PI Summary in Stadium Bill

by John Berkowitz on Mar 23, 2009 4:07 PM PDT

Update on where everything is currently at in Olympia from the Seattle PI.

Seattle officials are tracking two bills moving through the Legislature that would shift the tens of millions of dollars raised by taxes for Safeco and Qwest fields for other uses.

If modified, these measures could help Seattle lure another professional basketball team to town. Or if no team is promised by 2013, the city would get $30 million from former Sonics owner Clay Bennett as part of a deal the city made that allowed Bennett to move the team to Oklahoma City.

Senate Bill 6116 and House Bill 2252 are two of the more than two dozen measures the city is keeping an eye on as the Legislature enters its final five weeks.

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If the State is willing to pass off control over this tax to King County, the chances of both the Sonics and Huskies getting funding improve dramatically. I expect union lobbying behind the scenes will prove persuasive, and the appeal of jobs and the fact that public funds will be matched at better than 1 for 1 with private funds should turn the tide in favor of both Key Arena and Husky Stadium getting funding.

by kirkd on Mar 23, 2009 6:59 PM PDT reply actions

I guess I need a clarification...

…so much of this seems to be reading between the lines. This appears to be EXACTLY what we want. The legislature delegates control of the issue to King County and if that happens King County is now in control of the decision. Is that what you guys/gals are getting out of this? I certainly hope this is the case, although with everything else happening, I don’t want to get my hopes up too high….GO DAWGS!!

Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions

by dawgfan22 on Mar 23, 2009 9:39 PM PDT reply actions

Depends on which version (if either) passes. The House version does not include funding for stadiums, while the Senate version does.

And even if the Senate version passes, given that both versions also include provisions for the arts, housing and other community services, don’t get too excited yet – there’s no guarantee King County would agree to provide $150M towards Husky Stadium. They may throw a bone to the Cougs and reduce the contribution to the stadium project to something like $75M instead, just to prove that they didn’t “cave” to UW requests and are being more “fiscally responsible”.

This battle is a long ways still from being won, but hope is still alive – which is better than the alternative.

by kirkd on Mar 23, 2009 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Just Imagine!...

….if all of us on this board (I couldn’t even imagine Dawgman and Realdawg helping too) email these legislatures EVERY week! I am sorry but that would make an impact! People today are apathetic about things and that IS the worst thing you can be! It reminds me of the scene where Clint Eastwood says “Beat me and make me write bad checks, JUST DON’T BORE ME!!” Is that the truth or what! The worst thing in this world is apathy. I JUST DON’T CARE…

Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions

by dawgfan22 on Mar 23, 2009 10:18 PM PDT reply actions

Dawgman

There are people over there who email every week and are very active in giving their local legislators their opinions on the issue.

Most of the stuff going on will revert to behind the scenes as the lobbying effort continues. We have around five weeks to go on this one. I expect the taxes to be extended and I expect the King County Council to make decisions on how the money is spent.

by John Berkowitz on Mar 24, 2009 8:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Great to hear!

We all need to send at least one email a week. Hunter is the chair of that committee. He’d be the one I would send it to, although you could cc the rest of them to.

by doubledeucedawg on Mar 24, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions