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MTOPP v CB9 - Spring, 2015 — Brooklynian

MTOPP v CB9 - Spring, 2015

whynot_31
whynot_31
edited May 2015 in Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
It is supposed to start at 7:00, but the combatants are already sniping at each other over how the chairs should be arranged.

Check back tonight on this thread for updates. image
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Comments

  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    Amazing. I forgot that there was even a ULURP event tonight. I'm getting some potato chops and am settling in for a night of brooklynian stalking.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    This mtg was scheduled to occur last week, and then rescheduled for today a few days before it was to occur.

    What presently fascinates me is MTOPP's continued distribution of flyers and information packets. It is as if they believe that there are people at this mtg who are "on the fence" about whether a request to DCP is a good thing, and the info will sway them to their side.

    It is baffling. The poor trees.

    7:18, the mtg begins.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    Dr Angoti (the "land should belong to the people" professor from the Hunter School of Urban Planning) is present.

    The NYPD and a few reporters are also around.image

    Contrary to the above agenda, we are starting with item #2: CB9's response to the Mayor's proposed changes to the zoning code.

    We are starting with #2 because there are not enough members to vote.

    Have ULURP members become smart enough that they will only show up for the vote?
    Will the missing members ever arrive?
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    The crowd seems to be coming to a consensus that the real enemy is DeBlasio, because he does not give community boards control.

    This is progress (?) in that the community board would like more power as well. MTOPP and the CB agree!

    ...however, it is complete fantasy.
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    How is Alicia tonight?
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    She is presently leading a "Who's community?  Our community!" chant following the Profs speech.

    There is yelling, etc because MTOPP is afraid there will be a vote.

    However, there are not enough members for a vote as stated earlier. MTOPP declares victory because the mtg is adjourned.

    image
  • Brooklyneya
    Brooklyneya
    Out of boredom and curiosity, I decided to search for this Alicia Boyd's Airbnb profile. I recall coming across someone mentioning that she was an airbnb host, ironic as it is.

    Besides the fact that her profile makes her sound like a new agey angel, she says this:

    "I love New York City and believe that Brooklyn truly is the best place to live.....All over Brooklyn there are cafes, lounges, bars and cultural institutions just popping up. And all of these places can be both culturally and spiritually uplifting to the human spirit and I love it all!.....Now that we have the New Stadium - Barclay Stadium, I can't wait to see what free goodies we will be exposed to from that Venue."

    Umm, so she's excited about the new businesses opening up and Barclay's Center-- aka GENTRIFICATION and BIG DEVELOPMENT!

    Also most of her are guests appear to be white people, aka The Devil.

    And third, while I am not anti-airbnb myself, some people would argue that it contributes to gentrifying diverse neighborhoods.

    As exciting as these meetings appear to be already, has anyone confronted her with these things?
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    She doesn't strike me as being real open to new things.

    I don't think the critique would be well received, regardless of the presenter.
  • MOD
    MOD
    Omg too funny,  nice work Brooklyneya!
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    Damn, sorry that I forgot about this meeting. Well, I guess I'll just have to wait for the Youtube video. 

    Seriously, though, was there no quorum? CB9 is the most dysfunctional community board I've come across. They are a laughing stock (I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as the members were at least showing up to vote on important matters, but this changed that). 
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    I'd get discouraged too if every time we tried to vote, to just get shot down by Alicia and her gang...
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    At this point CB9 lacks a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

    There used to be several CB9 members that were strongly in favor of sending DCP a request, because they believed it would help shape the community going forward.

    However, they now realize that much of the building and demographic changes is driven by economics far more than the zoning code.

    They are beginning to understand the full implications of "as of right". They are beginning to understand that even if they request the "help" of city government, the amount of subsidized housing created will pale in comparison to the amount that will be needed to keep the community intact in terms of its current racial, economic and other demographics.

    Meanwhile, the members of MTOPP have "known this all along" but offer nothing to stop the changes.
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    The whole history of the whole world is that the land does NOT belong to the people. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    The whole history of the whole world is that the land does NOT belong to the people. 
    And, if you can only see the race of those moving in VS the race of those moving out, will make one conclude that any change that affects the racial make up of a community (regardless of whether it is led by government and/or market forces) is inherently "racist".

    ....so, this squabble is not new.

    Nor is it going away.

  • Brooklyneya
    Brooklyneya
    edited April 2015
    Here's her profile for some laughs. Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde.

    https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/4937803
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    Many people seem to miss what makes her flip from one character to the other. They believe it is as simple as the race of the speaker, which isn't true.

    She can work with people who are of other races/hues, AND who define the aspects of the changes she does not like (ie gentrification and rezoning) as a racial issue that must be stopped.

