Before we begin…

In Matter of Avella v. City of New York, 2017 N.Y. Slip Op. 04383 (N.Y. June 6, 2017), the Court upheld a decision by the Appellate Division, First Department, blocking construction of the so-called “Willets West” project on Citi Field’s parking lot, where Shea Stadium once stood. The Court, relying on the public trust doctrine – a fixture of New York law for well more than a century – found that the proposed development had not been authorized by the New York State legislature and, therefore, could not move forward. The Court’s narrow reading of what the legislature had authorized – over the dissent of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore – suggests that in the future it might construe other legislative directives as narrowly when the public trust doctrine at issue

…

In 2011, Queens Development Group, LLC (“QDG”) proposed a two-phase project for developing Willets Point, a 61-acre area of land near Citi Field that has long been considered to be blighted. Willets Point has no sewers, sidewalks, or streetlights; has potholed and rutted streets; and is prone to flooding.

The plan called for construction, in several staged phases, of retail space, a hotel, an outdoor space, a public school, and affordable housing in the Willets Point neighborhood, and the construction of a large-scale retail complex on property known as Willets West – currently, Citi Field’s parking lot.

QDG included Willets West in the development proposal under the theory that “the creation of a retail and entertainment center at Willets West w[ould] spur a critical perception change of Willets Point, establishing a sense of place and making it a destination where people want to live, work, and visit.”

The city approved QDG’s proposal in May 2012. Thereafter, a state senator, not-for-profit organizations, businesses, taxpayers, and users of Flushing Meadows Park brought an action seeking to enjoin the proposed development. They alleged that because the Willets West development was located within parkland, the public trust doctrine required legislative authorization, which had not been granted.

The Supreme Court, New York County, denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding. The Appellate Division, First Department, unanimously reversed and granted the petition to the extent of declaring that construction of Willets West on city parkland “without the authorization of the state legislature” violated the public trust doctrine, and enjoining any further steps toward its construction.

In its decision, the Court examined whether the New York State legislature had authorized construction at Willets West, on property that the petitioners contended was city parkland, of the retail shops, movie theater, restaurants, food court, public programming spaces, and rooftop farm proposed by QDG.

To resolve that question, it reviewed the legislation the state legislature had enacted in 1961, codified in Section 18-118 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York and titled, “Renting of stadium in Flushing Meadow park; exemption from down payment requirements.” This legislation authorized the development on city parkland of what came to be known as Shea Stadium. The Court ruled that the statute did not permit Willets West to move forward.

The Court explained that subdivision (a) of Section 18-118 granted the city the right to enter into contracts, leases, or rental agreements for persons wishing to use, occupy, or carry on activities in the whole or in any part of a stadium with appurtenant grounds, parking areas, and other facilities.

In the Court’s view, nothing in that language authorized the construction of a shopping mall or movie theater; rather, it authorized the city to enter into agreements permitting others to use the stadium and its “appurtenant facilities.”

The Court ruled that the “clear implication” of the reference to “appurtenant facilities” was that any such facilities “must be related to, part of, belonging to, or serving some purpose for, the stadium itself.” A shopping mall and movie theater, according to the Court, were not consistent with typical uses of a stadium.

(via FarrellFritz.com)

On to today’s news

STAY STRONG.  DO NOT FALL FOR THIS.  IT IS A PARK.

I know most of you are going to go “ooooh looks good” so let me start with the parking situation.  It’s already awful. Where ya gonna park?

And where are the soccer crowds gonna park?

WABC reports on the parkland without mentioning the park part.

Billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen is pitching a sprawling $8 billion hotel, music venue and casino at Citi Field in Queens.

The complex would be operated in conjunction with Hard Rock International

Cohen faces two immediate hurdles:

Use of the land requires approval from the state legislature and the governor;and the casino would be one of three new casino licenses slated to be issued by state gaming regulators in the downstate region, which includes New York City.

There is fierce competition among a dozen other applicants for the three licenses, with sites including Times Square, Hudson Yards, the Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point (until recently operated by Donald Trump), Coney Island and the Nassau Coliseum.

And two existing slots parlor operators, Genting at the Aqueduct racetrack and Empire Resorts MGM at Yonkers racetrack, are seeking two of three casino licenses to offer table games.

The property surrounding Citi Field is home to Flushing Corona Park, the U.S. Open Tennis Center, and a planned soccer stadium for New York City FC. That plan is backed by Mayor Eric Adams.

