By Ian Koski
Managing Editor

As two more city leaders came out against using public funds to build a new stadium for the Yankees, Mayor Michael Bloomberg learned that he hadn't been told the whole truth about Rudolph Giuliani's $1.6 billion mega-deal with the Yankees and Mets.

When aides to Mr. Giuliani briefed Mr. Bloomberg about the deal, they apparently did not mention two provisions that sweetened the pots for the two teams. The Mets were let off the hook for $83,000 in advertising revenue earned from games shown on ESPN, and the Yankees were given a 60-day out-clause that can be exercised at the end of this year.

After reading the fine print of Mr. Giuliani's deal, which was made public Dec. 28, City Comptroller William Thompson sent a letter to Mr. Bloomberg calling the developments "troubling."

"I recognize the economic value of baseball to New York City," Mr. Thompson wrote on Jan. 14. "However ... I urge you to negotiate new lease amendments with the teams which protect the city's financial interests by capturing the revenues that were due to the city in the original lease."

In a press conference the next day, Mr. Bloomberg admitted he was unaware of the two provisions, but downplayed their importance.

"The 60-day clause is sort of a meaningless thing," he said. "A 60-day 'out' does not let anybody move in a practical sense. The basic terms of what he agreed to were described to me, with the exception of those two things, which I don't view as really substantive."

Earlier this month, Mr. Bloomberg declared that no new stadiums would be built in 2002 and that the issue would be revisited when the city could afford it. He joined a growing list of New York City leaders who believe the city has more important priorities, a list that now includes new Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión Jr.

"We can't afford it," Mr. Carrión said in his inaugural address. "There is a need far more urgent. New Yorkers need schools and not stadiums, and I will never abandon that fight."

Just days before the end of his term as mayor, Mr. Giuliani unveiled plans to build new $800 million stadiums for the Mets and Yankees. The city would pay for half of each stadium.

The Yankees' new stadium would be built just across 161st Street from the current stadium. At the earliest, construction could begin in 2004 and finish in 2007.