Develop Don't Destroy your cause, DDDB
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, DDDB, is distinguished by a very unfortunate combination of factors: their cause, a re-examination of a real estate project that faces significant community opposition, is fundamentally worthwhile.
However, their spokespeople seem to find particular enjoyment in cultivating a with-us-or-against-us model of discourse that often amounts to a scorched-earth approach not just against outright opponents, but against people and interested parties that may be persuadable.
Take two recent stories. As far as I'm concerned, coverage of the Atlantic Yards fiasco should concentrate on eminent domain abuse and the sheer obscenity of pouring huge amounts of taxpayer dollars into subsidizing this project; last I checked, the real estate market was doing quite nicely indeed and doesn't need public funds. But what has been in the news recently is, drumroll, Daniel Goldstein describing project supporters as Tools of "Their Wealthy White Masters" and, via Ben Smith, the story of a meeting between DDDB and Spitzer, in the course of which both sides claim to have been yelled at. Given DDDB's track record, frankly, I'm inclined to think that they did most of the yelling; that seems to be the standard response to anything less than Xerox-like support of every single thing they demand.
What was that old saw about catching flies with honey and vinegar?
And now, before I get added to the enemies list, if I'm not on it already, I should note that I think the agenda of Develop Don't Destroy is not unsound for reasons of good government alone. But arguably, this largely sound public cause could be better represented in public, and I hope it will be soon. Normally, public support isn't built by alienating persuadables or those people, like Eliot Spitzer, whom it's better to have as a friend. I hear the man may be elected governor.
[Update]: Oh, it gets even better. Check out this DDDB release titled Senator Schumer hates you. "How to make friends and influence people" it ain't.
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Activism | Architecture | Real Estate
Ah but you see
Submitted by Bouldin on 6 June 2006 - 6:20pm.
...it does come down to tone. Is that release a good way to try to change Schumer's mind? Or is he just another write-off on the enemies list? How about something along the lines of "No, Senator, we want to grow - just not like this"?
If the DDDB people were smart - and many are - they wouldn't needlessly alienate people, like they definitely have alienated Schumer and Spitzer. I really fail to see what the point of that is.
With Enemies Like This Who Needs Friends
Submitted by Nicolo Macchiavelli (not verified) on 7 June 2006 - 9:54pm.
Ratner couldn't buy a better opposition than DDDB. Could it be he has? Has he been shrewd enough to pay some actors to drive away all potential supporters? Surprising so many politicians have remained on their side. Maybe they are convinced Ratner and the City and ACORN and the Unions are all wrong and that none will hold a grudge. Winners do tend to be more forgiving.
yeah, you make incredibly ast
Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on 8 June 2006 - 6:58pm.
yeah, you make incredibly astute point there Nicoloai.
It worked!
Submitted by sidnora on 11 June 2006 - 5:44pm.
Check out the link you provided to Senator Schumer hates you - they changed the title to your suggestion. Good work!
Hey Bouldin, check out what C
Hey Bouldin, check out what Chuck Schumer said about his constituents. Context baby, it helps. then explain how you love a guy who said this:
From the Brooklyn Downtown Star
http://tinyurl.com/m4r9x
Red Hook Lures Bites
Schumer, Bloomberg, and Markowitz were clearly eager to use the stage of the exceedingly popular Fairway opening to argue for other projects throughout Brooklyn which have much more significant opposition, like Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Atlantic Yards proposal in Prospect Heights. "Marty is taking it on the chin," sympathized Schumer, "from what I call the culture of inertia, this small group of self-appointed people. If we do not grow, we will die."