[StPaul] Stadium

[Renee Jenson]

Again, Pat and David make the WRONG assumption that the stadium will have public financing.    Boy, you people are stuck in the mud.  Public financing is only one option. There are 100 other options.  C'mon.  Get past it.    I know I am at odds with my progressive partners on this stadium issue.  Tough.  Won't be the first time I find myself in this position.   I've had different experiences with the Twins and Vikings than they have had maybe.  When our citizens group in Vadnais Heights (Vadnais Citizens for Responsible Governement) sued the city for not adhering to the long range plans and plunking a Target 50 ft from residential property - we worked Twins and Vikings games to make enough $$$ to pay the legal fees.    There are a lot of nonprofits and volunteer groups who rely on the these teams for income to keep them afloat.  I don't know what our group would have done without them.  (I still can't eat a hot dog at the stadium.  After being around them soooo much they just aren't appealing anymore.)   So you guys can sew up your pockets if you like.  No one is asking you for any money.  And, if you have no interest in a stadium, then you have no ideas for what you want in it.  I'm just interested in the ideas people have for a new stadium.  I've already got a million ideas for funding.  Sheesh David.  You know me.  Gimme a break.  Who's the world's biggest whiner against the abuses of TIF.   Pat and Pam, the vote was on the City giving a subsidy to the Twins to locate here.  Which, I have told you I am not in favor of personally.  The vote was not on whether or not the stadium should be in St. Paul. Completely legitimate topic.   Businesswise, I'm not sure retail in the side of the stadium would have longevity (traffic too sporadic) but I know where you're going with it.  That's why I suggested different phases.  The whole thing doesn't have to be plunked down on day one.  I don't want to see another boondoggle like the Metrodome.  Poor planning and eyesore.  This stadium should be a catalyst for new development and fun in St. Paul.   I love Grand Ave.  But I'm not so happy about some of the new development on Grand Ave lately.  I would like to see St. Paul's new Stadium Village to reflect the flavor of Grand Ave.    Oh yeah, and traffic doesn't have to be a problem.  I love the idea of people movers and light rail.  I also love the idea of utilizing existing parking facilities.  I would much rather invest in light rail and people movers than parking ramps and freeways.    Renee Jenson Como                           ----- Original Message ----- From: Byrne & Blank To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 8:01 AM Subject: Re: [StPaul] Stadium The truth is, the Twins and Vikings make the quality of life a LOT better for a LOT of Minnesotans.  They need to stay here ....... WHERE and WHAT to build is the issue. NOT THE FUNDING. Not yet.  Don't focus on the funding ...... When you buy a car you figure out what kind of car you are going to buy before you figure out exactly how you are going to finance it, right........ No No No No No No. The people who would love to have me pay for their new stadium love this type of thinking. "Let's talk about all the good things and none of the bad". And just maybe, if you time it right, and you've taken the bad away from in front of them long enough, you can sneak this by in some sort of referendum that actually approves it. It's easy enough to manipulate the voting public with how you discuss issues. If you don't even discuss the issues it  even easier. Especially with the right timing. Why do you think it comes back again and again and again? Ten No's will be overcome by one 'Yes' on this issue. I strongly urge that funding remain in the focus. It would be irresponsible not to. And when I buy  a car I have right in front of me what the responsible budget ( generally limited by other factors) would be before I let myself get carried away. And do the Twins and Vikings make quality of life better for Minnesotans? I  know they do not for me. Are there a lot of people like me out there? I'd say yes. I do care about investing in the quality of life in Minnesota. This proposal doesn't qualify. It's interesting that I can make the above statements about not qualifying and Renee can make the opposite statement. Is there anything published by a group not associated with professional sports that clarifies the issue as to thinking of Minnesotans - all five million of us.(plus or minus).  Does professional sports, operating locally, contribute significantly (undefined) to the quality of life for Minnesotans? Does professional sports, operated locally, contribute significantly to the diversity of offerings in Minnesota to qualify of life?  By the way, does the recent votes on the issue by people in St. Paul qualify as a published statement on this issue, or wasn't it worded correctly? Pat Byrne St. Clair and Lexington Parkway Neighborhood "Its easier to build a road than to think of what the country really needs" - Aldo Leopold