June 03, 2005
Haggling over the price
New York state assembly speaker Sheldon Silver told reporters yesterday that he might ask for another postponement of today's Jets stadium vote, and if there is a vote, he would send a representative in his place. (It's unclear if this would serve to block a vote, as it apparently would if Silver just went AWOL.) Silver also hinted at his price for granting support for the stadium, noting that if Gov. George Pataki agreed to scrap the entire 24-million-square-foot sea of office towers scheduled to go up around the stadium, "that obviously would go a long way to the way I view the entire project." But then what would be in it for Dan Doctoroff's pals?
State senate leader Joe Bruno, meanwhile, has sent a letter to IOC chair Jacques Rogge reiterating his vow to approve a West Side stadium if New York gets the 2012 Olympics. Bruno also said he still has "serious doubts" about the need for a Public Authorities Control Board vote today. The board meeting is set for 2 pm - stay tuned.
