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Dolan vs Bloomberg (round 1)
Dolan vs Bloomberg (round 1)
jake
· 2004-04-05
Dolan vs Bloomberg (round 1)
Seems like they are going at it. Mayor blasts Dolans' 'fuss' over Jets project BY GLENN THRUSH STAFF WRITER March 29, 2004 Knicks season-ticker holder Michael Bloomberg is taking aim at Knicks-Cablevision boss James Dolan for trying to block City Hall's West Side Stadium plan for the Jets. Bloomberg, speaking to Newsday on Sunday, revealed that Dolan - who has not taken a public position on the $2.8 billion stadium project - has been calling him at City Hall in a futile attempt to block the development deal involving the city, state and Jets. The mayor, who has been stumping for the plan since it was unveiled last week, says Madison Square Garden's management is "scared to death" of any competition posed by a 75,000-seat stadium and an expanded Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. "The biggest guys that are making a fuss here, are plain and simple, Cablevision - the Dolans," the mayor said, referring to James and his father, Charles, who effectively run Cablevision. "It is an outrage that you let your own personal economics, or economic interests stop a major project in this city." Bloomberg said James Dolan called City Hall last week to express disbelief that the deal was finally moving forward. "'You're killing me,' was, I think, the ways he started out the conversation," Bloomberg said. The mayor said he responded with: "Jimmy, I've been telling you all along, we are going to build this." Bloomberg said he supports the idea of working with the Dolans to renovate the wilting Garden, one of the NBA's oldest arenas, even though he accused the father-and-son management team of "dithering around" on the project for years. A spokesman for the Dolans said last night: "Cablevision and MSG will be articulating our position on this matter in the coming days, and will address the mayor's comments at that time." West Side community groups, and some Broadway theater owners, have also lined up against the massive project, saying it would greatly worsen traffic problems and pollution. Dolan has long been rumored to oppose the plan, but the mayor's comments were the first public indication that MSG officials were lobbying against it. Knicks officials have also reportedly been miffed about Bloomberg's support of the Nets' move to Brooklyn, which may dent the Garden's fan base. Bloomberg defended his administration's decision to spend billions on infrastructure improvements on the West Side, saying the choice of location was driven by Jets' owner Robert Wood Johnson's need to recoup his investment, not a bias against placing it in outer boroughs such as Queens. In a far-ranging interview, the mayor repeatedly praised Johnson for committing $800 million - much of which would have to be borrowed - to build the stadium. Bloomberg challenged other owners to make similar commitments before asking the city to spend lavishly on infrastructure improvements. "Let me ask you: How much are the Yankees and [Mets owner Fred] Wilpon willing to put up?" he said. "This guy [Johnson] is putting up $800 million. If somebody else walks in with $800 million - write it, quote me, Mike says he's pretty sure he can speak for the governor as well, both of us would like to talk to anybody who's got the money to do it." Shortly after entering office in 2002, Bloomberg scuttled his predecessor Rudolph Giuliani's plans to help subsidize new stadiums for the Yankees and Mets, saying the city couldn't afford the expense. The Jets-Javits plan must clear several state legislative hurdles before construction begins. Opponents have said they may sue to block it. Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/politics/nyc-nywest293727263mar29,0,2144483.story?coll=nyc-homepage-headlines
jake · 2004-04-05
Seems like they are going at it. Mayor blasts Dolans' 'fuss' over Jets project BY GLENN THRUSH STAFF WRITER March 29, 2004 Knicks season-ticker holder Michael Bloomberg is taking aim at Knicks-Cablevision boss James Dolan for trying to block City Hall's West Side Stadium plan for the Jets. Bloomberg, speaking to Newsday on Sunday, revealed that Dolan - who has not taken a public position on the $2.8 billion stadium project - has been calling him at City Hall in a futile attempt to block the development deal involving the city, state and Jets. The mayor, who has been stumping for the plan since it was unveiled last week, says Madison Square Garden's management is "scared to death" of any competition posed by a 75,000-seat stadium and an expanded Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. "The biggest guys that are making a fuss here, are plain and simple, Cablevision - the Dolans," the mayor said, referring to James and his father, Charles, who effectively run Cablevision. "It is an outrage that you let your own personal economics, or economic interests stop a major project in this city." Bloomberg said James Dolan called City Hall last week to express disbelief that the deal was finally moving forward. "'You're killing me,' was, I think, the ways he started out the conversation," Bloomberg said. The mayor said he responded with: "Jimmy, I've been telling you all along, we are going to build this." Bloomberg said he supports the idea of working with the Dolans to renovate the wilting Garden, one of the NBA's oldest arenas, even though he accused the father-and-son management team of "dithering around" on the project for years. A spokesman for the Dolans said last night: "Cablevision and MSG will be articulating our position on this matter in the coming days, and will address the mayor's comments at that time." West Side community groups, and some Broadway theater owners, have also lined up against the massive project, saying it would greatly worsen traffic problems and pollution. Dolan has long been rumored to oppose the plan, but the mayor's comments were the first public indication that MSG officials were lobbying against it. Knicks officials have also reportedly been miffed about Bloomberg's support of the Nets' move to Brooklyn, which may dent the Garden's fan base. Bloomberg defended his administration's decision to spend billions on infrastructure improvements on the West Side, saying the choice of location was driven by Jets' owner Robert Wood Johnson's need to recoup his investment, not a bias against placing it in outer boroughs such as Queens. In a far-ranging interview, the mayor repeatedly praised Johnson for committing $800 million - much of which would have to be borrowed - to build the stadium. Bloomberg challenged other owners to make similar commitments before asking the city to spend lavishly on infrastructure improvements. "Let me ask you: How much are the Yankees and [Mets owner Fred] Wilpon willing to put up?" he said. "This guy [Johnson] is putting up $800 million. If somebody else walks in with $800 million - write it, quote me, Mike says he's pretty sure he can speak for the governor as well, both of us would like to talk to anybody who's got the money to do it." Shortly after entering office in 2002, Bloomberg scuttled his predecessor Rudolph Giuliani's plans to help subsidize new stadiums for the Yankees and Mets, saying the city couldn't afford the expense. The Jets-Javits plan must clear several state legislative hurdles before construction begins. Opponents have said they may sue to block it. Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.Dolan vs Bloomberg (round 1)
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/politics/nyc-nywest293727263mar29,0,2144483.story?coll=nyc-homepage-headlines