Tonight: San Francisco Screenings Of “Battle For Brooklyn” At The Roxie

San Francisco Bay Areans: come join us at the Roxie Theater (3117 16th Street between Valencia and Guerrero, San Francisco) tonight for screenings of Battle for Brooklyn, the Oscar-shortlisted documentary film about the Atlantic Yards eminent domain case. Two shows, 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Details, including ticket purchase here.

I’ll be there to answer questions on the legal aspects of the film, as well as discuss its relevance to California, where redevelopment and eminent domain abuse are front page stories due to the California Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding the Legislature’s abolishment of the state’s 400+ redevelopment agencies.

Also showing is “The Tragedy of Eminent Domain: The destruction and survival of a New York City neighborhood.” This short tells the story of how a project called “Manhattantown” destroyed a historic African-American community on the Upper West Side in the 1950s. Manhattantown set the model for thousands of cases of eminent domain abuse that came later, from Poletown, to New London, to Atlantic Yards. Directed by Jim Epstein.

Here’s more on Battle for Brooklyn:

• Our “long form” review of Battle for Brooklyn (more for legal wonks).

• Our short form review, published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

• Norman Oder’s blog on the issues: Atlantic Yards Report. A must-follow.

• Our commentary on the final settlement in the case: Was It “All About The Money?” Hardly.

• The Eminent Domain One-Percenter (commentary on a profile of one of the developer’s key people)

• We live-blogged the Atlantic Yards oral arguments in the New York Court of Appeals shown in the film. View the live blog archive here.

• The Court of Appeals’ 6-1 decision upholding the taking: Goldstein v. New York State Urban Development Corp., No. 178 (Nov. 24, 2009).

• Media and commentary links on the Court of Appeals’ decision. 

• Unfrozen Caveman Judges “Frightened And Confused” By Blight – our commentary on the  Court of Appeals’ decision.

• The legal briefing in that case.

If you are in the area, please come to the Roxie and join us.