"Pitchman Reggie bats for Stadium" NY Daily News 03/29/06

Pitchman Reggie bats for Stadium
BY FRANK LOMBARDI
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

Reggie Jackson was Mr. March for the Yankees yesterday as he helped pitch the Bombers' planned new ballpark at a City Council hearing - but the proposal got a Bronx cheer from opponents.

The Yankees want a new $800 million stadium on parkland near their current home but the plan has drawn fire from Bronx residents and officials upset over the loss of green space.

"I am first a minority," said Jackson. "The Yankees weren't always really a good partner in the Bronx."

But Jackson, a paid adviser to Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, argued the team is now reaching out to the community - and urged Council members to forge a "partnership" agreement with the Boss.

Mr. October was told his sales pitch before the planning subcommittee was "a day late and a dollar short" by Councilwoman Helen Foster (D-Bronx), who has been a sharp critic of aspects of the stadium plan.

The Yankees have pledged to provide at least 25% of the 900 permanent new jobs created by the stadium to local residents. They have also offered to spend about $700,000 a year for 40 years on youth and other community programs.

The Council is facing a deadline of next Wednesday for approving required land-use and lease arrangements.

Votes by the planning subcommittee and its parent Land Use Committee are required before the full Council can vote.

Yesterday's hearing ended without a vote, increasing the suspense of what will happen when the full Council takes up the issue next week.