February 27, 2006
March comes in like a committee hearing
Good Jobs New York reports that four public hearings are now set regarding the proposed New York Yankees and Mets stadiums:
- Today, 4-6 pm: Empire State Development Corporation hearing on the Mets stadium, Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard, Queens
- Thursday, March 2, 4-6 pm: Empire State Development Corporation hearing on the Yankees stadium, Hostos Community College, Main Theatre, Building C on the first floor, 450 Grand Concourse, Bronx
- Thursday, March 9, 10 am: Industrial Development Agency hearing on selling $930 million in Yankees stadium bonds, 110 William Street, 4th Floor, Manhattan
- Thursday, March 9, 1 pm: City Council committee on planning, disposition and concessions committee hearing on the Yankees plan, City Hall council chambers, Manhattan
This could be the beginning of the endgame for the two projects, with the council legally required to give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down (or thumbs-up with modifications) to the Yankees plan by April 13; a council vote is also needed on allowing the two teams to repay stadium bonds with "payments in lieu of property taxes," a legal dodge that would allow them to use cheaper tax-exempt bonds - at a cost to city, state, and (mostly) federal taxpayers of about $110 million. The teams are hoping to break ground by May, so it could be a very busy April for Chris Quinn's minions.
Oh, and Good Jobs also reports that the city in planning its first public hearing in April for a "NASCAR track and 50-acre big-box retail center on the West Shore of Staten Island." Just in case you were wondering what you'd do for New York drama when and if the Yanks, Mets, Nets, Knicks, Rangers, Jets, Giants, Devils, and MetroStars sagas come to an end.
NYC does NOT need a Nascab track. New York State already has Watkins Geln (a must visit for it's extreme beauty), and the Poconos and Dover are merely 4 hours away.
The Metrostars do need a stadium, however the Harrison project is moving along very slowly. Any idea as to why?
Posted by Bertell Ollman on February 27, 2006 11:21 PM
Busted timing belt.
Posted by Neil on February 27, 2006 11:22 PM
Since when the Nets and Devils considered as New York teams
Posted by John on February 28, 2006 11:37 AM
Since the Port Authority operates as at a bi-state level....
Posted by Bertell Ollman on February 28, 2006 12:44 PM