Jim Mork writes: Um, I seem to remember a vote in which Minneapolis voters voted 70-30 to require a REFERENDUM anytime more than $10 million of city money is pledged to anything. That was directly aimed at the stadium issue. So the majority of MINNESOTANS may want a stadium, but I don't think the majority of Minneapolis voters want to pay for it.
Dean Carlson Writes: ABSOLUTELY. Minneapolis voters shouldn't have to foot the bill for a regional (inter-state even) facility. That's why I supported the stadium financing bill proposed earlier this year until the downtown entertainment sales tax got attached to it. If I was Czar, I would impose an 11-county 1/10 cent sales tax with the proceeds going to a new Twins stadium, refurbish the dome for the Vikes, establish an affordable housing trust fund, and create a support system for the arts and education. Another idea would be casino with the proceeds going to the same users. As for Bert Black's question regarding polls showing a majority of voters supporting some public contribution to a stadium, either one or both of the Strib and St. Paul PP had polls this past fall showing such support. And to Walt Cygan's post regarding getting baseball's economic house in order. Of course this isn't a total panacea, but what do you want? It sounds to me that nothing short of baseball players going back to the good ol' days of making $75,000 a year while owners rake it in hand over fist will make this argument go away. This deal is just as good the NBA's or NFL's and you don't hear anybody argue about those leagues "getting their economic house in order." Finally David Brauer makes an astute point regarding the fact that although contraction has been taken off the table, relocation hasn't. The only decent market left for baseball is Washington D.C. and Montreal will be going there. It will be laughable to assume that baseball will want to take a small market team like the Twins and move to an even smaller market such as Portland, Vegas, or Charlotte. It ain't gonna happen and if Pohlad even tried to make the argument I think the only reaction he'd get would be a big giant yawn. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 Looking forward to the day when I get to watch the Twins win while tanning myself on a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon in July _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
