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March 29, 2005
WNYC's Brian Lehrer interview with Councilmember Yassky
WNYC, The Brian Lehrer Show
On March 16 Brian Lehrer interviewed Councilmember David Yassky his New York 51 series.
Lehrer: Your district in Brooklyn is not exactly where the Nets stadium and that whole development would be. Do you think that people in your district have a predominant view on that proposed stadium or the West Side stadium?
Yassky: I think on the Nets arena, most folks in my district would like to see professional basketball come to Brooklyn. They think that would help with the continued resurgence of Brooklyn. They would not like to see, nor would I, 70-story office towers and apartment buildings go along with the arena.
L: That’s really what’s controversial?
Y: That’s the controversial part. On the West Side stadium, I think most folks share my view that that is not a good use of a billion taxpayer dollars. Although, you know, let me be clear about this, I think if we get the Olympics, then we should live up to our bid and we should build the stadium and I hope we do get the Olympics because it would infuse some $3 billion into New York City to refurbish our waterfront that we have just let go to waste. We want to do our very best to get the Olympics to come here. If not, let’s not waste money on a stadium.
NoLandGrab: 70 stories? Yassky is woefully ignorant of the plan that will directly impact his constituents. Earlier in the interview he cited "noise" as the #1 constituent complaint to his office. If the arena is built at that intersection, he can expect more of the same as traffic from Downtown Brooklyn spills into residential streets. It's promising that he doesn't think that the stadium is a good use of a billion taxpayer dollars, because that's what the Ratner proposal's final tab is likely to be.
Posted by lumi at March 29, 2005 2:58 PM