I touched on this in the other entry, but there have been other projects in the Bx that have been approved before the Stadium project, and there are other projects in other boroughs that are independent of the Stadium project.

Given the way things work, I would not be surprised if they were related, but at the same time, I would not be surprised if these projects were independent.

You’ve shifted the argument: the Park versus the Stadium is nother issue altogether. Assuming the park land is eventually replicated in the area, I don’t even think it is an issue. Otherwise, I am not really sure how you make the determination. While someone who heavily uses the park would be worse off, one who never stepped into it likely wouldn’t care. I haven’t polled all of the area residents, but if they feel as you do, they need to elect new community leaders, most of whom clamored to keep the Yankees in that location.

I’ll also make one more point about the jobs and economic activity. Again, seasonal jobs might not register as being important to some, but for the thousands who hold them, I am sure there is real economic value. Also, more than just Stan’s benefits from stadium traffic. There are bodegas, delis, franchises, souvenir stands, taxi companies, parking attendants and other similar businesses that benefit. Are we talking about 100 people….1,000 people…I don’t know. But there are enough people who depend on the economic activity generated by the Stadium to make one at least pause before dismissing them.

As for the jobs: for the investment the taxpayers are making, I would hope for more than jobs that provide a few hours a day, 81 days a year.

Economic growth for the area doesn’t come from money spent in the Stadium. If the Yankees did move away, the only businesses that would be seriously affected would be Stan’s Sports Bar et al. The area’s economy would be essentially unaffected.

Here’s my one starting premise: the new Stadium provides no benefits to the community that outweigh the loss of Macombs Dam Park. The new parkland, if it ever materializes, won’t do that either. I firmly believe that this neighborhood would be better off with a park and no Stadium, if that’s what it came to.

Good. I hate it when politicians put in things such as voter approved term limits and then do an end run around them.

[6] The Yankees and Mets both had deals in place when Guliani left office. When Bloomberg took over, he reworked them to account for the post 9/11 economic downturn. The threats ceased because real negotiations were taking place.

Historically, the Meadowlands, Yonkers and the west side of Manhattan were 3 potential locations.