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February 15, 2008
Bronx politicians, Yankees president in a smackdown over stadium
NY Daily News
by Juan Gonzalez
News columnist Juan Gonzalez reports that all is not rosy with the Yankees' CBA:
A breakfast meeting between Yankees President Randy Levine and Bronx lawmakers about the team's new stadium erupted into a heated shouting match, with one assemblywoman so mad she stormed out.
The fireworks began after Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. asked Levine for the number of Bronx residents hired to work on the $1.2 billion stadium.
When the Yankees president could not give precise numbers, Diaz and other lawmakers became visibly upset, several people who attended last week's meeting said.
A few minutes later, Levine became embroiled in a second dispute with Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo, who wanted to know why a community foundation that was supposed to dispense $800,000 annually in Yankees contributions to Bronx nonprofits had taken more than 18 months to hold its first meeting.
Levine told Arroyo to ask Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión about the delay. She then blasted his response and angrily walked out.
A few participants said they were even more angry at Carrión and the borough's City Council delegation than at the Yankees.
NoLandGrab: If construction ever begins on Atlantic Yards, can Brooklynites expect the same degree of efficacy with Ratner's CBA?
The shenanigans in the Bronx are not exactly helping Adolfo Carrión make the case that he's fit to be NYC Comptroller.
Posted by eric at February 15, 2008 12:10 PM