Other than some vague talk about how it’ll be one of the least expensive Olympics evah (suuuure) and the city of Boston won’t be on the hook for anything (when pigs fly), there’s been very little talk about specifics coming out of the Boston Olympic Planning Committee so far.
There is an exception, though, and that’s the idea of where that 60,000 seat stadium could go.
And it’s at the New Boston Food Market, home to 700 working class jobs — workers who put food on our tables and keep restaurants across the region, small and large, stocked.
It’s a billion dollar a year economic cooperative, centrally located so you can have your fish and meat fresh as can be.
So of course it’s on the chopping block.
Bear in mind that it’s a cooperative with many different partners who would all have to unanimously agree to sell. They haven’t in the past, despite many offers.
The Olympic Planning Committee’s PR team were quick to say that they don’t have definitive locations set yet, so nothing to see here, folks… move along.
But where else would the big stadium go?
Given Boston’s lack of square footage and high density, there aren’t a whole lot of areas that could fit a 60,000 seat stadium — doubly so when Boston’s bid is being built as a “walkable” Olympics.
Is there even a single, solitary other location that would hit all the bullet points of being near hotels, public transportation and walkable to other key Boston destinations? Short of Boston knocking down another whole End, my guess is not.
I think we can all see where this is going here. Two words, first begins with an E and second with a D.
The planning committee is salivating over this land right now, like a juicy steak one of these 700 workers may have prepared for them. Scooping up this land would be all too easy using eminent domain — and they could probably do it for cents on the dollar.
So, fellow Massachusetts residents, what’s more important to our region? The livelihood of 700 people and our food infrastructure — or a 60,000 seat white elephant no one will use before or after the Olympics?
Is anyone on the Boston planning committee asking themselves that?
What other thriving businesses and areas will the planning committee consider seizing by eminent domain for a two week party?
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-Rye
My words are mine and mine alone, and are not representative of any other group or organization that I’m associated with.
To me cooperative businesses are the key to saving capitalism from itself, as Chesterton wrote “the best way to save capitalism is to make many more capitalists!’. Employee owned companies outperform their competitors and provide better benefits, pay, protection, and have fewer turnovers. It would be a shame to lose 700 permanent middle class jobs and a long time community institution over a two week event that will create a few thousand temporary low wage jobs and a couple of construction projects.
Like casinos, the projected revenue won’t materialize and the construction jobs aren’t worth the long term social costs of hosting. Show me a city that has made money off the games in the last thirty years and I’ll show you a city that doesn’t exist.
You will find a lot of support for the idea that cooperative businesses are the key to saving capitalism from itself with Phillip Blond and his organization.
http://youtu.be/-PK6w5lqe9A
And was very very tangentially involved with trying to start an Americanized version of this idea. We got an online community called Solidarity Hall if you’re interested John. A very heavy Catholic presence which can sometimes skew right on cultural issues-but most folks out their economic views first-recognizing that is the heart of where the change has to happen. Also New Economy Transition Project right in JP is working on these for that community. It’s a real game changer in how we view these issues in my book, and language the left needs to get comfortable with.
It sounds like the logisitics of that site will not be easy to replace. On the other hand, the workers presently serve a market need that isn’t going away, even if the location changes.
All in all, another reason to kibosh this dumb Olympic idea.
Unless they find some land in Everett–perhaps owned by Wynn development– and take that to build the stadium.
Now that sounds impressive.
I’m sure the Expressway could handle stadium traffic without a hitch. Traffic flows so well down 93 near Mass Av. and Columbia Road as it is. Who the hell needs working class jobs or food?
And don’t call it a white elephant – the Krafts want a different set of empty seats for the Revolution to play in front of, and they want it right there. Everyone wins. Everyone invited to the meetings.
P.S. Yes, this is all snark.