On October 14th plaintiff home, business owners and tenants argued their challenge to New York State's abuse of eminent domain to seize properties for developer Forest City Ratner's "Atlantic Yards" development plan in Brooklyn, New York. That project, the largest proposed in Brooklyn's history, is officially a basketball arena for the Nets, 16 skyscrapers of primarily market rate housing. But unofficially it is an arena and maybe one tower and vast, vast parking lots for decades.
The argument was in front of NY's high court, the Court of Appeals (yes, Supreme Court is the lowest court in NY.)
The landmark case revolves around a number of large issues including "blight" findings, public vs. private benefit, what the limits are of "public use" and smaller more arcane New York State constitutional issues.
The overall question is whether or not the takings violate New York's Constitution (the case is not about the US Constitution.)
The YouTube video of the argument in the case--Goldstein et al. v. New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development Corporation--has been posted and is embedded below. (It is just over 50 minutes.)
A ruling is expected around Thanksgiving. Attorney for appellants is Matthew Brinckheroff. Attorney for the State is Philip Karmel.
The video was processed and is hosted by Freddy's Brooklyn Roundhouse.