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Before FCR's groundbreaking ceremony, DDDB says "bobblehead versions of the Atlantic Yards enablers will shovel dirt to bury the soul of Brooklyn"

First, the official invite sent to guests (not to be confused with the press announcement) by Forest City Ratner. (Click on graphic to enlarge)



Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn's announcement

March 11. 12:30. Groundbreaking Ceremony To Bury the Soul of Brooklyn


MEDIA ALERT: March 9, 2010

Thursday, March 11. 12:30pm

Groundbreaking Ceremony
To Bury the Soul of Brooklyn

What: Groundbreaking to Bury the Soul of Brooklyn

Who: Three foot tall bobblehead Bloomberg, Markowitz, Pataki, Spitzer, Paterson, Schumer, Cuomo, Prokhorov and Ratner

Where: Outside of Freddy's Bar, 485 Dean Street (corner of 6th Avenue)

When: Thursday, March 11. 12:30pm SHARP

BROOKLYN, NY — Forest City Ratner will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking for the developers billion dollar Barclays Center Arena. The Atlantic Yards Project was once supposed to bring 2,250 units of publicly subsidized "affordable" housing. On Thursday, March 11, the developer, Mayor and Governor will shovel dirt for an arena that will house nobody and will be a money loser for New York City. There are no designs, renderings or models for any other part of the project.

Join Bloomberg, Markowitz, Pataki, Spitzer, Paterson, Schumer, Cuomo, Prokhorov and Ratner as they convene a Groundbreaking to Bury the Soul of Brooklyn.

Prior to their own Boondoggle Celebration at 1:30, three-foot tall bobblehead versions of the Atlantic Yards enablers will shovel dirt to bury the soul of Brooklyn. This event will feature Borough President Markowitz's Proclamation Marking the Events of the Day.

The Groundbreaking to Bury the Soul of Brooklyn will take place at 12:30 pm on Thursday, March 11 in front of Freddy's Bar in the project footprint at the corner of Dean Street and 6th Avenue.

It is not to be missed.

The Groundbreaking to Bury the Soul of Brooklyn will be followed by a protest of Ratner's Boondoggle Celebration if the City and State and Ratner allow Brooklynites (remember, this project is for all Brooklynites, they've told us, not just the connected, powerful, wealthy and bought out) to get anywhere near their celebration of eminent domain run amok, subsidy abuse and a money losing arena in the middle of a housing crisis. Project opponents will gather at Freddy's to start the protest at 1pm.

Ratner has announced his groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 1:30 pm on Thursday, March 11 at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and where Fifth Avenue was before it was condemned and given to Ratner for $1. Depending on how many levels of security cordons used to keep Brooklynites away, the protesters could be anywhere in the project footprint. DDDB will be able to tell you more at Freddy's once the Groundbreaking to Bury the Soul of Brooklyn is over.


BrooklynSpeaks endorsement

Interestingly, BrooklynSpeaks, which for years kept its distance from DDDB as only the latter pursued a litigation strategy, endorsed the protest in its bulletin:
Our neighbors and colleagues Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn will be staging a two-stage counter demonstration that day. Consider taking a long lunch break and joining them to express your feelings about what’s happening – and what’s not happening (like affordable housing and jobs) – at Atlantic Yards.

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