I have been busy filling up our new blog: http://duffieldst.blogspot.com/. There are many developments in the effort to promote the Abolitionist heritage on Duffield Street in Downtown Brooklyn. City Council Representative John Liu lead a press conference at 227 Duffield on Juneteenth (last Tuesday), and we got sympathetic coverage in almost every paper.

Only one paper came out in favor of using eminent domain against the historic buildings. The Daily News published an article saying that it was cynical to stop the development of Brooklyn. The Daily News subscribes to the EDC's logic that the economy of Brooklyn would grind to a halt if the proposed parking lot and 1.5 acre grassy knoll were not built... well I'm slightly exaggerating, but check out this link to read for yourself:
http://duffieldst.blogspot.com/2007/06/daily-news-calls-grassy-knoll-key...

If you missed it, and want to review live blogging of the DMI meeting on congestion-pricing click here The live blog isn’t a transcript, but it catches most of the highlights. The brightest spot: NYC Central Labor Council Director Ed Ott compares good sex with good outcomes of the congestion pricing debate: No one agrees on what it is but it’s what you do up front that counts. He wants mass transit improvements especially many more buses up front.

Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron’s presentation seemed clear, but curiously flat. In the question period, she pointed to my personal bugbear – the potential unfairness of the fees on lower income people. She said that, in London, some of the fee proceeds were used to provide free public transit for young, old and, perhaps in the future the poor. In that, all of the panelist agreed: we’re at the beginning of needed discussion and that the Mayor’s plaNYC 2030 is a first step. I'm convinced.

Mr. Ott and Council Member Eric Gioia made, to my mind, the most important point -- and one that I previously didn't get: we are already paying for congestion but in insane and unplanned ways.