Trailer: Battle for Brooklyn

Battle for Brooklyn explores the poorly understood phenomenon of eminent domain abuse. A feature-length documentary from filmmakers Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley, and David Beilinson, this film investigates how real estate developers, local government, community activists, and the media have clashed over the largest single-source development project ever proposed in New York City. Widely known as the Atlantic Yards project, this undertaking has for the past four years been a major source of contention as local residents resist a billionaire developers attempt to use eminent domain to seize their homes and businesses. Done in the name of "development," schemes such as this one eviscerate private property rights and make a mockery of the Fifth Amendment--and yet they freely exploit lucrative taxpayer subsidies, easements, and tax abatements.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[jillmedina6521]

They messed up our neighbor for this junk team... Who nobody roots for they shouldve left them in Jersey..That elderly lady at 3:46 Is Mary.. she didnt have a condo or any of those high priced building she lived in a building on Pacific bet Vanderbilt & Carlton Ave.. Which no longer exists... and she is now deceased... R.I.P Mary

[TulaiMr]

Government does not respect property rights. Property tax is another issue that needs to be addressed. The government doesn't buy the property from you, but you get to rent it from them forever (rend = property tax). And if you don't pay the VIG they steal your property. There are other voluntary ways to fund the things that property tax pays for. They don't need to steal the property to pay for them.

[bina vs vanessa]

they are destroying the beauty of Brooklyn for buildings and money !! here in Switzerland they do the same !!!

[Commodore22345]

But are the miniscule amount of jobs provided and your entertainment convience really worth forcing people out of their homes? If you answer yes to that question then you are a sad excuse for a human being and the true enemy of this nation.

[funkjig]

Hey my man, what do ya got to say now?? Where are the jobs? Where WERE the construction jobs for Brooklynites?? There are ONLY 1,900 PART TIME JOBS that have materialized!! Now (surprise, surprise) they're only going to build the first phase of the project--for over the next 25 years!!

I was born in Brooklyn, raised in Brooklyn, and still live in Brooklyn, and I wont stand for billionaires straight-up lying and stealing tax benefits from me and my fellow Brooklynites!!

[jovancruz]

This is Great for Brooklyn!!!

[ItsMrBang]

This is true. And no longer will I have to go to Manhattan to sit in traffic for 40 minutes, and buy a snapple drink for $4! We have it all here in Brooklyn! Hooray for Barclay Center!

[Rico Boudreau]

In a way I feel these efforts are worthless because we're no one to them, like we don't really own anything. But I know we need to stand up, show them some of us are still awake. Looks like great work guys, Respect.

[jahotgal01]

I think the barclay center is great for Brooklyn. It will bring more jobs and you don't have to go to city for entertainment.

[snurg13]

Having just watched this doco, i'm shocked. Sometimes I get the feeling that the 'good ole' USA is royally screwed. I can't beleive the general population actually put up with a white collar criminal like the ratner guy. He screwed all of you New Yorkers & used everyone to his financial advantage. Do you deserve the foul democarcy that only a few of you genuinely defend to this day? Also wonder you allowed your "leaders" to cause the GFC in 2008? I am the United Stated & corruption is thy name

[719OG]

not to sound ignorant but what about the much needed positive economical growth in Brooklyn

[estaticainminente]

so they won, right?.... the arena IS being built....