SOME SMELL A RAT IN YANKEES STADIUM STUDY

     The $600,000 study that recommends building a new stadium in
Manhattan is "filled with inaccuracies," according to a N.Y. POST
probe.  Robert Hardt writes the report's flaws include:  a
lowball construction estimate; the omission of site acquisition
costs; a "suspiciously high" estimate on renovating Yankee
Stadium; a failure to address traffic problems; and potential
conflict of interest considering the report was written by a firm
(HOK) that specializes in building new arenas.  Smith College
Economics Professor Andrew Zimbalist:  "You cannot hire a firm
with a tremendous fiscal stake in this matter and expect them to
come up with a report that is impartial" (N.Y. POST, 4/29).