2004-02-23 - 3:13 p.m. Here�s our field reporter Steve Espinola reporting on last week�s No Stadium community meeting: ��Last Wednesday's community meeting with Marty Markowitz was astounding and inspiring. For the first hour I felt very disempowered by the whole thing...Markowitz and team made me feel like the Junta had come to town and were laying down the law in this rather cold and official manner, denying the violence of what they were doing. But then person after person after person stood up and told the borough president exactly why this massive building plan was a terrible idea. People were smart, witty, creative, gentle, enraged, nasty, heartfelt, intellectual. They were from all walks of life. They were grandmothers, artists, council members, construction workers, doctors, rock musicians, lawyers, homeless....I was impressed again and again. It was the democratic process at its best, and it was also highly entertaining. Letitia James, our councilwoman, was astoundingly good. Tonight and tomorrow are more meetings, and these ones are really important. The Wednesday one was on the building plan in general; Monday's is on widening Flatbush and Tuesday is apparently the Stadium plan, though I still don't have a location for it. I'll send a follow-up but I want to get this out�.� thoughts? (0 comments so far) previous - next blog archive contact