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Flashback: Last Brownstone Standing
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky had strong words--and a damning report--for the new Yankee Stadium yesterday. Brodsky believes the Yankees got too good a deal from the city, "This stadium is being built by the people of the city and the state of New York. In return, they’re getting almost nothing. This deal does not serve the public’s interest. It serves the Yankees’ interest.”
His 31-page report claims the city "inflat[ed]property values and promis[ed]nonexistent jobs to get as much as $1 billion in tax-exempt bonds and public subsidies for the Bronx Bombers." The Yankees apparently made an "unsubstantiated threat" to leave New York, so the city committed $550 million to $850 million to the project. The Yankees are paying for the stadium themselves, but did get almost $1 billion in tax-exempt bonds from the city. And don't get Brodsky started on the luxury box for city officials at the new stadium!
Mayor Bloomberg said, "This is a great project. We want these kinds of facilities here. Having new stadiums is as important as other things in terms of, not just the spirit for the people who live here, but our economy." While he noted that the city paid little for infrastructure, the city is not charging the Yankees rent or property taxes, and the city and state also gave over "$300 million in cash subsidies for garages, a Metro-North train station, replacement parks and road work," per the NY Times. And the Yankees disagreed with Brodsky's characterization, saying there has been "enormous developmental economic effect in the Bronx, in the city and in the state."
The Daily News has Brodsky's report (PDF) and the Yankees' response (PDF).
Photograph of old and new Yankee Stadiums by absolutewade on Flickr
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no shit...
Continuing the plan of selling every goddammed urinal, seat and piece of dirt in the place.
Then, an here's the catch, the money goes to the fucking city. Not more corporate welfare for the Steinbrenner family.
SPOOOOOOOOORTS!!!!!
Fuck the Yankees and any sports franchise that extorts tax money and sweetheart deals from the city 'lucky' enough to host them.
uh. Obviously. When free agency started in sports, it all went downhill from there.
"The House that "GREED" Built.
I will second "no shit"
Stadiums and professional sports teams are designed to screw the taxpayers. These new stadiums are going to be play places of the rich, both on the field and in the stands. And where the hell is all the parkland? Hopefully the next mayor will have the balls to eminent domain the place, tear it down and put up a park.
It's not the fault of free agency. Why shouldn't athletes be allowed to choose their employers? Would you like to be contractually obligated to only one employer your entire career?
The problem is that cities bend over backwards giving tax breaks and sweet deals to team owners. MLB has it particularly nice in that they violate antitrust laws, and get away with it! If you and I wanted to start a "professional" league here in the metro area - it would be against the law. It would be as if only one movie theater chain were allowed to have movie theaters in New York City.
Baseball, and team sports, are entertainment businesses, not public utilities that are necessary for quality of life. They should be treated like all businesses.
The ballplayers should become property of the City of New York for its citizens to do with as they please.
@Toby:
I heard that the infield will be a ballfield for kids. At least it's a start?