Dear Governor Gregoire, Senator Brown and Representative Chopp:
Over the next few weeks my staff will be meeting with the management of the
Seattle Super Sonics and Storm to discuss the basketball franchise's future in
Seattle. All of us agree that we should make reasonable efforts to keep the
Sonics/Storm in Seattle.
As the City Council and I indicated in earlier letters and resolutions, we have
guiding principles that should form the foundation of our negotiations with the
Seattle Sonics/Storm ownership which we believe are compatible with directions
you have previously given to us:
.Any proposal for public funding of a KeyArena renovation must be
submitted to the voters of King County for their approval. New revenue
also should be used to payoff the existing debt associated with the 1994
remodeling of KeyArena.
.There must be significant private investment by the Sonics/Storm and other
businesses as partners in a renovation of KeyArena.
.The public funding share must come exclusively from "visitor" taxes or
"user" taxes/fees, and not from local general public tax revenues (i.e., the
City's General Fund).
.The "visitor/user" taxes or fees must be collected countywide in King
County, not just in Seattle.
.Funding for arts and heritage programs and facilities must be included in
the state legislation.
.A new lease with the Sonics/Storm when their lease expires in 2010 must
benefit the Seattle Center and the city, and have a term at least as long as
the term of any debt issued for a remodeling of KeyArena.
Before sitting down again with the team and negotiating, we must be assured that
we have the full support of the Governor and the leadership of the state legislature
to negotiate a package that includes up to $220 million for a KeyArena remodel,
pays off the existing debt, and allocates funding for the arts. It would be
inappropriate for us to negotiate a deal and presume to commit the state's
budgetary authority, without first knowing that we have your full support.
We plan to meet again with the Sonics in the near future and I look forward to
hearing from you before that time.
This is fascinating. First, Governor Christine Gregoire sends Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels a letter saying it's time for the City to give the Sonics an answer on a taxpayer subsidized $200 million remodel of Key Arena. (Subtext: I've done what I can, the ball's in your court if the Sonics decide to leave.) Now, Nickels has written back, saying he's not in a position to negotiate if the state hasn't committed to allowing the extension of taxes for the Sonics. (Subtext: How can I deal if the state hasn't authorized the taxes? The ball's in your court, Governor.) Click below to read the mayor's letter. I've put in bold the relevent sentence. Fascinating.
Dear Governor Gregoire
How Is That Millionaires That Own The Supersonics Always Seem To get Your Attention To Authorize Taxpayer's Money? Seem's That You And The City Of Seattle Political Pundit's Always Like Corporate Welfare I Don't Understand! How Can Such A Strong Governor As Yourself Just Lay Over And Let These Rich Cry Baby's Blackmail You? Come On Gov, Stand Up And Be The Total Governor You Can Be.. Let The Supersonics Owner's Know That If They Want To Stay In Seattle They Must Pay To Keep Them In Seattle (With Their Own Money Governor) Otherwise Tell Them To Take There Losing Team Elsewhere Really Governor We Don't Really Need Them Here If They Can't Afford To Stay Here On There Own Dime.. Honest Gov.. Otherwise I'm Threatening To Move To If You Don't Help Me Out Also, Say With 100 Million Dollars...
Let the Sonics leave, we cant afford them. Corporations are always looking for a handout, look at wal-mart.
Make the sonics pay what the seahawks and the mariners paid. 40%. I am so sick and tired of these sports people not paying for stuff and putting it all on the taxpayers. We have enough taxes now and anymore and I think I will go nuts. We want to retire in 2 years and if this keeps up we won't be able to. MAKE THEM PAY if they want to stay!