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WASHINGTON, May 4, 2005 -- Before the West Side stadium became the subject of controversy, I strongly supported the city's efforts to stage the Olympics in our great city, and I still do. When it became known that an Olympic Stadium was the central requirement to host the Games and a West Side location was the only alternative, I accepted the stadium as the only hope to attract the Games, which promise permanent economic benefits to the city.
The Olympics will not only showcase New York, the Games will generate thousands of jobs, housing, long-term improvements to the city's infrastructure, and millions of dollars in revenues. As for the stadium, advocates project upwards of 7,000 full-time and twice as many temporary construction jobs.
In arriving at my position, I consulted with a wide range of community and civic leaders on the importance of the Olympics as an economic engine for the city. Assured that no public funds that could be used for other purposes would be appropriated for the stadium, I carefully weighed the arguments on both sides, including those from surrounding neighborhoods who have problems with the project.
There is no question that this is a sensitive issue which I wish the city could resolve by finding a location acceptable to everyone. In the meantime, I will do everything in my power to see to it that the community's concerns are addressed by the responsible city and state officials.
The City of New York is on the threshold of an economic development boom and the jobs that go along with it. Following are some of the projects planned or underway in Manhattan alone: Lower Manhattan Development, Javits Center Expansion, 125th Street Pier, Harlem Park Marriott Hotel, the Columbia University Expansion, East River Plaza, Greenwald Housing/Mall, and the Loew's Victoria Redevelopment.
I am an Olympics man and a jobs man. If a new stadium is a prerequisite to the city's economic development goals, then so be it.
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