Jay Z Challenged on Claim That New Stadium Employs “Thousands and Thousands”

Rapper Jay Z, a minority stakeholder in the Brooklyn Nets, gave questionable employment numbers for the new stadium in an interview with Rosanna Scotto of Channel 5′s “Good Day New York.”

Salon explains:

“What do you think the arena’s going to mean to people in this neighborhood?” Scotto asked. “Well, it’s already created so many jobs, especially at a time like this in the world,” Jay-Z responded. He told an in-house Nets interviewer that the under-construction project “employs thousands and thousands of people.”

The number of jobs created turns out to be  a lot fewer than promised, and a lot less than “thousands and thousands.” The total number as of now is probably under 500. And Ratner’s job projections are far from credible. The New York City Independent Budget Office calls the arena a net loss to the city.”