As Brooklyn Nets’ Value Booms, a Missed Opportunity With the Arena (from Common Edge). Why not pay for the platform?

I have an article today in Common Edge, As Brooklyn Nets’ Value Booms, a Missed Opportunity With the Arena (link), arguing that the owners benefiting from the incredible growth in the value of the team, arena company, and associated assets should share a significant amount of their wealth.

From the conclusion:

“Our family,” [new owner Julia Koch] said, “is honored to join the Tsai family in shaping, advancing and contributing to the shared vision for the future of The Nets, The Liberty and the broader Brooklyn community.” Well, some women’s sports fans now advocate, given past Koch support for groups curbing women’s reproductive rights, that the family contribute $15 million to nonprofit organizations—already due modest payments via the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup tournament—aligned to the teams’ social justice work. 

That crusade has a point, but we also could think bigger: if those benefiting from the Brooklyn Nets and the state-enabled arena truly want to help, perhaps the Tsais and Kochs could cough up $300 million-plus for public construction (and ownership) of that unbuilt railyard platform, and help get the affordable housing built.