A group of activists and Corona residents gathered along the outer wall of the Willets Point construction site, where Phase 1 of the city’s development project is underway, to voice their opposition to the potential building of a soccer stadium in the area this past Sunday.
Though Mayor Adams’ office told the Chronicle that no agreement has been made for a stadium — which would permanently house the New York City Football Club — at this point, state lobbying records show that the team’s owners, the City Football Group, have pitched the stadium to numerous area stakeholders, including Adams and Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Corona) [see separate story].
Upon hearing the news, longtime activist Bertha Lewis joined forces with the Black Leadership Action Coalition, Nos Quedamos Queens and former Councilman and state Sen. Hiram Monserrate, for Sunday’s rally.
“Our city, as the mayor has stated, has a housing crisis,” Monserrate said Sunday afternoon. “But somehow, our local councilmember and others have concocted a scheme to build another, fourth stadium in this neighborhood — number four — 25,000 more seats, when people don’t have a damn place to live.”
The news of a potential NYCFC stadium is the latest in a years-long saga surrounding development proposed for the area, during which time a previous soccer stadium, a shopping mall and, most recently, a casino, have been proposed for the broader Willets Point-Flushing Meadows Corona Park area. All of those plans, including the casino, have been met with widespread opposition from residents in the surrounding communities.
Not only do stadium opponents believe that the need for housing supersedes the need for the borough’s fourth stadium, but the 1,100 units of housing slated for Willets Point is far fewer than the 5,500 agreed upon in 2007 (a deal Monserrate helped broker), prior to the construction of Citi Field.
“It’s an insult. It’s ridiculous,” Lewis told the Chronicle. “1,100 units. And, oh, we’re supposed to be happy with that? It’s the same story.”
She added that 5,500 units of housing need to be built before anything else is, along with the school the public was promised; the latter is part of the current plan.
One of the chief arguments in favor of building a soccer stadium at Willets Point is that it would create a myriad of new jobs, both in the construction process and once the stadium opens. But Lewis rejects that argument outright.
“You mean selling hot dogs and popcorn? You think that’s a nice career? Don’t give me that bulls--t,” Lewis said.
13 comments:
Fuck your soccer stadium Unless I get some "Honest Graft" out of it says Monserratte.
I predict a deal will be struck... Hiram knows where to squeeze and where to "Cause trouble"
Homeless Housing or Publicly Funded Sports Stadiums; great choice. I'm always happy when I read the stupid ideas New Yorker's are faced with and glad I left that rat-hole a long time ago. Have fun!
Bunch of disgruntled NFL fans. They can’t stand the thought of a game without time outs and separate teams for each play.
The pendulum swings back and forth and the sheep are chasing each others tails.
"They can’t stand the thought of a game without time outs"
You mean a game where guys aimlessly kick a ball back and forth, accomplishing nothing, and eventually you get 15 seconds of excitement? Followed by ten more minutes of nothing.
No mention of all the small businesses forced out of that area and livelihoods ruined by the City to make room for these stadiums and apartments?
@Homeless Housing or Publicly Funded Sports Stadiums; great choice. I'm always happy when I read the stupid ideas New Yorker's are faced with and glad I left that rat-hole a long time ago. Have fun!
Not to mention the fact the Biorobot is sending $8.5 billion to the money laundry known as Ukraine.
Think affordable rockets!
@NPC Doofus,
That's what you call a sport. Not 3 hours of commercials with a few minutes of some over paid dude scratching his balls or standing around waiting to be told to run in a certain direction at a certain time by a control freak coach.
Real Mericans can’t handle real sports.
Prove me wrong ..,
@Prove me wrong ..,
No need, you prove yourself wrong each and every time.
The 1994 World Cup was one of the most successful world Cup's ever.
Regardless, this crap stadium had no place in Queens.
Is not about the sport, there is no infrastructure for the traffic, parking, etc (take Citi Field as an example), is pure money laundry nothing else.
Fuk the NFL too.
Hiram is like a virus that keeps mutating, keeps coming back. What a psycho.
Bertha Lewis... wasn't she the head of ACORN when Ratner did the Barclay Stadium deal in Brooklyn?
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