done Deal" Benefit: Victorian House & Book Party
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Clem Labine, Everett Ortner, Burnley Duke Dame, Kathy Evers, and Deirdre Lawrence invite you to...

The "It's Not A Done Deal" Benefit, Victorian House & Book Party

Spend a delightful afternoon with your neighbors and help preserve Brooklyn's Character.

A Fund-Raiser for Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn and the legal expenses to block the Atlantic Yards mega-project, and send it back to the drawing board. All proceeds from the party will go to the Legal Fund:

Sunday, June 24, 2007. 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
199 Berkeley Place [map]
Between 7th & 8th Avenues. Park Slope.

Click here to purchase discounted online tickets
(You can also purchase tickets at the door at full cost.)

Tour one of Brooklyn's most famous restored Victorian Brownstones.

Relax in the nationally famous Peacock Parlor.

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Here are some community-oriented events coming up in Brooklyn:

Now Playing: "Brooklyn Matters"

"Brooklyn Matters," Isabel Hill's riveting documentary exposé of the forces attempting to push the "Atlantic Yards" project forward regardless of the consequences, is coming to a screen near you:

May 20th, 9 p.m.
Barbés. 378 9th Street (@ 6th Avenue). Park Slope

May 21st, 8:30 p.m.
Cattyshack. 249 4th Avenue (@ Carroll Street). Park Slope
Sponsored by Lambda Independent Democrats

May 22nd, 7 p.m.
Phoenix House. 174 Prospect Place (between Carlton and Vanderbilt). Prospect Heights
Sponsored by Prospect Place Block Association (Flatbush to Underhill)

To view a trailer, host a screening, order the DVD and for more information on future screenings, please visit http://www.brooklynmatters.com.

In all the discussions about developing the Vanderbilt Yards (commonly called "Atlantic Yards"), most of the media coverage portrays the controversy as being a choice between Ratner or no development. That is a false choice based on Ratner propaganda. Truth is, there are FOUR proposals for development of the area, including Ratner's low-bid, corrupt, no-business-plan proposal. Yes...FOUR plans. Many have never heard of the other plans, which is just how Ratner's three stooges, Pataki (now out of the picture), Bloomberg and Markowitz, wanted it. For those who want to learn about the other three plans, you can find an analysis of them on the Develop, Don't Destroy Brooklyn website (left hand side under "Community-Based Plans").

One of those Community-Based Plans, the Unity Plan, really was designed with full community input, led by Councilwoman Letisha James. This is an idea that really should be seen more: the community working out its OWN vision for development with government USING that vision as a guide for actual development. If you like the idea of COMMUNITY-based development, you can be a part of making the Unity Plan a reality. This comes from Develop, Don't Destroy Brooklyn:

Remember, as you pay those state and local taxes, Ratner thanks you: (from DDDB)

And remember...the taxpayer funded gift of Atlantic Yards is only the beginning of what the state and city can do for the man with no business plan. Ratner has already been promised more land with minimal review. How much with the NEXT corrupt Ratner deal cost us?

Ask Ratner's three stooges:

In their scramble to accomodate the massive increases in traffic that Ratner's Atlantic Yards project will mean for most of Brooklyn, the Department of Transportation has proposed changes for 4th, 6th, and 7th Avenues and 9th Street in Brooklyn. The plans for 4th Ave. and 9th Street have received some good reviews, but the plans to turn 6th and 7th Avenues into one-way streets in order to speed up traffic along these routes was overwhelmingly opposed by the community in part because these two Avenues have a high density of schools along their lengths, and ANY attempt to speed up traffic will increase the risk to our children.

The Department of Transportation has made two somewhat contradictary claims regarding these proposals. They have claimed that they need no approval from anyone to make these changes. They claim the right to change the rules with no oversight, even if it increases the risk to our children crossing the street to go to school. On the other hand, they made the promise that if Community Board 6 opposed their proposals they would not carry them out.

Well, after a massive outcry by a community that is just beginning to realize what Ratner's Atlantic Yards plan will really mean for them, Community Board 6 has comeout solidly against the changes on 6th and 7th Avenues. They have not taken a stand on the more acceptable changes for 4th Ave. and 9th Street.

Park Slope Neighbors brings you the following events relating to Brooklyn development and transportation:

1) Community Board 6 to Consider DOT One-Way Proposal, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

This Wednesday evening, at 6:30 p.m., the full membership of Brooklyn Community Board 6 will hold their monthly General Meeting, during which they will vote on the proposal presented last month by the Department of Transportation to convert 6th and 7th Avenues in Park Slope from two-way to one-way traffic flow.

Some 2,500 of you signed PSN's petition opposing this ill-conceived plan, and 700 of you turned out on March 15th to tell the DOT that their proposal was not acceptable to residents of Park Slope. Despite the massive community opposition, however, CB6's Transportation Committee passed a watered-down motion requesting that DOT "not proceed" with the proposal "at this time" "because there are too many questions about" how the plan would affect safety and traffic flow.

This motion does not reflect Park Slopers' unified opposition to the DOT proposal. Our community is overwhelmingly against the idea of converting 6th and 7th Avenues to one-way operation, and any motion passed by CB6 pertaining to the one-way proposal should reflect that unanimity. We encourage you to email or call CB6 in advance of Wednesday's meeting to urge them to adopt a stronger position. And we urge you to show up for CB6's meeting on Wednesday, to let them know, through our collective presence, that Park Slope residents are united in opposition to the DOT's one-way proposal. [Please note that the public will not be permitted to speak at this meeting before the vote is taken -- we recommend that you bring a sign to register your point of view.]

- - - - - - - Legislative Calendar - - - - - - - -
**** THIS CALENDAR SUBJECT TO CHANGE *****
Please check schedule at http://www.nyccouncil.info/rightnow/calendarpage.cfm before attending any meeting.

** Monday, April 9, 2007 **
No meetings have been scheduled

** Tuesday, April 10, 2007 **
No meetings have been scheduled

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** Wednesday, April 11, 2007 **

Subcommittee(s) on: Zoning & Franchises
9:30 AM, Committee Room - City Hall
Details: See Land Use Calendar Available Thursday, April 5, 2007 in Room 5 City Hall

Committee(s) on: Transportation
10:00 AM, Council Chambers - City Hall
Oversight - Pedestrian Safety in New York City

Committee(s) on: General Welfare
10:00 AM, Hearing Room - 250 Broadway, 14th Floor
Oversight - The administration of the Section 8 voucher program in New York City
Int 61 - A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants based on lawful source of income.

Committee(s) on: Environmental Protection
10:00 AM, Hearing Room - 250 Broadway, 16th Floor
Oversight - The use of biofuels in New York City: opportunities and obstacles