Sen. Lautenberg tours site of new stadium for Giants, Jets EAST RUTHERFORD (AP) -- With piledrivers pinging in the background, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg today toured the dusty and noisy stadium site that will be the new home of the Giants and the Jets. Lautenberg, D-N.J., was given an update on the joint $1.4 billion stadium venture by the two NFL teams and briefed on the Jets' plans to move their practice facility and team headquarters to Florham Park, about 30 minutes west of the Meadowlands. The senator voiced some concern that game-day traffic problems caused by construction on the stadium that is scheduled to open in 2010 would create an environmental problem. "My principal issue is transportation, the environment, because if you have a few thousand cars sitting out there not moving, that's not good for the environment," said Lautenberg, who arrived wearing a yellow construction safety vest. While expressing pride in the new stadium, which will be built fewer than 100 yards from the teams' current home, Giants Stadium, Lautenberg again asked the clubs to reconsider changing their names from New York to New Jersey and to rub the "NY" off their helmets. "It's is going to be an exciting landmark for New Jersey when the games are in season and on TV, and my only request is that they stop using New York," Lautenberg said. "When they say New York is on the 30, I am not sure another football team is playing here. I understand it's contractual and never to be changed, but that doesn't prevent us from hoping, because so much of the attendance and interest is New Jersey born." The 2.2 million square-foot stadium will seat 82,000 spectators and include 217 luxury suite boxes. It is being built by Skanska, a Swedish construction company.
State Senator Frank Lousenberg always sticks his political nose in everything, everywhere and anytime, strictly to make political hay. Now he wants the NY Jets to change their name to NJ? I'm from NJ and even I think that's ridiculous. But of course, it'll make him "popular" come time to be re-elected, so I guess most of the @ssholes in my state who vote for him every term get what they deserve. The guy needs a rocking chair and a dish of ice cream.
Great. Just what we need, the federal government politicians sticking their nose in looking for their kickback.
