Jets Stadium--YES!

I live in a place, Greenwich Village, where blind and dumb politicians lead a politically naive populace into positions that defy the best interests of New York City. The new generation of New Yorkers, who don't remember the great decline of NYC in the 70s, want once again to make the City the most business-unfriendly place on the planet. It was the attitude that chased businesses out in the past, and will keep the City from lasting greatness.

There's almost no one here (I live at the corner of W. 13th St. & 6th Ave.) who supports building Jets Stadium on the west side, a mile away, in the 30s. Somehow, they think that traffic will back up into the Village, or that it's too much money, or that the City is too crowded as is, or that we need housing rather than a sports team.

Mayor Bloomberg has been steadfast in the face of this opposition, which includes all the elected representatives of this area: dimwitted Councilmember Christine Quinn, lazybones State Senator Tom Duane, and the otherwise decent Assemblymember Deborah Glick.

Let me make this clear: I hate football. Hate it so much that, when I see it on a TV set within 20 feet of me, my endorphin level sinks. I get depressed. I loathe the game and everyone who plays it and everyone who makes it a central part of his or her life.

But, a major city must have major league teams. The City of New York let both of its teams skulk out of town, take a better deal in New Jersey, depriving what we like to believe is the world's greatest city of any team playing the country's number one sport.

New York is densely settled. That's how we live: densely packed, hooked on street action, addicted to choices. The Jets will provide one more choice, which is only for the good of the City. Do people really think, after the building boom in Times Square, that one more venue is going to make any difference at all? Will anyone notice it? We travel by foot and by subway--the only effect the stadium will have is to make it easier to get around by subway. The No. 7 train will be extended, at last, to make it easy to reach the stadium, the convention center, and anything else in this developing area.

Car owners don't want it built because they might be delayed in getting to and from their weekend homes--boo-hoo. Assuming that lots of people drive to the stadium rather than take a subway or ferry, the effect will be minimal. Football games take place maybe 8 days per year. Add in rock concerts, conventions, anything else you can think of , and it'll still be no more than 20 or 30 days every year. We can cope with this. It'll be fine. You won't even notice.

I've been to lots of American city's with downtown stadiums and much worse public transit than New York. Look at Boston, Detroit, Denver, Philly, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, St. Louis--they've all got downtown stadiums, which generate excitement all around them.

Then look at the area where the Jets Stadium will be. It's isolated, deserted, dangerous. Businesses close early. There's no night life. It's the perfect place of a major entertainment complex--the stadium, the Convention Center, then theaters and shops. The stadium, sitting near the river, will become a part of the skyline, a visible symbol of the greatness of New York.

With all the good to come out of the stadium, Villagers cower in fear. The politicians have piled on the issue, braying about how the quality of life will sink to that experienced by the populace of Calcutta.

Forget it! We've got to remain a vibrant city, competetive in every way, including sports. Once the stadium is built, everyone will love it. We'll go, if not for the football, then for the next Rolling Stones concert. Fear stasis, not change. We've got to add to the glow of NYC, and the stadium will make NYC luminesce. Go Jets! (Just don't make me watch a game.)