Time to end the Garden party

We try not to repeat headlines, but the archives from St. Patrick’s Day 1997 show the exact one we are using today. Back then the Dolan family’s Cablevision was taking full control of Madison Square Garden and we called for an end to the exemption from property taxes that the state had granted the arena in 1982, when there were fears that the Knicks and Rangers could move to New Jersey.

More than a quarter of a century ago, the freebie from Albany was worth the Dolans about $9 million a year. This year it’s $41.5 million and the cumulative savings since 1997 has been $585,997,438, or $699,547,962 inflation adjusted.

That $700 million courtesy of the rest of the New York City taxpayers hasn’t brought a championship to the Knicks or the Rangers and Jim Dolan is doing everything he can to antagonize everyone. Go for it Jim.

Dolan is using facial recognition to exclude hundreds of lawyers from firms in litigation against the Garden, a clear violation of a 1941 law prohibiting such exclusion that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should prosecute. Dolan also hired a private eye to tail an State Liquor Authority investigator, as the agency probes if MSG is breaking rules with its lawyer ban.

As chairman of the City Council finance committee, David Weprin pushed for repeal and the Council passed a resolution calling on Albany to end the giveaway. He’s continued his quest in the Assembly and local Assemblyman Tony Simone is sponsoring Weprin’s bill. The two senators who share the Garden in their districts, Liz Krueger and Brad Hoylman-Sigal, are sponsoring the Senate version. The Senate included repeal in its own budget bill last week.

Gov. Hochul says she isn’t sure. This is a local matter, so let the locals decide. Hochul must not be swayed by campaign contributions from the Dolans.

Dolan can cover the $41.5 million by dividing it among 19,000 seats for 82 home games at $26 a seat. Or sell the Garden’s naming rights to a facial recognition company.