« Will streets/sidewalks near arena be overwhelmed? Bloomberg responds confidently: "not really something that's going to happen" | Main | Daily Intel: "Bloomberg Promises 2,000 Jobs at the Barclays Center, Sort of" (with video) »
April 27, 2012
Bloomberg Promises 2,000 Jobs at the Barclays Center, Sort Of
Daily Intel [NYMagazine.com]
by Norman Oder
Mayor Bloomberg was at the under-construction Barclays Center arena this morning to announce a plan to fill 2,000 jobs at the future home of the Brooklyn Nets, with locals and residents of nearby housing projects given priority.
Developer Bruce Ratner, whose firm Forest City Ratner is building the Barclays Center, was enthusiastic but parsimonious with details. He said about 90 percent of the jobs will be part-time, up to 30 hours a week, with the remainder full-time. Ticket-takers and drink slingers don't work every day, and Ratner acknowledged that "at any one time, we'll have at most 800 people in the arena ... on a major event.
So, what would be the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, a not uncommon measure?
"I don't have any idea what that is," responded the famously data-driven mayor.
It was pointed out to him that the Empire State Development Corporation estimated FTE employment at 1,120.
"The state can say anything they want," responded Bloomberg testily. "I don't know."
Posted by eric at April 27, 2012 1:54 PM