Pataki, Mta Back Arena
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SATURDAY • MARCH 20, 2004 Including Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill Paper, Downtown News, DUMBO Paper and Fort Greene-Clinton Hill Paper Published every Saturday by Brooklyn Paper Publications Inc, 55 Washington Street, Suite 624, Brooklyn NY 11201. Phone 718-834-9350 • www.BrooklynPapers.com • © 2004 Brooklyn Paper Publications • 16 pages including GO BROOKLYN • Vol. 27, No. 11 BWN • Saturday, March 20, 2004 • FREE EXCLUSIVE BRUCE RATNER TELLS BUILDING TRADES GROUP: PATAKI, MTA BACK ARENA By Deborah Kolben and Neil Sloane The Brooklyn Papers Speaking at a building trades confer- ence in Manhattan Thursday, developer Asian bizmen Bruce Ratner thanked the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Gov. George Pataki for backing his $2.5 bil- lion Atlantic Yards project. told: Know “The government has been wonderful — the mayor, the governor, city and state offi- cials, the MTA has been wonderful — in supporting both projects,” Ratner said, refer- ring to both his plan to build an arena for the your rights New Jersey Nets near the junction of Flat- bush and Atlantic avenues, and a separate plan to build a football stadium for the New By Deborah Kolben York Jets on Manhattan’s west side. The Brooklyn Papers NOT JUST NETS Ratner’s statement marks the second time On a sunny Thursday after- THE NEW BROOKLYN in just over a week that either Ratner or a noon, Mike Kim is sitting at the spokesman have claimed to have the support front table of Duffield Street Sea- to whom a pair of Manhattan attorneys of the governor and the MTA — whose 20- food, reading a Bible and greeting are offering legal assistance. member board Pataki appoints — for the de- long-time customers, who flock to With a massive rezoning plan — veloper’s Atlantic Yards plan, where towers his shop just off Fulton Mall for which would court soaring new office would reach upwards of 60 stories on de- and residential towers in a 60-block / Greg Mango / Greg mapped mega-blocks. plates of hot fish and chips. swath of downtown — currently under The support of the MTA, which controls With the sound of crackling oil in the city review, many local businesses fear the Long Island Rail Road yards over which background, and the smell of tartar sauce they will be priced out or their proper- a large portion of the project would be built, thick in the air, Kim explains to a visiting ties condemned to make way for future is crucial, as is that of Pataki, whose Empire attorney that he’s had his business in the development. State Development Corp. would be needed Papers The Brooklyn area for more than 17 years. Francis Hseuh, an attorney in his to condemn 10 acres of private property in Lawyer Francis Hsueh on Duffield Street near Fulton Street where he is involved in organizing Chinese and Kore- Kim is one of many Asian-Ameri- early 30s who recently left a corporate See PATAKI on page 5 an merchants to protect themselves in the face of Downtown Brooklyn Plan evictions. can merchants in Downtown Brooklyn See MERCHANTS on page 5 Illegal tows in Heights EXCLUSIVE DOT: Police THIS WEEKEND towers don’t know rules By Deborah Kolben The Brooklyn Papers The police department is towing legally parked cars in Brooklyn Heights because en- Callan / Tom forcement agents don’t know they are not supposed to, The / Tom Callan / Tom Brooklyn Papers has learned. That’s because of a confusing system of signage unique to the area that prevents parking on one Papers File The Brooklyn side of certain streets from 8 am to The Brooklyn Papers The Brooklyn 6 pm, one day a week, while al- A police tow truck with its fresh-caught quarry at Clinton and Joralemon streets in the Heights Tuesday. lowing parking on the other side during those hours. On other Erin Go Brooklyn streets, and along certain stretches The Brooklyn Papers Then, on Sunday, March 28, the 11th annual of the same street, parking is barred Brooklyn will continue to celebrate both Bay Ridge parade starts at 1 pm, in front of St. for only 90 minutes, once a week. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church at 95th Street At the crux of the confusion is St. Patrick and Irish culture in big ways this and Fourth Avenue. A 9:30 am Mass at St. Pat- that the 90-minute signs bear a Sunday and the next with parades in Park rick’s will precede the parade. large black letter “P” inside a red Slope and Bay Ridge. The theme of the Bay Ridge event is “Friend- Cheap eats week circle with a red broomstick The 29th annual Brooklyn Irish American Pa- ship, Unity and Christian Charity.” Its grand slashed through the letter, indicat- rade will step off Sunday, March 21, at 1 pm, marshal will be Sister Ann Clancy, principal ing that there is no parking allowed from 15th Street and Prospect Park West in Park of Fontbonne Academy. Boro’s first restaurant week kicks off April 15 there during those hours for street Slope. The parade will proceed to Fifth Av- cleaning. The “NO Parking 8 am-6 The Park Slope parade will proceed along enue and then north to 59th Street in By Jotham Sederstrom well-known as a devotee of the pm” signs have no such emblem. 