1/30/6, WABC: "Bronx residents angry over Yankee plans"

Bronx residents angry over Yankee plans

Eyewitness News' Dave Evans
(New York-WABC, January 30, 2006)

Residents of the Bronx are sounding off tonight about the New Yankee Stadium.
Many have raised questions about the project -- especially the loss of park land around the stadium.

Now there's a new plan -- but the critics still don't like it. Political Reporter Dave Evans has the story.

It was supposed to be the project everybody loved: an $800 million Yankees Stadium paid for by the Yankees. But plenty of neighbors are upset about it.

Anthony Curry lives a block from the current stadium and he'll live right next door to the new one.

"I'm a Yankee fan, I'm a die-hard Yankees fan. Sheffield is my favorite player right now. However, Yankees themselves and people who come down to the Yankees games have never been a good neighbor," Curry said.

Plans unveiled today show a new Yankees Stadium will open in the spring of 2009. The old stadium is to be torn down, the wall goes away and the Yankees will build four new little league ballfields. They'll also put new tennis courts and an ice skating rink but neighbors say it's not enough.

One big worry of the neighborhood? This park and stadium will disappear during construction. But today, Yankees President Randy Levine said neighborhood concerns have been addressed. He calls a new stadium good for the Bronx.

Bronx Borough President, Adolfo Carrion, says opposition is a tiny minority in the Bronx. He says stopping George Steinbrenner at this point? Impossible.