Up until now the loudest voices of opposition in the Atlantic Yards eminent domain battle have been the folks that stand to lose their homes, like Develop Don't Destroy's Daniel Goldstein.
But what do the real salt-of-the-earth types -- and by that we mean boozehounds -- have to say about the issue?
Beloved Prospect Heights dive Freddy's Bar is located at Dean Street and Sixth Avenue, which -- consulting our Atlantic Yards footprint pop-up map -- means the place is totally screwed. But the suds slingers are not going quietly!
They're enlisting fellow eminent domain haters to take part in what the anti-Atlantic Yards campaign has been sorely lacking: civil disobedience! Announcing, ladies and gentlemen, the Chains of Justice. Here's a taste of the e-mail from Freddy's:
An overwhelming number of Freddy's Bar patrons plan on chaining themselves to the bar if Scrooge Ratner and Grinch Paterson's Atlantic Yards Project attempts to shutdown and demolish Freddy's Bar and Backroom. This Sunday, we are installing chains onto the Bar itself for just such a purpose.
In light of the recent decision against Columbia University and the Empire State Development Corporation’s attempt to steal properties by eminent domain, and the confusion in the Courts that seems to allow taking Brooklyn properties for Ratner, but not Harlem properties for Columbia…we are angry. We are giddy for the victory against Columbia, but angry that our neighborhood can be taken, that our bar can be taken. We will stand in support of the Prospect Heights neighborhood, and the extended neighborhood of 5000+ supporters who have donated time and money to fight against eminent domain. We believe the links of the chain represent all the individuals unbreakably locked in a chain gang seeking fair rights for the individual in the contemporary flurry of land-grabbing corporate greed.
The Backroom at Freddy’s Bar was the birthplace of this particular rebellion for fair treatment, the front room is where we bring out the hardware to back it up.
The Chain will officially be installed on Sunday, December 20th at 12:00 noon.
Though Freddy's stands about as much chance of winning as the Nets do on any given nights, we salute such made-for-TV tactics.