15th Street to Seventh Avenue, then up the av- Sunset Park where it will disperse at The Brooklyn Papers borough’s culinary delights, “when The 8 am to 6 pm alternate side enue to Union Street, across Union Street to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Goodbye Elaine’s, hello any of these restaurants see me parking rules are not considered Prospect Park West and then back to 15th grandstand will be at Fifth Av- coming in they have a smile on See TOWING on page 6 Street. enue and 75th Street. Marco Polo. their face — and that’s not be- In an announcement sure to BEGINSPAGE ON 7 cause I’m the borough president, have Manhattanites reaching for their subway maps, Borough if you know what I mean.” President Marty Markowitz un- Markowitz boasted that the veiled “Dine In Brooklyn,” his $18.98 price, inspired by the answer to the city’s semiannual year Brooklyn joined New Judicial selection process challenged restaurant week. York City, is $11 cheaper than During the week of April 15- what’s demanded for dinners Associated Press them in general elections. robs voters of their constitutional District Attorney Charles Hynes, 22, diners will have a chance to during Manhattan’s restaurant The Brennan Center for Justice right to choose their Supreme who has been investigating judicial weeks [lunches went for A New York University watch- nosh on three-course, prix fixe dog group asked a federal court at NYU wants the system changed Court justices, and destroys their corruption, commended the Bren- meals from 93 restaurants in 20 $20.04 this year]. The price is to direct primaries, where voters faith in the judiciary,” Brennan nan Center for “challenging a Brooklyn neighborhoods. Aside the same for either lunch or Callan / Tom Thursday to change the way the themselves would get the chance to Center lawyer Jeremy Creelan said. process where party leadership de- from 38 Zagat-rated eateries, in- dinner, at restaurants offering state selects judges, arguing the pick each party’s candidates. The elections board did not im- termines who becomes a Supreme cluding Planet Thailand in the special on both menus. current system gives too much The center filed a lawsuit in mediately return a call for com- Court Justice through an ‘election’ Williamsburg and Patois on “Manhattanites and many power to county political bosses. Brooklyn federal court against the ment. that is a sham.” Smith Street, the list extends to others have been crossing their Under current rules, Democratic state Board of Elections. The center The lawsuit took aim at what the Hynes launched his investigation classics like Tatiana in Brighton own bridge and ours for years,” Papers The Brooklyn and Republican leaders handpick asked a judge to declare the current plaintiffs said is a complicated set of of the Brooklyn judiciary after the ar- Beach and one of Markowitz’s said Markowitz, “but the truth Lisa and Nicole Bamonte, from Ba- the candidates for Supreme Court system unconstitutional and give the obstacles set up to make sure party rest of Supreme Court Justice Gerald favorites, Junior’s. is, they’ve been coming to monte’s in Williamsburg, display a sig- justice posts at nominating conven- Legislature 90 days to replace it. leaders choose which delegates go Garson last April. Garson was the “Trust me,” said Markowitz, See CHEAP on page 14 nature dish at Borough Hall Thursday. tions before the public votes on “The current selection system to the nominating convention. See CHALLENGE on page 6 Thinking about One of the ‘Magnificent Seven – SPRING BANKRUPTCY FREE! BEST!THE BEST CHEESECAKES e’s SAVE!CLEANING A plain-English legal seminar teleon t for ordinary people. Mon t Stree IN NEW YORK CITY!’ 355 Cour Bring your CAR Tues., March 30,7-9pm to LUCY’s at the Brooklyn Marriot March 17, 2004 and let her shine! See the RICHARD A. KLASS ad on page 3 See the MONTELEONE’S ad on page 12 See the LUCY’S ad on page 11 for discounts ©The Brooklyn Papers. Established 1978. Phone 718-834-9350. Celia Weintrob, Publisher (ext 104) • Neil Sloane, Editor (ext 119) • Lisa J. Curtis, GO Brooklyn Editor (ext 131) • Vince DiMiceli, Senior Editor (ext 125) • Ed Weintrob, President (ext 105) 2 DTZ THE BROOKLYN PAPERS • WWW.BROOKLYNPAPERS.COM March 20, 2004 els ew J By SATNICK Holds up Rx near his house W❤e offer quality jewelry, precision By Deborah Kolben discovered his apartment had timepieces and fine giftware The Brooklyn Papers been burglarized, police said.