Plans to build a casino at the site have been rumored for months, but the details of Cohen’s proposal, along with confirmation by his partners, are only being released now.

Cohen has invested heavily in the site already, holding meetings with the community, hiring lobbyists and lining up support from elected officials. (Via ABC7)

Its a park, its a park, it’s a park.

Sing!

It’s a park!

It’s a park!

It’s a park!

Do not give this man a park.  He’s rich enough.  If wants the area to look nicer then do all this without the casino, hotels, bars and restaurant part.

A park is not a development site for billionaires.

QNS.com reminds you

“We believe that Steve Cohen is trying to create a perception of public support for a vague concept of an ‘entertainment venue’ — but that he may later misrepresent that as support for a casino to be built on the parkland,” Bayside community activist Jena Lanzetta said. “He’s soliciting public opinion, without disclosing that his plans impact public parkland, or that his true ambition is a casino. We will expose such deceptions every step of the way.”

“The land surrounding Citi Field is public parkland, part of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park,” said Richard Hellenbrecht, a founder and officer of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy. “Yes, it’s paved over and sometimes used as parking spaces for events at Citi Field. But the fact that it’s paved makes it perfectly suitable for the numerous concerts, circuses, festivals, marathons and other popular public events that are held year-round on that very parkland. For Cohen to imply that ‘vacant asphalt’ is all it is, or that it is unused as parkland, is deceptive and misleading — and plain wrong.”

“Touting the economic benefit of a casino is like putting the proverbial ‘lipstick on a pig.’ In fact, casinos extract wealth from communities, and typically weaken nearby businesses,” Juniper Park Civic Association President Tony Nunziato said. “Casinos depend on problem gamblers for their revenue base and living close to a casino increases the chances of becoming a problem gambler.” (via QNS.com)

If you want a better park, then build a better PARK.

Before we begin, I want to remind you to VOTE

The following is an opinion piece.

So let me get this right Steve, I want to make sure I have the timeline right.

Buck was let go so that whoever the new baseball boss was going to be could have a clean slate.  That was your choice.  David knew nothing about it. All you.  Fine. Let’s agree to that.  All you.

The next day or so David Stearns was hired, and he had nothing to do with letting Buck go.   Right.  What if he had wanted Buck, wasn’t that an option?  Steve did you even ask him about Buck?  Surely you didn’t let Buck go if that’s who David wanted – that would be odd.  But you didn’t give David that choice.  All you.  David had no idea.  Never spoke to Buck, never met Buck, never even heard of the guy.

Anyway, so David Stearns comes in – and as far as I can tell interviewed Craig Counsell, someone named Andy Green  (a Cubs bench coach) and Carlos Mendoza.   And that’s it?   The future of the franchise.  A search of guy that is a Brewer-Bro, and two random bench coaches.  That was the search.

Yesterday, out of nowhere comes a news story that the Mets have hired Mendoza.  WHAT?  What happened to Counsell?  Aren’t Former Wilpons Intern David Stearns and Counsell Brewer-bros?  Doesn’t Steve have tons of money?

Apparently money doesn’t talk, or Steve is suddenly cheap, or maybe David got played by his Brew-bro because about 10 minutes later we hear Counsell is going to the Cubs for a record amount of money.

Now let’s go deep conspiracy…

It seems to me, and what do I know as I am blogging from my mom’s basement, that the Mets got played and reacted fast, probably too fast.

They probably got wind that Counsell was going to the Cubs.

If that gets announced, before the Mets make a move, then whoever the Mets hire looks like their second choice.

So after a quick scramble in Queens, the Mets decide to go first and leak the Mendoza thing to whoever they leaked it to.   That makes Mendoza look like who they wanted all along.  RIIIIIIGHT.  We totally always wanted Carlos Mendoza.

Remember, Steve let Buck go, and Stearns had nothing to do with it.

Then, between September 12th and November 6th, Former Wilpons Intern David Stearns conducted an exhaustive search to see who should be the next manager – and interviewed three guys.

And, what a coincidence, Former Wilpons Intern David Stearnssettled on Carlos Mendoza just a few minutes before the Cubs picked their own manager.

Riiiiiiiight.

Don’t kid a kidder Steve.

