30 March 2005
Yes to the Stadium and NYC 2012
Many who share my political affiliations and ideals oppose the construction of the West Side Stadium here in Manhattan. Mayor Bloomberg insists that the stadium is an essential part of his pitch to the International Olympic Committee as NYC2012 tries to lure the games to, well, NYC in 2012. Many of those who oppose the stadium insist that they support NYC2012, but the stadium itself is evil, a grand waste of money that will do a variety of things, including contribute to traffic problems, damage the environment, and direct money away from more important things.
These people are wrong, perhaps blinded by some of the normally good institutions with which they associate themselves. This stadium, and the associated Olympic bid, are completely compatible with true commitment to progressive ideals. The stadium will be built on land that is now largely a wasteland-railroad yard, land that is currently of zero use to the people of this city. Economic growth stimulated by the stadium will create new job opportunities for thousands of people -- not to mention some of the high-paying, short-term construction jobs involved. The Jets and Bloomberg are right to go out of their way to pledge that minorities will have more than their fair share of these jobs.
Another part of the city's commitment to the games will involve extending a new subway line through this area, which will ease congestion on other lines and create new transportation options for New Yorkers -- a progressive, not regressive, benefit as the vast majority of riders are from lower and middle income brackets. Of course, this needs to go hand in hand with an overall re-committment to the MTA on behalf of the city and state governments. The subway system needs serious help and I hope that West Side building plans will take this into account. Fare increases are not the answer; tax-based revenue streams are.
Yes, different people and different corporations will profit, or at least hope to, from this stadium. Those who cannot accept this are never going to be happy with any sort of development project -- be it a stadium in this city or a dam building project in the developing world.
Cablevision, the owners of Madison Square Garden, want to retain their monopoly over sporting events in the city. To further this cause, they have submitted a competing bid for the railyard site, some massive apartment complex that will do little for the city. They are throwing money at just about anyone who is opposed to the stadium and has a soapbox to stand on. With an opposition like them, it's even easier to support the stadium.
Tomorrow (Thursday, March 31) is the vote. Let's hope that progress wins. ¶ 5:31 PM
These people are wrong, perhaps blinded by some of the normally good institutions with which they associate themselves. This stadium, and the associated Olympic bid, are completely compatible with true commitment to progressive ideals. The stadium will be built on land that is now largely a wasteland-railroad yard, land that is currently of zero use to the people of this city. Economic growth stimulated by the stadium will create new job opportunities for thousands of people -- not to mention some of the high-paying, short-term construction jobs involved. The Jets and Bloomberg are right to go out of their way to pledge that minorities will have more than their fair share of these jobs.
Another part of the city's commitment to the games will involve extending a new subway line through this area, which will ease congestion on other lines and create new transportation options for New Yorkers -- a progressive, not regressive, benefit as the vast majority of riders are from lower and middle income brackets. Of course, this needs to go hand in hand with an overall re-committment to the MTA on behalf of the city and state governments. The subway system needs serious help and I hope that West Side building plans will take this into account. Fare increases are not the answer; tax-based revenue streams are.
Yes, different people and different corporations will profit, or at least hope to, from this stadium. Those who cannot accept this are never going to be happy with any sort of development project -- be it a stadium in this city or a dam building project in the developing world.
Cablevision, the owners of Madison Square Garden, want to retain their monopoly over sporting events in the city. To further this cause, they have submitted a competing bid for the railyard site, some massive apartment complex that will do little for the city. They are throwing money at just about anyone who is opposed to the stadium and has a soapbox to stand on. With an opposition like them, it's even easier to support the stadium.
Tomorrow (Thursday, March 31) is the vote. Let's hope that progress wins. ¶ 5:31 PM
