jake · 2005-03-09 RANGEL JOINS TEAM BACKING STADIUM
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/42077.htm
SURPRISE! RANGEL JOINS TEAM BACKING STADIUM
By DAVID SEIFMAN
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March 8, 2005 -- The fiercely contested West Side stadium plan won an important and unexpected ally yesterday — Rep. Charles Rangel, dean of the city's congressional delegation.
Rangel's surprise support came at a press conference in Queens with Mayor Bloomberg, who previously had named the veteran Democrat as chairman of a commission to boost minority hiring in the construction industry.
Rangel was initially neutral about the stadium. But after Ed Malloy, president of the Building & Construction Trades Council, proclaimed that "this [minority hiring] program will only be successful if there's job creation and economic activity," Rangel abandoned his fence-sitting.
"If the international community says . . . that they need the stadium, then, certainly, I am for the stadium," Rangel declared after being pressed repeatedly by reporters.
Rangel has been courted for months by Bloomberg's team. One insider also said the Jets have been lobbying for months to win over Rangel.
The Democratic mayoral candidates, who have been attacking the stadium proposal on a near-daily basis, were caught off guard.
Steve Sigmund, a spokesman for City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, said, "It just reinforces that the mayor has undermined our Olympic bid by not putting out a backup plan for a state-of-the-art Olympic stadium in Queens."
Rep. Anthony Weiner said, "Charlie's a brilliant guy, but I disagree with him on this one. Hopefully, he'll come with me to the opening of the new Jets stadium where it belongs — in Willets Point [Queens]."
One government source outside the administration said Rangel has become "really concerned" about the high unemployment rate among minorities and his stance on the stadium is a natural outgrowth of that position.
"He sees an opportunity for jobs," said the source.
Meanwhile, the Jets planned a new round of pro-stadium advertising this week that would cost about $250,000, a team official said.
Madison Square Garden and others who oppose the West Side stadium have outspent the Jets and their backers by about $7.5 million to $5 million.
Jets officials have complained that they are being blocked from airing their ads on cable systems controlled by Cablevision, which owns MSG.
"They will not take our ads," Jets President Jay Cross fumed during an interview on NY1.
"And so, our poll numbers show we're always more behind in those neighborhoods."
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jake · 2005-03-09
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/42077.htm SURPRISE! RANGEL JOINS TEAM BACKING STADIUM By DAVID SEIFMAN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 8, 2005 -- The fiercely contested West Side stadium plan won an important and unexpected ally yesterday — Rep. Charles Rangel, dean of the city's congressional delegation. Rangel's surprise support came at a press conference in Queens with Mayor Bloomberg, who previously had named the veteran Democrat as chairman of a commission to boost minority hiring in the construction industry. Rangel was initially neutral about the stadium. But after Ed Malloy, president of the Building & Construction Trades Council, proclaimed that "this [minority hiring] program will only be successful if there's job creation and economic activity," Rangel abandoned his fence-sitting. "If the international community says . . . that they need the stadium, then, certainly, I am for the stadium," Rangel declared after being pressed repeatedly by reporters. Rangel has been courted for months by Bloomberg's team. One insider also said the Jets have been lobbying for months to win over Rangel. The Democratic mayoral candidates, who have been attacking the stadium proposal on a near-daily basis, were caught off guard. Steve Sigmund, a spokesman for City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, said, "It just reinforces that the mayor has undermined our Olympic bid by not putting out a backup plan for a state-of-the-art Olympic stadium in Queens." Rep. Anthony Weiner said, "Charlie's a brilliant guy, but I disagree with him on this one. Hopefully, he'll come with me to the opening of the new Jets stadium where it belongs — in Willets Point [Queens]." One government source outside the administration said Rangel has become "really concerned" about the high unemployment rate among minorities and his stance on the stadium is a natural outgrowth of that position. "He sees an opportunity for jobs," said the source. Meanwhile, the Jets planned a new round of pro-stadium advertising this week that would cost about $250,000, a team official said. Madison Square Garden and others who oppose the West Side stadium have outspent the Jets and their backers by about $7.5 million to $5 million. Jets officials have complained that they are being blocked from airing their ads on cable systems controlled by Cablevision, which owns MSG. "They will not take our ads," Jets President Jay Cross fumed during an interview on NY1. "And so, our poll numbers show we're always more behind in those neighborhoods." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK POST is a registered trademark of NYP Holdings, Inc. NYPOST.COM, NYPOSTONLINE.COM, and NEWYORKPOST.COM are trademarks of NYP Holdings, Inc. Copyright 2005 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/42077.htmRANGEL JOINS TEAM BACKING STADIUM
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