The Sonics say, they want the taxes now going to Safeco and Qwest. Are you willing to play?
The Sonics are trying to put together a tax package of at least $300 million from King County and here's what they're eying:
--Extend sales tax credit. After 2012, the Sonics would take over the sales tax revenue now being used to pay off Safeco Field. And beginning in 2021, they would take over the sales tax credit for Qwest Field.
--Extend the food and beverage tax through 2015.
--Extend car rental tax now paying off Safeco and the Kingdome.
--Extend hotel/motel tax after Qwest Field is paid off.
Here's the question: As a resident, how much do you feel these taxes impact you? Would you be willing to extend them for the Sonics? Are there some taxes you'd be more willing to extend than others?
Also this week, the Stranger's Josh Feit found that a couple of the new Sonics owners have contributed to groups that oppose gay marriage. What, if anything, does that say to you and should it be a factor in this debate?
Missed the show? Watch it on streaming video: KING 5 News Up Front with Robert Mak EVERY SUNDAY: THE ISSUES THAT MATTER KING-5 @ 9:30 a.m. NWCN @ 8:00 p.m. KONG-TV @ 10:30 p.m.
17 Comments
Jerry Chapman said:
I am retired and cannot afford tickets. Why would I think it was a good idea to give my tax dollars so professional ball players and owners can make even more money?
This is a silly idea.
Professional ball players make more money than 99% of the people in the state! Why should we allow them to make more money? Ask them to put up part of their money to build THEM a place to play!
It is time that our ELECTED officials start listening to the people!!!!!!
Michael berta said:
Extending the food & beverage tax, car rental and hotel tax would be a great way to pay for a decent mass transit system in this area NOT pay for a sports stadium for one of the worst basketball teams in the league.
Mary Root said:
Seems to me we have already said NO... but know doubt it will be done ...why bother to vote any more,we the people really don't have the right to vote for any thing...and really make it happen or not.and then theres the Viaduct......
R Webb said:
I am against any taxes or public money, what so ever, to pay, in any way what so ever, for the Sonics or any other professional sports, what so ever
Independence for Taiwan said:
I believe that if the Sonics and that fat-man Clay Bennett want a huge, fancy stadium, they should pay for it. Currently, our taxes are going to nothing.
Our taxes are:
- Going to cable barriers which kill people.
- Going to Soundtransit funding crap.
- Going to releasing convicts from jails.
- Going to the paychecks of politicians.
- Going to random reports on transportation that are useless.
Our taxes are absolutely doing nothing. We still don't have regional light rail, which was supposed to be completed already under the original Sound Move plan. We still don't have widened freeways. We still don't have politicians who actually do something instead of fighting with each other like little children.
I believe we shouldn't even pay taxes until we see some results from the government. Do you feel safer? Do you feel healthier? Are you happier? Do you have a better quality of life in Washington? Is you commute any better than 10 years ago? If you answered "NO" to those questions, then you shouldn't be paying taxes and we should certainly not be increasing taxes until we are happy in Washington state.
INDEPENDENCE FOR TAIWAN!
Ron Waudé said:
Absolutely NO NEW TAXES and NO Sonics stadium at tax payers expense. Let them become the Oklahoma whatevers. When the dust settles, Seattle can get a new team. I'm tired of supporting professional sports while the players continue to receive outrageous salaries. We need new roads, tunnels, bridges and better schools - NOW!
Liz said:
If someone came up to me and said, "build me a home at your expense so I can get rich by charging you each time you come to visit me," I would think they were absolutely insane.
Tammy said:
No, absolutely not. I think our tax dollars should be spent on more important things. The sports teams need to pay their own way!
Marshal Smith said:
When a Sonics player makes as little as I do in wages, then we can fund their stadium. BTW whose going to pay for all the infrastructure to support this silly idea?
Fay Payton said:
Taxes are a legitimate way for government to pay for citizen services. The sports teams do not qualify. If we keep those taxes, which the people didn't way in the first place for the Mariners, let's use them to fund schools, the Public Health Dept., transportation ~ services that are basic to a civilized society. Again, professional sports don't qualify.
