U.S. Rep. Joseph Moakley (D-MA), who represents South
Boston, is "challenging" the MA Port Authority Board's plan
to acquire a five-acre parcel of land in South Boston for
the Patriots which is now used by the Defense Department for
parking, according to Meg Vaillancourt of the BOSTON GLOBE.
Moakley "questions the propriety" of transferring federal
land to Massport for use in the stadium venture. Moakley
also said that as a "show of good faith," Massport should
hold public hearings before signing off on the lease with
Pats Owner Robert Kraft. Moakley: "South Boston deserves a
seat at the decision-making table." U.S. Rep. Barney Frank
(D-MA), whose district includes the site of the Patriots'
current stadium in Foxboro, also has voiced opposition to
the South Boston proposal. Frank "pledged" yesterday to
file legislation banning the use of tax-exempt bonds to help
finance the facility. The bill will be filed in the next two
weeks and is modeled on similar legislation proposed by U.S.
Sen. Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/23).
