Rumur is raising funds for Battle of Brooklyn, their documentary on the Atlantic Yards fight. Check out the trailer here.

From their site:

“Battle of Brooklyn, a documentary which chronicles the efforts of local community activists to stop a massive development that threatens to decimate their neighborhood. Our main character, Daniel Goldstein, refused to sell to the developer and now New York State is attempting to seize his home via the power of eminent domain — a hot button issue that has made headlines across the country. (Dan and his family are not the only ones whose home is threatened. However, in order to tell the most compelling story the film increasingly focuses on him and his family.).

Now we’re approaching the end of this incredible story: If the developer doesn’t get shovels in the ground by Dec 31, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to proceed. If he does, Dan, his family, many other owners and renters, and the larger community outside the project footprint that have come together, will have lost their fight…and their homes. After shooting 300 hours of footage over six years, we have a character driven film that shines a bright light on the world of New York politics, billion dollar real estate, urban renewal, and the power of grass roots community activism.”

“Look, this is the reality.  Maybe for you life is comfortable for you here, you have a job, you’remaking pretty good money.  You like things the way they are.  So you don’t want change but when you look at some other people who also live here we need change.  We need things to get better.  We need opportunities.  Maybe it’s not as big of an issue for you because you don’t need these things but there are a lot of people who do and this project is something that can generate those opportunities for us.”  – Hopeful resident

“If ya’ll do kick them out cause they can’t pay rent I hope ya’ll got another house for them to move in. My grandmother been here for twenty years and she said she ain’t going nowhere. And I said grandma I’m right wit chu. Cause I love this building. Without Atlantic Terminal there wouldn’t be me. With all the talking and encouragement, you must stay on the right track, you know. Me talking to gang members out here, drug dealers. Some of them went back to school because of what I said to them, the good advice. You know it make me feel great. Me going to another complex? C’mon I don’t know nobody. I know people in the Clinton Hill area, Fort Greene area. I don’t wanna go out to no Bed Stuy. No Farragut. I don’t wanna  go there. I’ll go there to talk or whatever but I’m not going to live out there.”

“I like to talk. See, what it is with me, I’m studying to be a preacher. I like to talk. If somebody invite you to talk, TALK, by all means. If your schedule is not bad.” – Talented Talker

(NOTE: Man pictured is not Talented Talker)