[Speed Gibson,
Saturday April 30, 2005 at 9:43pm]
Don't Want a Stadium Referendum?
Don't want to put it to a vote? Write a check for the $478 million, Mr. Pohlad.
Short of that, a referendum is clearly called for here. The only option the voters have is to vote out those for whom democracy is void where prohibited by law. But the deal will likely be crafted in an irreversible fashion. The damage will be done.
And it is damage. Several studies have shown that these sports complexes are net (fiscal) losers for their communities. Every one of them.
But as regards this proposal, it is just one such proposal. It is not a choice between no stadium and no baseball. This market is too big for Major League Baseball to ignore. And it is clearly not the only such option. But if we don't get to vote, we won't see any others.
This is a big commitment, financially and otherwise, that will then spill over into football and other sports. It was developed safely after the 2004 elections, conveniently unveiled near the end of the 2005 Legislative Session, to be enacted before the 2006 elections.
This is beautiful political design. Since most Legislators do not represent Hennepin County, it's a "free" vote for them. The Hennepin County Board gets to vote first, so theirs is not the "final" decision.
Our increasingly inconsistent Governor Pawlenty is of no help here, either. He called it a "reasonable" plan.
The only place we opponents have a chance is at the next Hennepin County Board meeting on Tuesday. Of course, the meeting is at 1:30 pm, making it difficult for those most affected to attend. But I just might.
Short of that, a referendum is clearly called for here. The only option the voters have is to vote out those for whom democracy is void where prohibited by law. But the deal will likely be crafted in an irreversible fashion. The damage will be done.
And it is damage. Several studies have shown that these sports complexes are net (fiscal) losers for their communities. Every one of them.
But as regards this proposal, it is just one such proposal. It is not a choice between no stadium and no baseball. This market is too big for Major League Baseball to ignore. And it is clearly not the only such option. But if we don't get to vote, we won't see any others.
This is a big commitment, financially and otherwise, that will then spill over into football and other sports. It was developed safely after the 2004 elections, conveniently unveiled near the end of the 2005 Legislative Session, to be enacted before the 2006 elections.
This is beautiful political design. Since most Legislators do not represent Hennepin County, it's a "free" vote for them. The Hennepin County Board gets to vote first, so theirs is not the "final" decision.
Our increasingly inconsistent Governor Pawlenty is of no help here, either. He called it a "reasonable" plan.
The only place we opponents have a chance is at the next Hennepin County Board meeting on Tuesday. Of course, the meeting is at 1:30 pm, making it difficult for those most affected to attend. But I just might.