Now let’s look ahead…..it’s the press conference.   Steve and Stearns tell us about the new culture.  Carlos relates to today’s players.  He has one of the smartest baseball minds in the game.  Of everyone we interviewed (three guys) he was easily the best fit for us.  Been there, heard it before.

Steve Gelbs always get the first question.   “Carlos, how does it feel to be the Mets manager?.”

But then……question 2.   And now on Carlos Mendoza’s big day, every question is going to be about Craig Counsell until the Mets pull the “lets throw it to the Spanish reporter” move to break up the narrative-gone-wrong….and then when they get back to newspaper type guys it will all be back to how NONE OF THIS STORY ADDS UP!

At some point everyone will realize that despite “Uncle Steve’s” money, this is a rebuild.  (Also don’t ignore that every release now says owners “Steve and Alex Cohen” or similar language )

So my guess….Carlos Mendoza gets two years like all Mets managers seem to get.   The local broadcasters will tell us this spring how impressed they are by Mendoza, as they do with all new managers.

And then after two more wasted seasons, Mendoza will be let go, and the Mets will hire 71 year old Joe Maddon….an experienced manager to steady the ship.   And around and around the cycle goes.

Good luck spinning this one David.  You were played.

Meanwhile, let’s see how Steve appeases the masses.  Will he throw some money at some players?  You have to market something?  Will he overpay Pete Alonso (decade long mistake) – probably.  You can’t market “Come see Pete Alonso’s Walk Year”    You can’t market “Come see Carlos Mendoza!”    So Steve will need to make a move.

And if all that fails…retire some more numbers.

You boys got played….adn Steve….your new big hire let you down and made you look bad.

What?  WHY?

Steve what the heck is this?

Let me guess….he speaks the language of today’s players and will bring a new culture to the organization.

Weird hire by Former Wilpons Intern David Stearns.

 

I’ve written about this in the past – the history of baseball seems to fit really nicely into 25 year(ish) eras, and it is time to close the books on the most recent one.

The Prehistoric Era – Cavemen until 1920.

Big Ed Walsh can win 40 games and you can be the home run champion with 12 HRs.

The Golden Age – 1920-1946.  

 I am using golden just because that’s how comic books do it. Gold then silver then Bronze.

Regardless, let’s start this in 1920 when Babe Ruth takes the home run record from 29 to 54.  You could make a case for doing this is 1919 when Ruth his 29, but when I see 1919 I think Black Sox, so let’s leave that in the muddy period of 9 Game World Series contests and other oddities.

In the Golden Age we have two 8 team leagues and segregation.

The Silver Age – 1947-1968.   

We begin with Jackie Robinson and see an age of pitching.  Expansion.  Teams moving around.  The West Coast becomes a thing.  Integration.

The Bronze Age – 1969-1994.

This is the baseball most of us grew up on.  4 Divisions. Pitching and stolen bases.  You can win the MVP with 30 HRs.  We knew the record book.   Then something broke.

The Steroids Age 1995-2019.

Baseball recovers from the missed World Series.  Cal Ripken hides some damage with his Gehrig chase.  McGwire and Sosa inject the sport with some enthusiasm and who knows what else.  Baseball gets a Subway Series and a Red Sox championship to continue to hide the cancer inside.

Bonds makes a run at the records and for the most part nobody cares.

By the end of the steroids age, the record book has been broken (in many ways) and it becomes increasingly noticeable that baseball has lost its way.

The Age of Death 2020-2045.

And now we are in the age of death.   Expanded playoffs.  The 5 seed plays the 6 seed in the MLB Finals which are little watched.  We pretend that anyone cares about Aaron Judge setting the “AL Record” for home runs.  A super balanced schedule.  The DH in the NL.   It all adds up to Who Cares.

Along with this, the bill has come due on the last 30 years.  Fox and MLB played the biggest games’ biggest moments after midnight on the east coast, and two generations grew up not watching baseball.  The boomers died off and Gen X became old men.

And baseball became horse racing, or boxing.  A grand sport of the 20th century that lost its way and became an also ran.

Welcome to The Age of Death commissioner Manfred.  Like the climate emergency, the signs were there and people were screaming about it for decades, but you just cashed those checks.  It’s not going to be your problem, it will be the problem of the next commissioner.

Don’t get me wrong.  The sport will continue.   Hockey sails along.  So does NASCAR.  MLS makes a living.  Baseball can live at this tier for another century no problem.   Now, it’s a second tier sport where nobody watches the big games.  Welcome to the minor leagues!