While thousands of Brooklynites took advantage of the day after Thanksgiving to shop, more than a dozen Atlantic Yards protesters used “Black Friday” to highlight the gridlock that even supporters of the project say cannot be remedied.
Holding signs like “Tell the city and the state to FIX THE TRAFFIC FIRST!” and “Atlantic Yards gridlock solution: Add more cars,” the protesters marched back and forth — crossing at the green, not in between — across the bowtie intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush avenues.
State officials who support the 16-tower residential and arena development have admitted that 13 intersections around the project would remain clogged on days when there are events at the arena (see map).
Jim Vogel of the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods, said his “Merry Gridlock” protesters would return to the intersection several times before the Christmas shopping season is done.
