Patrick Centolanzi of WestSideStadium.org responds to
New York Newsday Editorial of September 16th, 2004

I understand that Newsday has a right to express its editorial opinion ("WEST SIDE ULTIMATUM: Bloomberg shouldn't try to scare NYers into supporting stadium," September 16, 2004).

There are many misstatements of the facts in this piece.

You suggest that "lots of accessible land is available in Flushing that could accommodate - with little fuss," a stadium. If you check the Environmental Impact Statement Issued by the NYC Department of City Planning, you will see that the site in Queens was studied in detail. Because the land in Flushing is swampy, a very expensive foundation structure would be required to build the stadium.

There are businesses that would be displaced in Flushing -- no businesses would be displaced by a stadium on the Hudson Yards.

Very few conventions will want to go to Flushing.

I would not support any public investment in a stadium in Queens. The Jets are offering to make an $800 million private investment in our city. They have no desire to build a stadium in the swamps of Queens -- they already have a stadium in the swamps of the Meadowlands. I think it is disingenuous for you or anyone else to suggest where the Jets will spend their money.

The Stadium must be under construction by July 2005 if we are to compete for the Olympics. Do you think we can put a shovel in the ground for a $1.4 billion facility in just ten short months?

Well, you have a right to your opinion.

Patrick M. Centolanzi, PE