New York Post April 3, 2005 After months of holding his tongue, Sen. Charles Schumer for the first time publicly aired his opposition to a West Side stadium...

If a rumor that Sen. Charles Schumer may have said something against the stadium is all the opposition has to go on, they are in worse shape than I thought.

Cablevision is still running its virulent ads, but once the mayoral race starts in earnest, Cablevision will be forced to except pro-stadium spots because of the protected nature of political speech.

CHUCK SNIPES AT STADIUM
By STEFAN C. FRIEDMAN

April 3, 2005 -- After months of holding his tongue, Sen. Charles Schumer for the first time publicly aired his opposition to a West Side stadium at a recent fund-raiser for Democrats, a source at the event told The Post.

At a $100,000-per-table breakfast attended by many of the city's biggest real-estate developers, New York's senior senator openly questioned the financial sense of building a stadium over the Hudson Rail Yards, the source said.

"The senator said, 'I am pro-growth, but I don't think this deal is best for this property,' " the source, who insisted on anonymity, told The Post.

Schumer's comments — made before just more than 20 people — were his most extensive to date about the highly controversial project.

Until the event at the Regency, Schumer had repeatedly deferred comment on the stadium, instead vigorously advocating for the expansion of the Javits Center and the extension of the No. 7 subway line to the far West Side.

Schumer's words could provide some much-needed relief to stadium opponents, who last week saw the MTA unanimously vote to sell its air rights to the Jets.

"His coming out against the project would give more strength" to opponents, political consultant Hank Sheinkopf said.