Wow, we here at The Prodigal Borough really have been asleep at the wheel, because we haven't been following this at all. I'm glad that everyone here was able to live up to their worst imaginable reputations. Although, apparently our (by which I mean Staten Island's) reputation isn't as bad as we might have thought:
"Staten Island's reputation as a bit of the upper echelon or more upwardly mobile crowd lends one to wonder how they will feel when NASCAR fans descend on their 'turf' a few times a year." I don't know which Staten Island he was talking about, but I'd like to buy that guy a Pabst Blue Ribbon just to show him that we're not all wainscoting and lavender over here!
But seriously, why don't they build something we can really use out here, like a subway to Manhattan?
Germane Insanity-Related Links:
www.si4nascar.com
Fallout Continues From Rowdy NASCAR Hearing on Staten Island NY1
Royal Rumble Pre-empts Thursday Night Car Racing, Curbed.com
A subway...sigh. That's so very Field of Dreams, I can't even get my head around it. I wouldn't mind a new hospital (seeing as we only have 2 to service over 400,000 people, and neither are city-sponsored and one is on the brink of bankruptcy) or a supermarket in St. George. Or turning the Paramount into an independent movie theater.
ReplyDeleteLet's compare: The Jets want to have a new stadium in Manhattan, used at least 10-12 weekends a year. All the city has to do is cough up the land on which to build for bargain basement price; $700,000,000 of OUR money to help build it; AND give a municipal guarantee to the bonds the Jets are going to float for their portion of the tab to get sub-market interest rates.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, NACSAR Inc. wants to build a track on abandoned farm of since-torn-down liquid natural gas tanks, land bought on the open market, located on the absolute border of the city, adjacent two major arteries out of the city, with potential ferry access, to be used 2-3 weekends per year, spending $900,000,000 of THEIR money; all the city has to do is build an off ramp.
Can someone explain what was remotely attractive about choice #1?
Are you saying that because option 1 sucked in comparison option 2 isn't that bad? Because, as they say in the old country, "the yellow dog is the brother of a jackal."
ReplyDelete