“While there are still those who have expressed doubt or concern about the timing, what I have been able to convey is that we don’t want to circle the wagons and hunker down. This is really a time when we need to stimulate their local economy,” Judah said.
It sure is. But there’s no question here on whether a baseball stadium that will sit empty the vast majority of the time (even in spring-training season) is the best way to stimulate said local economy.
If you bet that the story’s next source would also have a vested interest on the “for” side of this project, you got it right (emphasis mine):
John Yarbrough, the county’s former parks and recreation director who has been retained as a consultant on the project, said that the financial structure of the deal should mitigate residents’ concerns somewhat.
The stadium would likely be paid off through borrowing from the county’s own reserve fund, which would be paid back through tourist taxes.
Money is fungible. Tourist-tax dollars aren’t magic money that doesn’t have an effect on other local taxes and spending—even if the law says it can’t be used on things like homeless shelters. As the Journal was good to point out:
Philip Porter, an economist at the University of South Florida, said Lee County’s decision to bankroll a new spring-training site is “unconscionable” amid the current uncertainty.
Mr. Porter notes local taxpayers could be on the hook if Lee County’s tourist-tax revenue, which has remained stable in recent months, shrinks in the coming years. He also argues communities have wiggle room with tourist-tax proceeds and could be directing them toward a local park or school gymnasium, freeing up local taxes for other needs.
As far as I can tell, the ProJo reporter, Daniel Barbarisi, didn’t talk to a single independent, skeptical source—at least he didn’t quote or paraphrase them.
Look, I understand this is a sports-section story. But that’s no excuse. If you’re going to wade into the business and political end of things you’d better do it right.
There is one interesting bit of information here that caught my eye, however—of course framed in the best possible light for the pro-stadium folks:
The Baltimore Orioles, who are dissatisfied with their current Fort Lauderdale location, have been in talks to replace the Red Sox at City of Palms.
And ‘round and ‘round we go.
Hi! I thought your blog was cool and will visit often. In the meantime I can recommend sports shops.
#1 Posted by rhyviens, CJR on Sat 4 Apr 2009 at 01:45 AM
Good followup. As a Lee County resident, it takes IV antihypertensives to keep from having a stroke when I read the usual puff-pieces about the "new Fenway."
A couple of points:
City of Palms Park is a fine stadium, but it's in a lousy spot. The then-mayor, Wilbur Smith, had what one wag called an "edifice complex" and rammed the stadium project through in a misguided attempt to shore up Ft. Myers's flagging fortunes. He did this though the city had a shrinking tax base and an exhausted bonding capacity. He demolished the center of a older but stable neighborhood of mostly working poor to create the site, in the hopes that the stadium would drive commercial development and allow for the demolition of more low-value homes. That never happened. So, there's not a hotel, bar, or restaurant within about a mile of the stadium. The city tried to use if for concerts but the noise was so bad that the city had to pass an ordinance effectively banning concerts to keep the residents from burning the place down. When the city could no longer afford the debt service, the county assumed it and renegotiated the terms witn the Red Sox, and promptly gave away the store: there is a clause which allows the Sox to buy out the last ten years of the agreement for $100,000 for each remaining year. The bonds won't be paid off until 2016.
There is no minor league team because the Twins, who've been down the road since 1989, had right of refusal on any new minor-league team within 25 miles, and they said "hell no." I still can't get confirmation if this clause is still active.
The Red Sox are pretty blatant in their desire for the Edison Farms site. This is the one where the developer is willing to give away the land (which is about what it's worth), but the county has to do the site improvements. No doubt they'll get development rights on the remaining 200+ acres as well. It also happens to be the most environmentally sensitive site, and the one farthest from any existing development. The area east of I-75 was, by and large, place off limits to development in the 1984 Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and the commissioners look for every chance to push out the urban service boundary.
Growth pays for growth, and you're a commie fruit if you don't believe it.
#2 Posted by The Thinking Man's Mel Torme, CJR on Sun 5 Apr 2009 at 10:37 PM