Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Calls in Live to 1010 WINS

November 16, 2022

Juliet Papa: If you build it, they will come. Soccer fans, that is. Fans chanted and cheered as the dream of a soccer stadium in New York City is coming to be.

(Audio plays.)

Mayor Eric Adams: We had to come together to get it over the finish line.

(Audio ends.)

Papa: Mayor Adams acknowledging previous mayors who sought to develop Willets Point, he says now, it will happen. And there's more: 2,500 units of affordable housing, an elementary school, a hotel, a new neighborhood in New York City. Council Member Francisco Moya pushed hard for this.

(Audio plays.)

City Council Member Francisco Moya: We are building opportunities for kids in my neighborhood, and all over New York City, to not just root for their local team, but to one day be able to don the jersey of their hometown club.

(Audio ends.)

Papa: In Queens, Juliet Papa 1010 WINS, 92.3 FM.

Susan Richard: Now joining us live on 1010 WINS, 92.3 FM to talk about the new stadium is Mayor Eric Adams. Mr. Mayor, thanks for joining us. We just got all the fun details from Juliet Papa. Why don't we talk about how the stadium is being financed? I understand that New York City FC will be picking up the $780 million tab, but will there be any cost for taxpayers?

Mayor Adams: No. This is a real win for us. When you look at the need of affordable housing and it's a combination of private-public partnership. We're not paying one dime for the stadium. It's all private investment. When you look at the amount of jobs — particularly union jobs around the hotel and around the stadium — this is middle income. And we are excited about building an entirely new community, not just apartments, a new community in that area that has been blighted for years.

Richard: Who will qualify for these affordable housing units? Will it be just residents in Queens or will other New Yorkers from other boroughs be able to apply for these units?

Mayor Adams: Well, affordable housing’s a citywide issue and so citywide applicants. Sometimes, we look at a certain number of apartments going to certain community board districts. But when we talk about low and middle-income units, it's imperative to open this up to the entire city because this is a citywide effort to deal with housing in the communities we live in.

Richard: When do shovels go on the ground? When will we see the stadium in this new community?

Mayor Adams: I'm excited. 2023 is the first level of the phase out. We're going to see 1,100 units being started, being built in 2023. This is before we start the stadium aspect of it. Because housing is our urgency, and we are really looking forward to those shovels getting in the ground and being at that ribbon cutting.

Richard: Okay, thank you very much. Mayor Eric Adams joining us live on 1010 WINS, 92.3 FM.

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