This last weekend was the 5th DDDB Walkathon to raise money for the legal challenges against Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards scheme. Joy and I have participated in the walkathon each year...and we have taken Jacob along each time, so this has been almost a birthday event for Jacob for each of the 5 years he has been alive.

DDDB, contrary to the lies told by the likes of Marty Markowitz and Bruce Ratner's other cronies, is not an anti-development group. They support community involvement in the development process, oppose the misuse of eminent domain to seize properties for the profit of private developers, and they believe that the other plans for developing the Atlantic Yards area (e.g. the Unity Plan) are better than Ratner's and feel they should get due consideration. Keep in mind that Ratner was the LOW BIDDER for the project but got it anyway, probably because he happened to be a friend of Pataki's and has been generous with political donations.

DDDB wants sane development for Brooklyn, not the over-blown, corrupt and ugly scheme Bruce Ratner and Marty Markowitz are trying not only to force down our throats, but are forcing us and all other New Yorkers to largely pay for, so Bruce Ratner can maximize his profits and his political donations.

When I first hooked up with DDDB, there was much enthusiasm, a little too much anger (justified, perhaps, but sometimes off-putting) and insufficient focus. They were made up of a bunch of community members concerned about what was going on with little experience in the public eye. Many mistakes were made early on due to lack of experience, but lessons were learned from those mistakes. The 5th Walkathon reflected the changes and lessons learned. I was struck by how the early enthusiasm, though not completely absent at this walkathon, has been replaced with something that should be much more frightening to Ratner: a kind of grim, mature determination. A sense that digging in for the long haul is what is needed. They still talk about hoping this is the last year walkathon needed, but behind that is a sense that they will keep fighting even if 100 more walkathons are needed.

This maturity was best expressed by Daniel Goldstein's mother-in-law, who apparently is a veteran of similar fights in India. And she has won such fights. She told the crowd (while we were in front of Bloomberg's Brooklyn office) not to give up, that our fight against powerful and corrupt forces is the right thing to do and CAN be won.

Cold, rainy weather reduced turnout, but it wasn't a bad turnout and the anti-Ratner message seemed popular. At least many passerbys cheered and cars honked support as we passed. The route was an interesting one, starting at Boro Hall where Marty Markowitz has eagerly handed Ratner everything he has ever asked for, up Atlantic Ave. past Bloomberg's Brooklyn office, through the footprint of Ratner's devastation, and ending at Habana Outpost in Fort Greene where beer and food greeted us. I came slightly late, so missed most of the speeches at Boro Hall and even the ones that were going on while I was there I only heard part of. But the walkathon is more about fundraising, fun and the walk through Brooklyn. Some $40,000 were raised to help fund DDDB's legal battles against Ratner. Here's a photo of the group outside Bloomberg's campaign office (photo from DDDB website):

I have to admit I was hungry through the whole walk because the new slogan (making fun of Ratner having to outsource his destruction of Brooklyn by teaming up with a shady Russian businessman, Mikhail Prokhorov) is "Atlantic Yards: Russian Dressing on a Turkey." Now that just made me hungry for a turkey sandwich with Russian Dressing! But I held out, even as we passed delis where I knew I could purchase such a meal, until Habana Outpost.

I always figure Brooklyn can tell who its real friends are from who shows at these walkathons. Councilwoman Tish James was, of course, there. So were Jo Anne Simon, Ken Diamondstone and Ken Baer, former rivals from the bruising 33rd City Council race. Funny I didn't see Steve Levin there...nor did I notice Doug Biviano, self-proclaimed champion of the opposition to Atlantic Yards, though perhaps I missed him. I saw Josh Skaller (former candidate for the 39th City Council district), who has been part of every walkathon I can remember and whose son was a great companion for Jacob this year. I also saw Dave Pechefsky, Green Party candidate for the 39th City Council district. Funny, I didn't see Brad Lander there. Maybe he had a meeting with Dov Hikind or something. Mark Winston Griffith, Working Families Party candidate for the 36th City Council District, and a WFP candidate in the old, Tish James style, not in the new Steve Levin/Brad Lander style, was there at Habana Outpost. I have wanted to meet Griffith for some time since I have heard great things about him since his days running the Drum Major Institute, so I was glad to finally have the chance to meet him. Seems a great guy and I will be endorsing him for City Council. And Reverend Billy Talen was there, entertaining as usual, though not someone I plan on endorsing.

There were many faces I have seen there five years in a row. The movement has matured and if anything is a more determined force than it has been to date.

And for those who want to know if they are getting their moneys worth from these fundraisers, here is what's been going on in the courtroom:

Furthermore, according to the Wall Street Journal, between legal challenges and the economy, Ratner is having a hard time selling his project to investors (other than one Russian businessman).

And there is a new lawsuit filed, this time taking aim at the process that would hand the deal to the low bidder in what is supposed to be a capitalist society. Maybe that's why a Russian was so interested in the deal. Political connections trumping traditional capitalism sounds more Russian style than American.

I should note the sponsors of the event, and recommend them for your business:

Blue Marble Ice Cream (my wife loves their ice cream!)
420 Atlantic Avenue
718-858-1100
www.bluemarbleicecream.com

Circa Antiques Ltd.
374 Atlantic Avenue
718-596-1866
www.circaantiquesltd.com

Gnarly Vines
350 Myrtle Avenue
718-797-3183
www.gnarlyvines.com

Habana Outpost
757 Fulton Street
718-858-9500
www.ecoeatery.com

Home/made Wine Garden Grill
293 Van Brunt Street
347-223-4135
www.homemadebklyn.com

Park Slope Gallery
718-768-4883
www.parkslopegallery.com

Providence Day Spa
329 Atlantic Avenue
718-596-6774
www.providencedayspa.com

Silk Road Antiques
313 Atlantic Avenue
718-802-9500
www.silkroadartandantiques.com

Yogasana Center for Yoga
90 5th Avenue
718-789-7255
www.yogasanacenter.com