Gov’s big scoop
At the groundbreaking for the Nets’ new Brooklyn arena yesterday, Gov. Paterson got some closure for what he says was one of the darkest times of his youth — the Nets’ trade of superstar Julius Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1976.
Dr. J’s departure was “one of the worst days of my life — before I became governor,” Paterson cracked yesterday at the groundbreaking.
The line got a standing ovation from the crowd — no doubt a lift for the governor, whose approval rating dipped to 21 percent in a recent Quinnipiac poll.
Paterson’s woes were also the basis of a sly dig by Mayor Bloomberg at the groundbreaking for the $1 billion project that will return professional sports to Brooklyn for the first time since the Dodgers departed after the 1957 season.
“I want to buy tickets,” Bloomberg cracked — drawing laughs even from Paterson, who has been accused of soliciting free admission to a Yankees World Series game.
Work began several weeks ago on the arena, to be called the Barclays Center, for the British bank that bought the naming rights for $400 million over 20 years.
It’s part of the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards project that will bring 16 commercial and residential high-rises to Prospect Heights.
Yesterday’s groundbreaking was a celebration for developer Bruce Ratner, who has pushed ahead despite a poor economy, a change in architects and 34 lawsuits seeking to shut down the project.
Citing estimates of the project’s economic impact — the arena alone is expected to bring the city $400 million in tax revenue over the next 30 years — Bloomberg said the delays won’t matter in the long term.
“No one will remember how long it took — only that it made a difference,” he said.
Borough President Marty Markowitz claimed a big helping of credit for the project, which he said “began as a dream I had of bringing major league sports back to Brooklyn, which lost those bums, the Dodgers, 53 years ago.”
Nets co-owner Jay-Z, on hand with wife Beyoncé, said he was “very proud” to be bringing a team to Brooklyn.
Protesters are still hoping to stall the project, and 100 of them gathered a few blocks from the groundbreaking.
