When I was a young sports fan, I considered stadiums and arenas to be cathedrals. They were places where communities of believers came to worship their heroes, and display a sort of civic pride. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how much building these cathedrals affected me as a citizen. Once I understood that, my faith in these gods I once worshipped faded fast.

BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN is about a New York activist named Daniel Goldstein who after much house-hunting finds a great pad in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, mere months after moving into the condo, he learns that the New Jersey Nets have plans to move to Brooklyn and put their new arena on the patch of Gotham where his building currently resides. This doc chronicles his fight to keep his home, and many other Brooklyn homes.

The film is a fascinating look at what happens when the rich and oblivious make decisions that affect the honest working class. As we follow Daniel’s fight against The Nets’ ultra-wealthy ownership group, we can’t help but shake our heads at how many rules get bent or broken, and how much corruption is in play. Then again, should we really be surprised at how these fat-cats act when they didn’t even notify residents of the arena plan before it was announced in the press?

Corruption is hard enough to fight when you’re the little guy, but it doesn’t get any easier when the little guy’s house is divided against itself. While a few rally behind Daniel and his call of “Develop – Don’t Destroy”, many more find themselves on the other side of the line. These residents support the project and its promise of civic pride, revitalization, and jobs. It’s a tricky state of affairs for the residents of the borough who want this palace to be built, leaving us to wonder if the promises made to these community supporters can possibly be kept.

BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN shows what happens when the wants of few are put ahead of the rights of many. It’s the tale of something that could have given Brooklynites something to rally behind for the first time since The Dodgers left for Los Angeles in 1958. Instead the move will forever be marred by this rocky start, one that has left a bitter taste in much of its potential fan base.

BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN plays tomorrow – 7:00 pm at The Lightbox, and again on Sunday May 1st – 1:30pm at The Cumberland.