"A Yankees Station in the Bronx" in The New York Times, 4/9/6

A Yankees Station in the Bronx

Published: April 9, 2006

Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg were right to insist that a Metro-North station be included as part of the plan for a new stadium for the Yankees in the South Bronx. One big problem, though: there's no money in the budget of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to build it. That made the promised station seem little more than a negotiating ploy aimed at building support for the Yankees in the City Council.

Last week, the Yankees won an important vote in the Council that moves the stadium much closer to reality. So now it's time for the team to step up to the plate and help build the station, which could cost $40 million. Otherwise, funds will have to be diverted from other, long-delayed and more important mass transportation projects.

The Yankees, who have already stuck taxpayers with part of the bill for new parking garages, bristle at the thought of helping with transportation costs. But that's ridiculous posturing, and shortsighted as well. A Metro-North station would be good not only for the community but the team, whose Westchester fans have to drive or take a circuitous mass transit route to get to the Bronx. The mayor, governor and City Council should insist that the Yankees do their part.

We have already applauded the Yankees for their willingness to shell out more than $800 million to build the stadium itself. The Mets, who unveiled an Ebbets Field-inspired design for a new field of their own last week, deserve similar praise for agreeing to pay some $700 million. Financially, the two New York teams have not asked for the sort of free ride at taxpayer expense that has been commonplace elsewhere. But New York is not any other city. A stadium here is guaranteed to be wildly lucrative for the host team. And the city and state have been generous. The Mets will get at least $165 million in public assistance for infrastructure and other costs. The Yankees — whose deal is more complicated because they would consume land in two public parks — will receive at least $200 million in taxpayer help, not counting the train station.

On top of that, both teams want help through tax-exempt bonds and tax-alternative payments that could save each club tens of millions.

The Yankees worked hard to win over Bronx officials with a community benefits agreement. Some of it is the stuff of bread and circuses: 15,000 free tickets for distribution every season (hopefully not just to the well-connected). And some of it is real, including $1 million for job training and hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual community grants.

The Yankees also promise to spend $8 million on improving local parks, which should partly compensate for the green space the stadium will take away. On the whole, the agreement is a good start toward restitution for the many years in which the team, the richest sports franchise in the land, largely ignored residents of the disadvantaged South Bronx.

The team should be similarly forthcoming on the Metro-North station. It would be in the club's interest to do so. A Metro-North station could diminish the need for expensive parking garages, and reduce air pollution and congestion, making for happier fans and healthier neighbors. On this, the Yankees should not expect a free ride.