The Queens Eagle is paying attention….

Protestors went back and forth with State Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry this weekend over his bill to clear the way for Mets owner Steve Cohen to put a casino on the Citi Field parking lot.

“Assemblymember Aubry’s bill enables an over 60-acre land grab in our communities,” said Rebecca Pryor, of Guardians of Flushing Bay. “If this was happening in Manhattan, no one would let it through. Sixty-acres of public parkland giving away for private profit, never, ever would that happen. That is happening here, and that is why this is an environmental injustice.”via Queens Eagle

Via MLSsoccer.com

The 25,000-seat venue, privately financed at $780 million, is one aspect of the Willets Point Revitalization Plan. Aside from New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium, the project would include the city’s largest 100% affordable housing development in 40 years (estimated 2,500 units) amid pedestrian-friendly, 21st-century urban planning principles. It will also include over 40,000 square feet of public open space, a 650-seat school, a 250-key hotel, and ground-floor retail shops.

See, what these guys are doing is building on land that is not parkland, and trying to make the neighborhood better.  One might argue that a casino would take this new cool neighborhood and make it worse for the people who live there as a casino would bring additional traffic to the area….whereas those looking for outdoor space can enjoy the 40,000 square feet that comes along with the soccer stadium.

Hopefully our local politicians will realize that handing over parkland to a billionaire is not in the best interest of the community.

One thing I will say about these soccer renderings – it’s unclear to me where people are going to park, unless something is worked out with the parking lot by Citi Field.  Also I worry about traffic traveling that final block if the parking is over by the soccer field.

Now add in a casino, and this could be a traffic nightmare!

 

UPDATE: I see the Queens Eagle discussed the parking…

The Mets agreed to allow New York City Football Club to use their parking lot, which is owned by the city but leased to the Mets, during games. Should Cohen be awarded a casino license and construction on the lot begin at some point in the coming years, (New York City economic development corporation president and CEO Andrew) Kimball dismissed the idea that the two projects may clash.

“All I can say is, in the various scenarios of what the future might hold, there will be just as much parking as there is today to meet the needs of Citi Field for the Mets and for future soccer games here,” he said. “That’s not an issue.” (via Queens Eagle)

 

 

The MLB Store shared that one of their crew was wearing this..

While this should  NEVER be worn by a baseball team, the bright NY pops here the way the old Hybrid caps never did,

 

That’s George Costanza!  Stop saying it’s Steve Cohen. It is NOT Steve Cohen!!!! It is George Costanza. It looks nothing like Steve Cohen. Stop making jokes that Steve Cohen is George Costanza because he’s NOT, alright?

 

A report by The City says….

The baseball titan spent nearly $100,000 on lobbyists in the first two months of the year — the most recent data available — aiming to get more than a dozen Council members on his team as he appeals to Albany lawmakers to permit development on what is officially parkland controlled by the state.

..

State Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry (D-Queens) introduced a park alienation bill in March, the first step to authorize any development on the 50 acres surrounding the city-owned ballpark.

..

Hollis Public Affairs, Lemma Strategies, MirRam Group LLC and Moonshot Strategies were each paid $91,500 over the first two months of the year for their outreach, mostly to Council members, records show. (via The City)

…

At the visioning sessions, most participants listed “gaming,” which includes a casino, near the bottom of both what they’d like to see year-round at the area, and what would improve a day at the stadium.

Most said they’d like to see more public green space, restaurants and bars, and a food hall with local vendors, as well as live entertainment.

The group also did canvassing in and around the neighborhoods surrounding the ballpark, speaking English, Spanish, Korean and Chinese, according to a report set to be released Tuesday. 

Of the 10,000 residents they say they spoke with, the most popular wish was “green space.” via The City

 

So there ya have it Steve.  I believe your general vibe was that asphalt wasn’t a great use of parkland, so why not be a Community Leader and donate some finds to get the local people the green space they want.

It’s a very good read in via The City I recommend you check out.  You can learn which politicians want to give parkland to billionaires, and which politicians want to protect the land for the people.

I fully encourage anyone wanting to build in the Citi Field area to check out the prospect of buying some land on the east side of 126th Street.  Maybe a casino would like nice over there since it’s not a park.