Post by musicradio77 on Mar 24, 2005 19:54:55 GMT -5
From the Daily News:
Sharpton is Latest Player in West Side Stadium Fight's Unlikely Matchups
By SARA KUGLER
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- The battle over whether to build a $1.7 billion football stadium on Manhattan's West Side is causing players to form unlikely teams on both sides.
The latest draft is the Rev. Al Sharpton, who announced on Wednesday that he supports the Jets proposal because of the economic opportunities their plan includes for minorities.
In doing so, Sharpton is stepping away from some allies and fellow Democrats, including the pack of candidates running against Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg this year. The move also aligns Sharpton with several longtime political foes, including Bloomberg and his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani.
"Who says that Al and Rudy can't agree on anything?" Bloomberg cracked during a WWOR radio interview Wednesday.
At City Hall, Sharpton said his endorsement of the Jets bid was based not on politics but entirely on the portion of the team's proposal that ensures participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in the construction project.
"We don't always agree in a party, but I think this is above partisan politics," Sharpton said. "The only plan on the table that guarantees jobs and guarantees inclusiveness is this plan, so I don't know what other plan we could go with."
A spokesman for Cablevision - the football team's main rival for the property - said in a statement that the company is dedicated to minority hiring. The company will "commit to meet or exceed any standard or arrangement," such as the Jets program, regarding employment opportunities for the development, spokesman Whit Clay said.
The Jets say a stadium would create more than 18,000 construction jobs and 7,000 permanent jobs. Opponents say the city should address more pressing economic needs before taking on such an expensive project.
On Wednesday, NFL owners meeting in Hawaii voted 31-1 to award the 2010 Super Bowl to New York - provided the 75,000-seat stadium is built.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority owns the railyards being considered for development and received five offers for the land before bidding ended Monday.
The Jets bid $720 million, and Cablevision - which owns Madison Square Garden and has been aggressively battling the stadium proposal - bid more than $600 million to develop the land into housing, a park and a hotel, among other attractions.
Two other bidders were disqualified and a third came with some complications. The MTA hopes to decide by March 31.
The Jets vs. Cablevision standoff has pitted the mayor in a bitter public feud against the Dolan family, owners of Cablevision. And just two years ago, they were united in bringing the 2004 Republican convention to town.
How things have changed. Now, Madison Square Garden's Chairman James Dolan has said he would happily back someone to run for mayor against Bloomberg.
Sharpton's announcement comes two weeks after Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel, the city's most prominent black politician, also unexpectedly lent his support to the stadium plan.
Supporting the stadium puts Rangel and Sharpton at odds with the Democratic mayoral candidates - Fernando Ferrer, C. Virginia Fields, Gifford Miller and Anthony Weiner all oppose the plan.
Adding to the confusion, Sharpton said he planned to endorse one of the Democrats and begin working for the campaign by next month. He said he hopes his support for the stadium dilutes any credit that Bloomberg takes for the proposal.
"Am I doing this with Bloomberg? I'm doing this despite Bloomberg," Sharpton said. "I intend to campaign against the mayor, but I intend to campaign for the Jets to build a stadium that we will all have a hand in."
Sharpton is Latest Player in West Side Stadium Fight's Unlikely Matchups
By SARA KUGLER
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- The battle over whether to build a $1.7 billion football stadium on Manhattan's West Side is causing players to form unlikely teams on both sides.
The latest draft is the Rev. Al Sharpton, who announced on Wednesday that he supports the Jets proposal because of the economic opportunities their plan includes for minorities.
In doing so, Sharpton is stepping away from some allies and fellow Democrats, including the pack of candidates running against Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg this year. The move also aligns Sharpton with several longtime political foes, including Bloomberg and his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani.
"Who says that Al and Rudy can't agree on anything?" Bloomberg cracked during a WWOR radio interview Wednesday.
At City Hall, Sharpton said his endorsement of the Jets bid was based not on politics but entirely on the portion of the team's proposal that ensures participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in the construction project.
"We don't always agree in a party, but I think this is above partisan politics," Sharpton said. "The only plan on the table that guarantees jobs and guarantees inclusiveness is this plan, so I don't know what other plan we could go with."
A spokesman for Cablevision - the football team's main rival for the property - said in a statement that the company is dedicated to minority hiring. The company will "commit to meet or exceed any standard or arrangement," such as the Jets program, regarding employment opportunities for the development, spokesman Whit Clay said.
The Jets say a stadium would create more than 18,000 construction jobs and 7,000 permanent jobs. Opponents say the city should address more pressing economic needs before taking on such an expensive project.
On Wednesday, NFL owners meeting in Hawaii voted 31-1 to award the 2010 Super Bowl to New York - provided the 75,000-seat stadium is built.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority owns the railyards being considered for development and received five offers for the land before bidding ended Monday.
The Jets bid $720 million, and Cablevision - which owns Madison Square Garden and has been aggressively battling the stadium proposal - bid more than $600 million to develop the land into housing, a park and a hotel, among other attractions.
Two other bidders were disqualified and a third came with some complications. The MTA hopes to decide by March 31.
The Jets vs. Cablevision standoff has pitted the mayor in a bitter public feud against the Dolan family, owners of Cablevision. And just two years ago, they were united in bringing the 2004 Republican convention to town.
How things have changed. Now, Madison Square Garden's Chairman James Dolan has said he would happily back someone to run for mayor against Bloomberg.
Sharpton's announcement comes two weeks after Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel, the city's most prominent black politician, also unexpectedly lent his support to the stadium plan.
Supporting the stadium puts Rangel and Sharpton at odds with the Democratic mayoral candidates - Fernando Ferrer, C. Virginia Fields, Gifford Miller and Anthony Weiner all oppose the plan.
Adding to the confusion, Sharpton said he planned to endorse one of the Democrats and begin working for the campaign by next month. He said he hopes his support for the stadium dilutes any credit that Bloomberg takes for the proposal.
"Am I doing this with Bloomberg? I'm doing this despite Bloomberg," Sharpton said. "I intend to campaign against the mayor, but I intend to campaign for the Jets to build a stadium that we will all have a hand in."