The proposed $2 billion New York Jets stadium has already begun creating jobs in one industry: local lobbyists. Newsday reports that the Jets have hired two former aides to Republican Gov. George Pataki and one former Democratic deputy mayor to aid their stadium push; in response, Madison Square Garden – owner of the Knicks and Rangers, and opponent of a new publicly funded sports venue on its doorstep – has hired its own lobbyist to work on West Side development issues, to go along with its existing contracts with the top Albany lobbying firm and with a former aide to State Assembly leader Sheldon Silver. MSG is also part of the new New York Association for Better Choices community coalition, which officially launched yesterday to oppose the stadium as “a terrible waste of precious public resources.”
As for the hoi polloi, they’ll have their next opportunity to weigh in on the plan at a city council hearing on June 3.