If you believe in the tooth fairy, this soccer stadium is for you.
You had mentioned Harrison, NJ in your Jan. 31 article “MLS to Queens? Visit Harrison, NJ first.” Why are you even looking over there? We have our own Harrison, NJ right here: It’s called Shea Stadium, now Citi Field. We have had Major League Baseball in this very location for approximately 50 years with absolutely no spinoff benefit to the neighborhood at all.
You can also throw in the United States Tennis Association Arthur Ashe tennis complex for good measure — still no development in the surrounding neighborhoods.
This is just a giveaway of public parklands to someone who will take the money and run. If this is such a great idea, try Central Park, Prospect Park, even Pelham Bay Park, or buy land and put it wherever you can. Why should the taxpayers have to finance it if it is such a great money-making deal? This stadium would ruin Flushing Meadows and turn the rest of it into a parking lot, just as we see with the tennis open in the summer.
No more of this beautiful park should be given away, no more!
Robert E. Hartling
Flushing