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March 26, 2005
Atlantic Yards Poll (partial transcript)
Patti Hagen is an activist in Propect Heights. Patti has been fighting to kill the Atlantic Yards project since it was announced (or soon thereafter). Some of her objections have merit. I don't agree with everything Patti says, but this transcript was too funny to miss. Funny because the person calling (for the polling company) had no idea who he had just called. Below are a few of the questions and responses. For the full transcript, surf over to the Brooklyn Papers.
Pollster: As you may know there is talk of moving the Nets basketball team from New York to Brooklyn. The new owner of the team is proposing …
Hagan: No, from New Jersey. I believe it’s from New Jersey …
Pollster: Yeah, New Jersey. I’m sorry ma’am. Yeah, New Jersey. The new owner of the team is proposing to build a sports and entertainment arena for the Nets in Downtown Brooklyn at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic avenues.
Generally speaking, are you inclined to favor or oppose plans to build a sports team for the Nets basketball team at this site in Brooklyn?
Hagan: OK, could you start that question again? Because you sort of messed up on it.
(The pollster repeats the question.)
Hagan: I absolutely oppose it! And I am the leader of the opposition. I started the fight to stop this boondoggle.
Pollster: Supporters of the project say that no taxpayer money will be used to build the arena or the surrounding complex. The only taxpayer money involved will be to cover the cost — what are known as infrastructure improvements — which are things like fixing roads, improving subway stations and putting new sewer lines in and around the arena complex. The cost of the arena and the other buildings themselves will be entirely funded by the developers of this project and would not require any taxpayer money.
Does hearing this information make you more likely to support this arena project, somewhat more likely to support it, or does it not change your opinion of the project?
Hagan: That is a damn lie! The whole thing. It doesn’t change one bit of information that I have about it. I have facts about it. This developer is looking for more than $1.3 billion in public subsidies. It’s absolutely outrageous!
There's a lot more, but you have to wonder what the pollster was thinking when he asked these questions and got Patti's responses.
As I have written before, this project is simply too big. The current infrastucture cannot support it. And the MTA has no plans to build any more subway lines. And if you're waiting for the 2nd Avenue Subway, as the old saying goes, "I have a bridge I'd like to sell you..."
Posted by klowy at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)