I'm not sure the the episode of The Simpsons aired last Sunday, The Burns and the Bees, was about Atlantic Yards as much as asserted on NoLandGrab, but it sure does look like the design for the arena, wrapped in buildings--in this case, hives--was inspired by Frank Gehry's models.One key difference: the new state-of-the-art arena for the Springfield Excitement emerges not from the vote of an unaccountable public authority, as with AY, but by public referendum.
"All those in favor of building this decadent monument to excess, say aye," asserts Mayor Joe Quimby.
Having achieved success in the vote, Montgomery Burns (above), in his self-satisfied way, declares, "Welcome to the American dream: a billionaire using public funds to construct a private playground for the rich and powerful."
Maybe Neil deMause of the book and web site Field of Schemes should get a royalty.
Ha, ha Norman. You're so funny.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, last Sunday's episode of The Simpsons was about ANOTHER basketball team owner who knows nothing about basketball, drove the team's fan base away, unveiled his plan to build an arena nested in a group of highrise buildings, paraded his marquis player at the one and only public hearing, and bulldozed an important community resource for a "decadent monument to excess."
Don't worry, when this is all over, you'll get your sense of humor back -- I promise.