The Atlantic Yards episode — a chapter of it, at least — has come to an end, but with a bizarre postscript. The last man to be evicted, Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn‘s David Goldstein, took a $3 million payment to leave his home. The fight was over, he had already been evicted and was to move out next month anyway. But as symbols of defeat go, this one is pretty heavy. As something of a figurehead, is he honor bound to refuse extra cash? Are we all so worn down by the real estate game and the high cost of living in New York that honor is a quaint notion? As the New York author puts it, “There are few things we wouldn’t do for $3 million (seriously, it’s kind of scary).”

Or could it be that bleeding Ratner of some extra (relatively) small change is Goldstein’s final act of rebellion, a final thumbed nose at the conquerors?