Dear Editor:
In defending Mason’s field of dreams (nightmares?), Jeff Spenkman has not made a single substantive point in support of the merits of the project. Rather, he has wasted his words calling me “mysterious” simply because I decline to give my last name (as if I want Mason’s people harassing me), and insinuating that I have some sort of inside information about the Rockefeller Group’s plans, which I don’t (the details have been reported previously in this very newspaper). Then he drones on about Mason’s inclusiveness and her ability to save us with her eagerness.
I stand by my position that a minor league ballpark in Hoboken is economically wasteful and an inappropriate use of land. Our society spends billions and billions of dollars building sports and entertainment palaces with taxpayer money…and to what end? The fact is that these stadiums and arenas do little to enhance local community life. They are essentially big empty shells that get animated for a few hours a week. They create charmless superblocks, waste municipal resources and often times fail. I am surprised that Mason wants to see an additional 6500 cars streaming into Hoboken every time there is a game, clogging up our roads and increasing congestion. Have you ever gone to the Prudential Center in Newark to see a Devils game or concert? The place is a traffic nightmare and the available mass transportation options in that instance are far superior to a single light rail station in Hoboken.
In addition, let me remind Mason that Newark built a minor league baseball stadium in 1999 for the Newark Bears which opened to great fanfare and hoopla. Then less than 10 years later the Newark Bears had to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as they owed over $4 million in back interest payments to creditors. I want to see a return to fiscal responsibility in Hoboken, not a half-baked economic boondoggle labeled a recreational opportunity.
Neither Spenkman, nor Mason, nor anybody else has put forth any compelling reasons why we should risk taxpayer money on this wasteful silliness. Hoboken needs more meaningful recreational space for its residents, offices that create well paying jobs and more affordable and workforce housing options. I will give Mason credit on one account, however, her vision is definitely minor league!
Sincerely,
Michelle