December 23, 2004
How to Stop a Stadium? By Lawsuit, of Course
Two lawsuits were filed in State Supreme Court yesterday in an attempt to slow the proposed plan for a West Side Stadium. While the arguments in each lawsuit differ, the goal is the same, to slow down the stadium proposal enough so that the 2012 Olympic announcement would come first. The idea is that the International Olympic Committee would reward the 2012 Games to Paris on July 6th and not New York, thus making the stadium unnecessary or unpopular without the Olympics coming to the city.
One lawsuit, filed by Cablevision, West Side residents, and a business owner, claims that the environmental study by the city was inaccurate. The other, by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the Straphangers Campaign, challenges the city's estimate that 70% of fans for the game would use via mass transit or arrive by foot.
The city, which would fork over $300 million for the project, says that the lawsuit filed by Cablevision is an "ill-disguised and frivolous attempt" by "lying monopolists"...nice. Very nice.
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...And how can the common (wo)man help, is the question?
Did anyone notice that the proposed west side stadium plans apparently demolishes a portion of the (newly landmarked) High Line? Can they do that? Doesn't the High Line start at the north end of that lot?
Mayor Bloomberg and Jets owner Woody Johnson (who just happens to be one of the five largest GOP donors in this country) have been trying to fast-track this so they can break ground before anyone notices that the money's gone. They both know that the people of NY would never stand for the city shelling out $600 million while subway fares go up and fireman, cops, and teachers work another year without a raise. So good for these groups for stoping this runaway train before it sped away with a lot of our cash on board.
Whatever the merits of the project, and there are some, this is nothing more than a GOP fat cat deciding it's pay day, bringing his fat cat developer buddies along, and leaving us holding the bag.
No way should that stadium be built in Manhattan.
It does not belong there. Why not build it in the South Bronx near the railroad yards along Bruckner Boulevard?
Time - "[T]he city shelling out $600 million while subway fares go up and fireman, cops, and teachers work another year without a raise."
You do know the difference between capital and operating costs, right? If not, please learn.
Rose - "Why not build it in the South Bronx near the railroad yards along Bruckner Boulevard?"
And who is going to agree to *that*? Not the Jets, and probably no one else, either.
Hey Rose, I have an idea - why don't *you* move to the South Bronx. You say you don't want to live there? Now you know how the Jets would feel about being told where they need to relocate, whether it be the South Bronx, Westchester, or Flushing. The fact is, as a privately owned business, if they don't want to relocate to a particular place, they cannot be forced to do so.
It's Tim, bright guy.
And BTW, it's c-o-n-d-e-s-c-e-n-s-i-o-n.
And while I'm at it, it's l-a-n-d-g-r-a-b by
r-i-c-h g-u-y-s.
it should be noted that the city is only offering $300 million, not the full $600 mil.
Is anyone else tired of Cablevision's attempts to appeal to the rhetoric of "community interests" while they campaign against a public works project that poses a personal BUSINESS threat? There is such a thing as grassroots mobilization, and then there's astroturf, purchased by crusading profiteers.
I can't say I remember the last time the Cablevision folks funded any media campaigns for affordable housing, mass transit, or neighborhood business interests.
As for this project, $300 million on the part of the city is a small price to pay for the redesign/development of one of the most challenging areas in Manhattan. We taxpayers are always reluctant--with good reason--to fund large projects, but occassionally its an investment worth making. It's up to Bloomberg and Johnson to make their case on this one, and I think they have. The debate will continue, and it is certainly one worth having.
But to the Dolans, who know little about the plight of the taxpayer having enjoyed tax breaks from the city for years, I must say: butt out. Stop pretending you have the interests of New Yorkers in mind. Maybe lend some attention to those Knicks. Or, dare I say, Rangers?
The Dolans certainly are scumbags, of this there can be no doubt; there was a great Observer article a couple of weeks back about how the anti-stadium groups are now trying to distance themselves from Jim Dolan becasue he's screwing the whole thing up because, well, that's what he does (example: Knicks, Rangers, the sorry state of the MSG Network). And it is interesting how one of the groups filing the suit did not associate with the Dolans.
But c'mon, the city needs this stadium like a motorcycle needs an ashtray. It's about making Woody Johnson happy and keeping GOP coffers filled. (And, BTW, I'm a Jets fan.) There are much more worthwhile uses for the land, ones that would actually enhance the lives of the people who live near it rather than disregard it. And ones that would have more private investment (and profit) which would lower the city's tab while making it a better place for the people who actually live here, rather than the people who drive in from Jersey or the Island, see them game, then scamper back home.
But as you say, Nate, the debate goes on. Happy Holidays.
I support any lawsuit that keeps a city from paying money to a private concern for a sport stadium. If the New Jersey Jets wanna play in New York, let'em use their own money.
That, and what a horribly ugly stadium...
so yeah- the stadium would remove a piece of the high line, but the part of the high line elevated rail that is to be preserved as park extends from gansevoort to w. 30th street. at w. 30th street it curves westward and is no longer included as park.