August 24, 2005
Yankees stay home!
More than 100 Bronx residents crowded onto the steps of the Bronx County Courthouse this morning for a press conference decrying the New York Yankees' plans to build a new stadiumin a public park across the street from the current Yankee Stadium. As for what the coalition - organized by Bronx Voices for Equal Inclusion and other community groups - was demanding, there seemed to be some disagreement on the message. The official press statement called merely for a "more participatory development process" and job opportunities for local residents, but the biggest applause came for lines delivered by speakers who wanted to stop the project altogther:
"The Yankees say Yankee Stadium is old - but the Statue of Liberty is old, and nobody says we need a new one of those!" -David Gratt, Friends of Yankee Stadium"Mr. Steinbrenner has all the money in the world - he wouldn't take a park away from his children. ... If it takes a lawsuit to stop them, we're going to stop them!" -Michael Trotter, We Stay/Nos Quedamos"If they're not allowed to build a stadium in Central Park, why should they be allowed to build in our park?" -Dilsa David, Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council
There's also a new blog on the battle of Macombs Dam Park, by the newly formed neighborhood group Save Our Parks! First post: The "Bronx politicians who sold us out."
Next up: A rally and march to the stadium this Saturday at 10 am, starting at SCAN-NY at 40 West 164th Street, on the north side of the proposed stadium site. The NYPD has so far refused to issue a march permit, and there's a Yankee home game scheduled that day for 1 pm, so bring your video camera and your civil-liberties attorney.
Posted by: Thomas Croke at August 25, 2005 12:02 AM
Posted by: Neil at August 25, 2005 12:49 AM
