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| Still not convinced? (Re: ''Progressive'' Park Slope shows its true colors) (745629) | |||
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Still not convinced? (Re: ''Progressive'' Park Slope shows its true colors) |
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Posted by Osmosis Jones on Wed Mar 2 21:31:23 2011, in response to "Progressive" Park Slope shows its true colors, posted by Osmosis Jones on Mon Feb 28 17:15:38 2011. From Gawker :"As the huge (largest-ever in Brooklyn) and controversial Atlantic Yards development project, adjacent to some of Brooklyn's most bobo-filled enclaves, makes further progress, the level of hysteria rises and rises. The latest story has a group of Park Slope residents freaking out about a new bar opening in their neighborhood (in anticipation of arena crowds supposedly) that they fear will dare to play hip-hop music. A place called Prime 6 is planning to open at Flatbush and 6th Avenue, close to the Barclays Center, the centerpiece of the Atlantic Yards project and the future home of various sports teams (hockey and basketball), but also near the comfy shire where white thirtysomethings have decided to settle their weary, Wilco-swaddled bones. A(n albeit small) group of residents has signed a petition protesting this place, as they assume it will play loud hip-hop music, thus catering to a certain element they don't want in their precious, refurbished and bird-decorated 'hood. From Curbed: The latest chapter in the saga, Fucked in Park Slope points out, is one resident's apparently serious attempt to get Prime 6's owner to opt for indie rock over hip-hop. And nope, race has nothing to do with it. The Sloper's online petition, which currently has 15 signatures, states that Prime 6 has a right to exist, but would "see far more financial success as a different kind of nightlife establishment." On the neighborhood impact: "It's not 'racist' to equate hip-hop with an elevated crime rate vis a vi other types of musical genres - It's just a statistical fact that crime is more likely to occur among urban audiences than among audiences of other demographics." "Urban audiences," says a person who lives in Brooklyn and is therefore themselves urban. So what does "urban" really mean? Well. I think we can guess! (The petition also self-confidently states: "I don't think anyone would deny that Park Slopers are about the least 'racist' people on the planet.") Say what you will about the bad aspects of the Yards project — other bars are getting cheesy makeovers that will, in theory, better appeal to a stadium crowd, general foot and car traffic is bound to get unpleasantly heavy, etc. — but, as these gentle-eared Slopers should well know, for better or for worse, sometimes neighborhoods change." From Fucked in Park Slope: "Sorry Park Slope: this is the kind of thing that makes me want to move to NJ and live in a white community that ADMITS they're racist. Apparently this "petition" has been floating around facebook since yesterday; and I'm embarrassed to see that a few douchebags have actually SIGNED it. The gist of it is that this retarded park slope yenta (non jewish? thank g-d) is trying to convince the owners of that new controversial bar on Flatbush, Prime 6, to "embrace indie music" instead of hip hop. If you read between the lines, the none-too-subtle message is that she'd rather have white guys in flannels standing around her patio than hard hittin' brothas with blow-torches and pairs a' pliers. Boogity Boogity Boogity, Jennifer!!! The blacks are comin' and they're gonna GETCHA!!! Brooklyn Nets! Hoo. Ha. Hoo. Ha. Say goodbye to property values! Here they come! Yo, Flatbush KFC is next son, HOLLA! Clueless fucking cunt. p.s. Check out vids of Jennifer's homies protesting shit at the Community Board meeting on Monday night here." From PetitionBuzz: "SEND THE MESSAGE TO PRIME 6: Indie Music Will Earn You More Than Hip-Hop!!! My name is Jennifer McMillen, and I live only a few doors down from the proposed site of Prime 6. Like most of the folks at the CB6 meeting on Monday night, I too have been concerned about the impending entrance of Prime 6 into our community and our daily lives. I'm not generally the type of person that speaks up, (I remained silent during the entire Monday night meeting), but in this situation, I'm hopeful that I've stumbled onto a solution that makes so much sense for *both* parties that I'm beyond excited to share it with all of you. First, let me explain what's at the heart of this conflict: I know for a fact that there's no single type of establishment (or type of bar/club patron for that matter) that Park Slopers would inherently view as "undesirable." I don't think anyone would deny that Park Slopers are about the least "racist" people on the planet. What IS causing strife in this situation is that over the last ten years, Park Slope has become a family-oriented and family-centric community. This can be annoying at times - believe me, as someone who has chosen not to have children, I'm more than aware of the self-entitled attitude that often pervades parts of our community. Nevertheless, it's just a fact that in this neighborhood, family comes first. Prime 6 has to realize this - but at the same time - Park Slope families need to realize that this is a free country, and that Prime 6 has a right to exist. Furthermore, no one can legally stop the owners from doing what it is they're going to do. So here's the gist of my big idea: Isn't there some middle ground between this spot being a stroller repair shop and it being a full-on hip-hop club? No one can change the fact that Prime 6 WILL exist - they have their liquor license, and nothing's going to deter them from opening. BUT: What if owner Akiva Ofshtein could be convinced that his business will see far more financial success as a different kind of nightlife establishment. Instead of focussing on hip-hop and urban entertainment, what if Prime 6 embraced some of the more indie local artists of ALL races who live and perform in the area. It's not "racist" to equate hip-hop with an elevated crime rate vis a vi other types of musical genres - It's just a statistical fact that crime is more likely to occur among urban audiences than among audiences of other demographics. R&B and rap happen to be my two favorite types of music, but no one (especially my African American friends and colleagues) would seriously deny that hip-hop's violent history tragically precedes it. In addition, conveniently(!), we also happen to be in the middle of an unprecedented drought of live music. Seventh Ave has ZERO venues for live music by indie artists, and is absolutely ripe for the right type of establishment to come along and breathe life into the live music scene. The business owner who is able to do THAT will reap financial rewards far beyond what they could hope to earn by selling Henessey/etc to basketball fans after a Nets game. Not only will Akiva Ofshtein make more money by creating a sustainable business that uses social media to bring crowd-drawing acts to Prime 6, he'll also find that by working alongside the community he's joining, he'll build loyal allies in the neighbors around him - INSTEAD of the hostility we saw at the CB6 meeting and on the internet on Tuesday. After all, which one of Prime 6's direct neighbors wouldn't be forever grateful to Ofshtein for seeding a vibrant artistic hub instead of another Yo MTV Raps "bling-bling" vip club. As a Park slope resident that has lived steps from Flatbush avenue since 1998, I've seen the neighborhood change drastically in the last 12 years, and I'm well aware of the gentrification sensitivities that have been part of the neighborhood fabric for at least the last decade - so let me tell you first-hand: We've waited a long time to get to this point: for once, this isn't a question of race or even class. My hope is that artists and art-appreciators OF EVERY IMAGINABLE BACKGROUND will band together to make this happen - to that end, please tweet and tweet and re-tweet: sign this petition to let Prime 6's owner know what he stands to GAIN by embracing independent LIVE music; and by steering clear of processed, commercial noise. " What excuses do you guys have now? |
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