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Carl Pohlad and the Twins organization would prefer that a new stadium for the Twins be built in Minneapolis.
However Minneapolis city officials were not demonstarting a sufficient level of urgency about putting together a funding proposal for the stadium. Minneapolis city officials are also hindered by the fact that any financing proposal that requires the city to spend $10 million or more must be approved by the taxpayers in a referendum.
The Twins courtship with St Paul is disingenuous.
In my opinion the only way the Twins end up in St. Paul is if Minneapolis fails to put together a financing package that is acceptable to the Twins. The threat of moving to St.Paul is simply leverage used by the Twins during the negotiations with Minneapolis and the state legislature.
I would suggest elected officials begin deliberations to craft a stadium financing package that relies primarily on private financing. Look to Major League Baseball, team owners, players, and baseball fans to provide the funding source for building a new stadium
Let the working families of Minnesota spend the money they earn as they wish. It is irresponsible for state officials to allow competeting Minnesota communities to be pitted against each other in a escalating bidding war to land a baseball stadium. The only party that benefits from a bidding war is the seller of the coveted item. The legislature should be looking to secure the best possible deal for the taxpayers of Minnesota if they venture into crafting a stadium funding proposal for the Twins.
The most important factor to consider in any funding proposal is the ratio of private vs public investment. Neither of the proposals from St. Paul or Minneapolis as they now stand meet this guiding principle in my opinion.
Dennis Hill West 7th Street St. Paul
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