Here is a video from our workshop production of IN THE FOOTPRINT, which was at the Brooklyn Lyceum in 2008 (under the title Brooklyn at Eye Level). This is from an interview with the President of the Youth Council Atlantic Terminal Community Center.
"If they build a stadium, that's OK. I have no problem. Cause I could come outta my house and go watch a game. Live. That's no problem. But what about the seniors in this building, the elderly? Come on now."
Welcome to The Civilians' Blog! Keep up with the latest news about our projects, investigations, and their real-life topics.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Who Is Mikhail Prokhorov? - IN THE FOOTPRINT
For those of you who came to LET ME ASCERTAIN YOU: ATLANTIC YARDS, you know that Mikhail Prokhorov owns a controlling share in the New Jersey Nets (soon to be re-named) and that he is six feet, eight inches tall. He was recently named New York's Best Oligarch by the Village Voice. Let's get to know our 45-year-old Russian billionaire a little better, shall we?
According to a New York Times feature about him that came out today, he put $200 million towards 80 percent of the franchise and 45 percent of the long-delayed Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn, where the Nets will play beginning in 2012. Prokhorov also agreed to cover some $60 million in operational costs and 80 percent of $207 million in debt. He says for the article, "Money doesn’t drive me... New ideas, the feeling of team spirit, mean more. To create a team better than any other, that’s what drives me. To find the idea is one thing; to realize the idea is another."
Lots more info about him in the article HERE.
HERE is a video tour of his Moscow home (described in the NY Times article), a web extra connected to the feature story about him on 60 Minutes.
One of our interviewees said of him: "Prokhorov is, made his money, in the nickel mining industry. He made a ton of money, built a big company with another partner. In whatever year it was, 2006-2007, there’s a whole hooker scandal in France, where he brings in hookers and is arrested and incarcerated for 4 days, until the charges are dismissed and he’s let go. After that, his partner and the Kremlin force him to sell his interest in this big international nickel consortium. He does. He cashes out. That looks like it’s the end of him as a Russian oligarch and then all of the sudden, the market crashes, he’s got tons more money than all the others because he had cashed out. He’s a- he’s a guy who’s 6’9”, he played basketball in grade school, this idea that he played in high school, you know, some player who never really quite made it isn’t really true. He’s not as athletic as he wants people to think. He’s more of a kick-boxer, exerciser, pilates guy, than he’s a basketball player."
According to a New York Times feature about him that came out today, he put $200 million towards 80 percent of the franchise and 45 percent of the long-delayed Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn, where the Nets will play beginning in 2012. Prokhorov also agreed to cover some $60 million in operational costs and 80 percent of $207 million in debt. He says for the article, "Money doesn’t drive me... New ideas, the feeling of team spirit, mean more. To create a team better than any other, that’s what drives me. To find the idea is one thing; to realize the idea is another."
Lots more info about him in the article HERE.
HERE is a video tour of his Moscow home (described in the NY Times article), a web extra connected to the feature story about him on 60 Minutes.
One of our interviewees said of him: "Prokhorov is, made his money, in the nickel mining industry. He made a ton of money, built a big company with another partner. In whatever year it was, 2006-2007, there’s a whole hooker scandal in France, where he brings in hookers and is arrested and incarcerated for 4 days, until the charges are dismissed and he’s let go. After that, his partner and the Kremlin force him to sell his interest in this big international nickel consortium. He does. He cashes out. That looks like it’s the end of him as a Russian oligarch and then all of the sudden, the market crashes, he’s got tons more money than all the others because he had cashed out. He’s a- he’s a guy who’s 6’9”, he played basketball in grade school, this idea that he played in high school, you know, some player who never really quite made it isn’t really true. He’s not as athletic as he wants people to think. He’s more of a kick-boxer, exerciser, pilates guy, than he’s a basketball player."
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Atlantic Yards Timetable - IN THE FOOTPRINT
Here are some thoughts about the proposed timetable for the construction and other goals connected to the Atlantic Yards project.
"If you're an elected official who said, 'I support this project because it's going to bring jobs. It's going to bring housing. It's going to create a platform over the rail yards and connect neighborhoods. It's going to create 8 acres of open space. It's going to do all this in 10 years and it's going to bring economic vitality to the downtown area of Brooklyn,' you don't want somebody watching to say, 'Wait is this being achieved?' Because a lot of those things are not going to be achieved, at least not on the timetable they promised."
- Excerpt from interview with Brooklyn resident and advocate, September 2010
The attorney arguing against eminent domain made the same argument in court. Read more about the courtroom proceedings in the Atlantic Yards Report HERE.
"If you're an elected official who said, 'I support this project because it's going to bring jobs. It's going to bring housing. It's going to create a platform over the rail yards and connect neighborhoods. It's going to create 8 acres of open space. It's going to do all this in 10 years and it's going to bring economic vitality to the downtown area of Brooklyn,' you don't want somebody watching to say, 'Wait is this being achieved?' Because a lot of those things are not going to be achieved, at least not on the timetable they promised."
- Excerpt from interview with Brooklyn resident and advocate, September 2010
The attorney arguing against eminent domain made the same argument in court. Read more about the courtroom proceedings in the Atlantic Yards Report HERE.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Welcome!
This is The Civilians' company-wide blog, where you can find out about The Civilians' many projects and investigations about real-life topics. For older posts, you can check out our Individual Show Blogs:
Brooklyn At Eye Level (Atlantic Yards Investigation, 2008)
Pretty Filthy (must be over 18 years old)
The Great Immensity (Princeton Residency, 2009-2010)
YOU BETTER SIT DOWN (with WNYC)
And you can always find more info at www.thecivilians.org.
Please comment and let us know your thoughts. Ask us questions, voice your opinion, give us feedback. Nothing that The Civilians does is a one-sided conversation, and blogging is certainly no exception, so don't be a stranger!
Thanks for visiting!
Brooklyn At Eye Level (Atlantic Yards Investigation, 2008)
Pretty Filthy (must be over 18 years old)
The Great Immensity (Princeton Residency, 2009-2010)
YOU BETTER SIT DOWN (with WNYC)
And you can always find more info at www.thecivilians.org.
Please comment and let us know your thoughts. Ask us questions, voice your opinion, give us feedback. Nothing that The Civilians does is a one-sided conversation, and blogging is certainly no exception, so don't be a stranger!
Thanks for visiting!
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