Goddamn Yankees

Unless something strange happens — something strange like, I don’t know, the City Council actually giving a shit about the residents living across the street from the site of a proposed new stadium or, say, someone in city government acting like they’re being responsible with public funds — the House That George Built Using Parkland And $135 Million Of City Money will move forward:

Last-minute haggling continued yesterday, but the Yankees’ plan to build a new $800 million stadium on appropriated parkland appears headed for approval tomorrow in the City Council.

Council insiders involved in the process said two committees are expected to approve the stadium project in the morning, allowing the full Council to give its approval at its afternoon session.

So far, only one of the eight Bronx Council members has publicly declared she will vote against the stadium plan — Helen Foster (D-Highbridge), whose district physically borders Yankee Stadium but doesn’t include it.

. . .

Under the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process, the Council has until tomorrow to vote on the Yankees’ and city’s plan to build a new 53,000-seat stadium on 13 acres of parkland on 161st St. across from the Bombers’ current 83-year-old stadium.

. . .

The new stadium would occupy 13 acres sliced out of Macombs Dam Park and John Mullaly Park. Other pieces ofthe two parks also would be used for four new parking garages.

The city, in turn, has promised to spend $135 million to create 28 acres of new parkland and recreation space, including turning the House That Ruth Built into a “Heritage Field” baseball facility for youth teams.

The state will also spend $70 million to finance the construction of the four parking garages.

Is it supposed to be some kind of consolation that the Yankees are willing to spend $800 million on the new stadium when taxpayers will contribute $205 million in public money? Do you know what you could get for $205 million? It would just about cover, for example, the City of Newark’s entire contribution to the proposed arena for the Devils (according to sources, $210 million).

Still, the best part of the deal is that the Yankees are willing to spend a whopping $28 million over 40 years to support causes in the Bronx:

And though it’s not officially part of the plan the Council will vote on, the Yankees have offered a community benefits agreement that includes distribution of $28 million over 40 years — at $700,000 a year — to local nonprofit organizations, schools and sports groups.

Of course! We give you $205 million in infrastructure improvements and you give us $28 million over 40 years. What an idea . . . I’m glad this isn’t controversial or anything.

For your entertainment and/or to raise your blood pressure — Lukas Herbert’s Unnoffical Guide To The Yankee Stadium Draft Environmental Impact Statement (.pdf). An excerpt:

The Yankees have made it clear that they want a modernized facility, with more space and more amenities, for their team. No longer will the majority of the seats be on the upper deck. No longer will the seats be too narrow for today’s expanded waistlines. No longer will the concourses be crowded with people, and the lines to buy a hot dog too long. No longer would the Yankees have to share a weight room with the opposing visiting team. The new stadium would fix all of these problems — plus you’d get a stadium that reminds you of a past stadium that was destroyed . . . AND you’d get a cup-holder at your seat. There would also be more parking. And the team would not move to New Jersey, a perennial threat that most New Yorkers have learned to simply ignore.

But the worst thing — the worst thing — is that the new plan makes getting loaded at those skeevy-yobbo River Avenue bars that much less convenient. Bastards!