The stakeholders in the documentary include the political leaders such as the Mayor, Michael Bloomberg and scholars such as Craig Wilder. Next the real estate agents, the residents residing in Brooklyn and shopkeepers of local stores like the wig shops. Developmental officials such as Joe Chan, urban planners as well as consumers/shoppers of the Fulton mall are significant stakeholders too. The racial divide separates the working class African Americans from the White locals. Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE) is community organisation showed in the documentary that helped small business to be apart of the Downtown Brooklyn planning process. Bloomberg Association was the organisation that initiated the plan in the first place.
The interests of the above listed people are varied. While Craig Wilder sees gentrification as an ancient phenomena the director herself was lured to Brooklyn by the inexpensive rental rate. As for the residents, some view the real estate boom as something positive for their neighbourhood while others feel it is destroying the essence of Brooklyn and everything that it stands for. The developmental officials are obviously interested in reaping profits by remaking the Fulton mall, and this action is what makes the interests of the locals regarding racial divide, even more apparent.
The documentary is structured to be seen by the director’s point of view. Since it’s her personal journey of how she became aware of the gentrification and other happenings of the area. To begin with we are shown images of Brooklyn from the past that sets into motion the changes such as the luxury apartments, increased rents and rezoning. These changes are shown specifically categorised into subjects such as entertainment, development etc. The documentary includes the voices of the stakeholders so that the viewer can get a first hand experience about their feelings and emotions.
The main argument of the documentary is that the benefits of change that is brought about in society in the name of “development” is only utilised by the upper class or elite section. The middle and lower classes either cannot reap the benefits or more so are at a disadvantage due to the construction and building. Also the planning committee only consists of the former and not the latter. Due to this injustice the perspective and view of the the whole neighbourhood cannot be heard or seen.
The competing models of a neighbourhood represented in the documentary are shown by the Department of City Planning. The notion of “diversity” is not given much emphasis since it does not cater to the minority however since the department is widening it’s reach it is assumed that it is being accessed equally. The criteria of “livability,” or the comfort of living in a neighbourhood is presented in terms of the monetary expenditure as well as communication and relations between the culture. Co-dependence and as existing in a symbiotic web of connections.
