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November 16, 2006
B'KLYN SHOT BLOCK
DOLANS WILL SCHEME TO STOP ARENA: POL
NY Post
By Rich Calder
As Bruce Ratner's plan to build a Brooklyn basketball arena for the Nets took a leap toward final approval yesterday, a top state official warned of a major roadblock to the plan.
Charles Gargano, Gov. Pataki's economic-development czar, said it shouldn't shock anyone if Madison Square Garden's owners try blocking the Atlantic Yards plan for downtown Brooklyn.
"Based on recent experience, I wouldn't put it past them," a perturbed Gargano said, referring to how Jim and Charles Dolan used their political clout to kill two other recent proposals in conflict with the Garden: the Jets' West Side Stadium and the Moynihan Train Station.
NoLandGrab: The Dolans have been conspicuously silent in this fight. If the Nets moved to Brooklyn, owners of the NY Knicks would face direct competition. So, WHY NOT fight the Ratner arena proposal?
It is likely that NBA team owners are contractually restricted from infighting by their ownership/franchise agreement. Besides, the Dolans are currently angling for their own arena deal.
If so, that would classify Gargano's comments as "sour grapes" over past deals scuttled by the Dolans, or even a smokescreen.
Posted by lumi at November 16, 2006 7:17 AM