Giff Grilled on Air America

from left: Mark Riley, Marc Maron, and Gifford Miller (seated)

Mayoral hopeful Gifford Miller answered questions from Brooklynites who had gathered at Park Slope's Tea Lounge for a special live broadcast of Air America's "Morning Sedition."

I buzzed by to snag some free coffee and listen to what Giff had to say:

Marc Maron: I guess right out of the gate since the Supreme Court has just made it easier, if you were mayor would you have signed off on Ratner's stadium out here in downtown Brooklyn?

[someone in the crowd: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!]

Miller: Ratner's stadium?

Marc Maron: Mmmhmmm, the Nets stadium.

Miller: I support the concept of of developing thousands of units of AFFORDABLE HOUSING on that Atlantic Yards, and if it comes along with an arena I'm OK with that. What we...the most important crisis we have in the city, after schools, is AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

[crowd noise: BOO! HSSS!]

Mark Riley: But now Is the plan they have now for AFFORDABLE HOUSING satisfactory to you?

Miller: No, I... look I think clearly this has to go through a public process and it needs to be improved, there's density issues, there's a question of how much AFFORDABLE HOUSING, and there's a question about what the public money's going for...there's a lot of issues that need to be answered still, but overall I think we need to put something there and AFFORDABLE HOUSING is our biggest problem.

I left after that exchange. However, you can download the whole program here. Gifford Miller's interview begins at around 56:20.

Outside the lounge, I ran into Hamilton Wynnfield Gainesburger IV, scion of an important local canine family. I asked "Ham" to answer a few questions:

DOPE: I suppose you've heard about the Kelo v. New London decision by now regarding the use of eminent domain. What do you think local residents stand to lose if the abuse of this practice continues unabated?

HAM: Awoof!

DOPE: How true. If we don't stop this practice now, none of us will have a roof over our heads. Of course, eminent domain is just one of the issues that Park Slopers are concerned about with regard to Ratner's Atlantic Yards project. Many people are concerned about the apparent lack of transportation planning. What do you think traffic will be like on game night if the plan goes through?

HAM: Ruff!

DOPE: You get straight to the point don't you? Will you give us your unvarnished opinion of the substance of Gifford Miller's remarks concerning his support of the Ratner project?

HAM: Yap, Yap, Yap, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, Yap, Yap, Yap, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, Yap, Yap!

Well, there you have it folks.

Comments

[dope]

Tell us how you really feel Lucy.

As for Mr. Gainsburger, his handlers tell me he is giving the idea of running for mayor "due consideration."
I'll keep you posted.

With Brooklyn going to the dogs, Ham may be our best hope. He'd make a chewtoy out of the opposition.

[lucy koteen]

If I had to make a choice between Giff Miller and Hamilton Wynnfield Gainesburger IV for Mayor, it would be a very easy choice. One of them is clear logical and gets right ot the point, the other one is a liar.

[Ratnerville]

but i thought Giff came out to borough hall on a quiet saturday a month ago to expressly say he endorses the project. what gives?

Gainesburger for Mayor!