Gordon Hamilton said:
I had to write, I was favoring keeping the Sonics in town, but a team owned by Christian bigots is just too much. Love is the most precious thing ever given to us and these bigots are spiting on it. They also show willful ignorance of there bible. No I am not gay; I am just a guy that knows the meaning and power of love. So new Sonics owners don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
PS the Seattle Storm has been playing a more dynamic game lately and I will miss them more.
Robert Pasternak said:
As you see on Mariners and Seahawks example if you don't do anything you'll be paying again, like it or hate it. Allan is in this business just for the same obscene reason. NO MORE NEW TAXES and NO Sonics stadium at tax payers expense. Lets get indivisibly united on referendum to stop it. These bloodsuckers have to be stopped once for all.
Jessica said:
Not no, but Hell no. The Sonics owners are nothing but a bunch of bullies. Of course, our wonderful, gutless, clueless, City of Renton politicians have all but fell on their faces catering to them - downright BEGGING them to come to Renton, all under the notion that it's "good for business" (never mind that only a hadful of bars and resturaunts will benifit). Being a citizen of the City of Renton, and a resident of the already delapitated and ghetto they call the Renton Highlands, I am outraged. This will only make matters worse, NOT better for this area. My message to the Sonics, "Good ridence, and don't let the door hit you in the *$$ on the way out". My message to the laim politicians who seem to only have the interests of business owners in mind, if you want them, YOU pay for them. I certainly don't want to.
Chris said:
The teams say "I want a new stadium, and I want someone else to pay for it." The result is they get their new stadium, and we the people get to pay for it.
The teachers say "We are underpaid and overworked." The result is they go on strike for weeks while the children miss out on quality education.
Another example of how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Instead of the taxpayers paying for a new stadium, how about if the teams asking for it get to pay for it, and the taxpayers can instead pay for educating our future?
Richard said:
NOPE. Giving tax monies to rich people? Ummmm, what's wrong with that you ask? Come On... Please tell me King County isn't seriously considering it. MAKE A NOTE OF EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO SAYS YES.
patrick said:
i dont know why this is such a big deal. the sonics will probably move to Oklahoma anyway. Everyone here should just jump on the Utah Jazz band wagon. They are the totally best in the NBA. but then agian they really suck so i don't care at all
Peter said:
It is crazy to think that a business like pro sports needs any help from the taxpayers. I didn't vote for the stadium tax the first time...and I certainly wouldn't vote for it again. In fact, for all the restaurant taxes I have paid, I am still waiting for my season pass or a nameplate on my reserved seat.
The Sonics are trying to put together a tax package of at least $300 million from King County and here's what they're eying:
KING 5 News Up Front with Robert Mak
I am retired and cannot afford tickets. Why would I think it was a good idea to give my tax dollars so professional ball players and owners can make even more money?
This is a silly idea.
Professional ball players make more money than 99% of the people in the state! Why should we allow them to make more money? Ask them to put up part of their money to build THEM a place to play!
It is time that our ELECTED officials start listening to the people!!!!!!
Extending the food & beverage tax, car rental and hotel tax would be a great way to pay for a decent mass transit system in this area NOT pay for a sports stadium for one of the worst basketball teams in the league.
Seems to me we have already said NO... but know doubt it will be done ...why bother to vote any more,we the people really don't have the right to vote for any thing...and really make it happen or not.and then theres the Viaduct......
I am against any taxes or public money, what so ever, to pay, in any way what so ever, for the Sonics or any other professional sports, what so ever
I believe that if the Sonics and that fat-man Clay Bennett want a huge, fancy stadium, they should pay for it. Currently, our taxes are going to nothing.
Our taxes are:
- Going to cable barriers which kill people.
- Going to Soundtransit funding crap.
- Going to releasing convicts from jails.
- Going to the paychecks of politicians.