    Not "minimized", STOPPED.

    However, she can not tolerate the views of people (regardless of their race) who don't see it through a racial lens, and don't allow her to define what is best for her and the entire black community.

    As this thread (and many others) demonstrates, she isn't against ALL of the changes.

    Needless to say, she is convinced that a rezoning of Empire would be bad for her and the black community.

    Meanwhile, her AirBnB guests likely have no opinions on such matters. I don't find it difficult to see her being a gracious host who provides them a nice warm muffin and cup of coffee.

  • doublen00b
    doublen00b
    Meh, if she feels the need to be remembered in this light that's her choice. Getting racial tensions fired up isn't the best way to get publicity for your cause especially when there isn't any evidence of racism. 

    What happens in her personal life isn't any of our business, but her public persona will probably cause her more problems than she wants to deal with. At some point all the negative energy will catch up to her. If she put this much enthusiasm into lobbying for a good cause in her neighborhood could you imagine how much better her corner of brooklyn would be?
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    I don't perceive her as worrying about her public persona, or having a large impact (postive or negative) on the neighborhood.

    She reminds me of Charles Barron, who has a similar crusade in ENY:
    http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150302/east-new-york/charles-barrons-associates-lead-push-slow-down-east-new-york-rezoning

    Throughout his entire career, he has utilized similar (if not identical) tactics, and has managed to achieve the same amount of success in rallying people to his causes while using the rhetoric of race and class based revolution.

    ...very little.

    10 people accompany him to meetings and scream. For special events, he might get 100.

  • doublen00b
    doublen00b
    I guess what I meant was, she should be careful who she's choosing to piss off. If you bring a legitimate argument to the table: corrupt policies, illegal permit issuance, unsafe work conditions, racist political forums etc.. then make a lot of noise. Get newspapers involved, call NY1, you have a legitimate cause and deserve to be heard.

    But if your entire game is to scream as loud as you can at everyone just to get attention because you don't like something. Don't be surprised if some developer buys the house nextdoor to yours and tears it down and spends the next 2 years making your life a living hell to develop 10 condos just to spite you.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    She has tried to get the newspapers and media involved, and got some press at the beginning.

    However, she is a one hit wonder, and the media has moved on.

    ...very few people that their advertisers want to reach are interested in reading about her.

    She isn't worth doing something to "out of spite". Developers are going to do what they normally do, and people with significant means are going to move in, and she is going to hate it.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    As this flyer shows, she is also getting smarter. She is aware the MTOPP brand is tarnished, membership is struggling, and -as a result- is beginning to work with other organizations to develop slightly more polished events. Town Hall events that facilitate discussion....

    Needless to say, Eric Adams, Laurie Cumbo and Jesse Hamilton are likely to decline the invitation. They don't feel they would be "honary" (sic). They feel that the "Community Base Plan" (sic) would only represent a portion of the communities views, not theirs.

    image
  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    edited April 2015
    The Flatbush Avenue trees are being used in the flyers; interesting. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    I'm not sure if we have any Tears for Fears fans, but their song Power Now really works for me as I watch this struggle.

    Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tearsforfears/power.html

  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    The Q at Parkside is waving the white flag in the battle to get ULURP to request City Planning to do a study. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2015
    In my opinion, both sides of this debate put far more effort into advancing their positions that the battle was worth.

    I hope MTOPP now goes after the real enemy, Adam Smith

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Rachel wrote a nice summary piece: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150507/crown-heights/yearlong-crown-heights-rezoning-fight-activists-earn-respect-ire
  • mcpoet
    mcpoet

    Here's another rather lengthy article from the Village Voice:

    http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2015/05/meet_the_brooklyn_activist_who_is_making_life_hell_for_her_community_board.php

  • ehgee
    ehgee
    In my opinion, both sides of this debate put far more effort into advancing their positions that the battle was worth.

    I hope MTOPP now goes after the real enemy, Adam Smith

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith
    By embracing Henry George?
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Embracing Henry would be awesome.

    ...but I think they may also need to repeal that pesky law that determines price is set by the intersection of supply and demand.

    Then, they would make real progress.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited May 2015
    And tonight, the ULURP Committee managed to pass a resolution that requests that the larger board submit a resolution to DCP.     

    Unlike past attempts, I hear it was done while following Roberts Rules.    

    As in past attempts, the NYPD removed Alicia.

    The Q at Parkside has video of the shitshow:

    http://theqatparkside.blogspot.com/2015/05/committee-nearly-unanimous-in-wanting.html

    Next week, the CB9 Board will vote on whether to send it to DCP.

     
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