What If Bruno and Silver Were Around When...

Democrat Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the New York State Assembly, and Republican Joe Bruno, New York State Senate Majority Leader, are the chief obstructionists of building the West Side Stadium.

Both blocked the stadium's finance plans Monday, throwing a huge roadblock to building a West Side Stadium and Convention Center.

I'm really glad that the city obstructionists were not around in the past, when other iconic New York buildings were being planned. I can see these two saying things like:

"A park, in the center of Manhattan? Forget that, let's keep the low income housing there."

"We really shouldn't build the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan. The residents don't want it there. We should build it in Staten Island."

"Why build the Statue of Liberty in New York? We need more money for schools."

"Broadway? Why do we need Broadway? We need affordable healthcare in New York City."

"Madison Square Garden seems like a waste of money. It would be cheaper to have the Knicks and the Rangers play in New Jersey."

"You want to build a World Trade Center in lower Manhattan? We can't do that, it will ruin our view of the river."

"Why bother building Yankee Stadium? There's cheaper land in Hartford, CT. Besides, the 'Hartford Bombers' has a ring to it."


The fact is that the things that made New York City great needed money and political will to happen. When you stop building for the future, all you have left is the past.

Governor George Pataki and Mayor Mike Bloomberg have done what they can, but it doesn't look like it will be enough. I'm starting to think the stadium will not be built.

Sad.

New York is a great city to live in. One has to wonder for how long.


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