- Going to random reports on transportation that are useless.
Our taxes are absolutely doing nothing. We still don't have regional light rail, which was supposed to be completed already under the original Sound Move plan. We still don't have widened freeways. We still don't have politicians who actually do something instead of fighting with each other like little children.
I believe we shouldn't even pay taxes until we see some results from the government. Do you feel safer? Do you feel healthier? Are you happier? Do you have a better quality of life in Washington? Is you commute any better than 10 years ago? If you answered "NO" to those questions, then you shouldn't be paying taxes and we should certainly not be increasing taxes until we are happy in Washington state.
INDEPENDENCE FOR TAIWAN!
Absolutely NO NEW TAXES and NO Sonics stadium at tax payers expense. Let them become the Oklahoma whatevers. When the dust settles, Seattle can get a new team. I'm tired of supporting professional sports while the players continue to receive outrageous salaries. We need new roads, tunnels, bridges and better schools - NOW!
If someone came up to me and said, "build me a home at your expense so I can get rich by charging you each time you come to visit me," I would think they were absolutely insane.
No, absolutely not. I think our tax dollars should be spent on more important things. The sports teams need to pay their own way!
When a Sonics player makes as little as I do in wages, then we can fund their stadium. BTW whose going to pay for all the infrastructure to support this silly idea?
Taxes are a legitimate way for government to pay for citizen services. The sports teams do not qualify. If we keep those taxes, which the people didn't way in the first place for the Mariners, let's use them to fund schools, the Public Health Dept., transportation ~ services that are basic to a civilized society. Again, professional sports don't qualify.
I had to write, I was favoring keeping the Sonics in town, but a team owned by Christian bigots is just too much. Love is the most precious thing ever given to us and these bigots are spiting on it. They also show willful ignorance of there bible. No I am not gay; I am just a guy that knows the meaning and power of love. So new Sonics owners don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
PS the Seattle Storm has been playing a more dynamic game lately and I will miss them more.
As you see on Mariners and Seahawks example if you don't do anything you'll be paying again, like it or hate it. Allan is in this business just for the same obscene reason. NO MORE NEW TAXES and NO Sonics stadium at tax payers expense. Lets get indivisibly united on referendum to stop it. These bloodsuckers have to be stopped once for all.
Not no, but Hell no. The Sonics owners are nothing but a bunch of bullies. Of course, our wonderful, gutless, clueless, City of Renton politicians have all but fell on their faces catering to them - downright BEGGING them to come to Renton, all under the notion that it's "good for business" (never mind that only a hadful of bars and resturaunts will benifit). Being a citizen of the City of Renton, and a resident of the already delapitated and ghetto they call the Renton Highlands, I am outraged. This will only make matters worse, NOT better for this area. My message to the Sonics, "Good ridence, and don't let the door hit you in the *$$ on the way out". My message to the laim politicians who seem to only have the interests of business owners in mind, if you want them, YOU pay for them. I certainly don't want to.
The teams say "I want a new stadium, and I want someone else to pay for it." The result is they get their new stadium, and we the people get to pay for it.
The teachers say "We are underpaid and overworked." The result is they go on strike for weeks while the children miss out on quality education.
Another example of how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Instead of the taxpayers paying for a new stadium, how about if the teams asking for it get to pay for it, and the taxpayers can instead pay for educating our future?
NOPE. Giving tax monies to rich people? Ummmm, what's wrong with that you ask? Come On... Please tell me King County isn't seriously considering it. MAKE A NOTE OF EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO SAYS YES.
i dont know why this is such a big deal. the sonics will probably move to Oklahoma anyway. Everyone here should just jump on the Utah Jazz band wagon. They are the totally best in the NBA. but then agian they really suck so i don't care at all
It is crazy to think that a business like pro sports needs any help from the taxpayers. I didn't vote for the stadium tax the first time...and I certainly wouldn't vote for it again. In fact, for all the restaurant taxes I have paid, I am still waiting for my season pass or a nameplate on my reserved seat.