tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post113482854300854587..comments2023-12-21T16:53:47.077-05:00Comments on Inside the DC Bubble: Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post-1136621398713085142006-01-07T03:09:00.000-05:002006-01-07T03:09:00.000-05:00You have a great website here, and I'm going to te...You have a great website here, and I'm going to tell all my friends about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post-1135191703488574822005-12-21T14:01:00.000-05:002005-12-21T14:01:00.000-05:00Remind me again how much public money went for the...Remind me again how much public money went for the MCI Center? <BR/><BR/>And sorry, spending over $600 million to speed up development that would take place anyway strikes me as a big waste of money.Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03573575140584770666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post-1135128346354635392005-12-20T20:25:00.000-05:002005-12-20T20:25:00.000-05:00It's not the same "deal". So they're not "reneggi...It's not the same "deal". So they're not "renegging".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post-1135103859407550302005-12-20T13:37:00.000-05:002005-12-20T13:37:00.000-05:00Whether or not we originally agreed that this was ...Whether or not we originally agreed that this was a good deal for the city or not, renegging on the deal now is NOT in the city's bests interests. This city has worked long and hard at rebuilding a good reputation ... and keeping one's word --- i.e., "credibility" --- is a basic element of a good reputation. The decision to build the stadium at the SE site was made by the Council last year. Renegging now would be much more costly for the city than any of costs that are to be incurred in building in. Bankers, business investors, and just ordinary people looking to move here will take twice about getting involved with us in any manner if we are perceived as being less than reliable in our ability to keep our word. The Council gave its word last year and it is incumbent on each and every councilmember to protect that word.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post-1135027321724680172005-12-19T16:22:00.000-05:002005-12-19T16:22:00.000-05:00Dear Friends,I enjoy baseball and would like to se...Dear Friends,<BR/><BR/>I enjoy baseball and would like to see it stay in the District. <BR/><BR/>However, I will vote "no" on the baseball lease agreement--unless it <BR/>moves<BR/>the ballpark to the RFK Stadium vicinity, or contains major new non-DC<BR/>government funds or meaningful spending caps to protect the people of <BR/>our<BR/>city. <BR/><BR/>Let me explain why I have consistently opposed this stadium financing <BR/>since<BR/>last year.<BR/><BR/>The first reason is priorities. Baseball is NOT the most pressing <BR/>business<BR/>our government has at hand.<BR/><BR/>Our schools and libraries need millions of dollars in repairs. My<BR/>constituents call daily about the alarming rise in violent crime. And <BR/>we<BR/>still have long-term residents losing their affordable housing.<BR/><BR/>The second reason is that this is a bad deal because we do not know how <BR/>much<BR/>it will cost. <BR/><BR/>We have a stadium that started with a cost of $435 million and is now<BR/>estimated to be $714 million. With expected cost overruns, the price <BR/>could<BR/>easily reach $1 billion.<BR/><BR/>For example, Houston's stadium cost 47% more than projected. Arizona's, <BR/>48%.<BR/>But unlike these other cities--where the team covered all of the <BR/>additional<BR/>cost--our lease agreement would make the District responsible for every<BR/>extra penny!<BR/><BR/>Also, we're not even sure how much it will cost to buy the land for the<BR/>stadium. We do know building the Nationals' new home next to RFK <BR/>Stadium<BR/>would save over $100 million.<BR/><BR/>In short, we simply don't know how much the stadium will cost. And I'm <BR/>not<BR/>prepared to write a blank check. We need a different agreement for our <BR/>team.<BR/><BR/>Bests, Councilmember Jim GrahamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post-1134925613310911692005-12-18T12:06:00.000-05:002005-12-18T12:06:00.000-05:00To responses:1. The reason the city is the borrow...To responses:<BR/><BR/>1. The reason the city is the borrower is because it pays a lower rate making the whole deal easier to pull off<BR/><BR/>2. Development will take a very very long time w/o the stadium. MCI gave downtown a very big push.dcbubble.blogspothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09559033937374496586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post-1134861490507979892005-12-17T18:18:00.000-05:002005-12-17T18:18:00.000-05:00No, sorry, if this thing is such a homerun of a mo...No, sorry, if this thing is such a homerun of a money-making enterprise then baseball owners should be happy to pony up for the stadium themselves. And if that area is such a great place for development it should occur anyway. Further, by this logic, there are literally dozens of enterprises deserving of public funding. Any attraction that generates substantial foot traffic -- and hence tax revenue -- should be subsidized. Where does it end?<BR/><BR/>If you really want to promote development in this town the city council we be far better advised to focus their energy and public money on improving education, fighting crime and providing basic public services. <BR/><BR/>It's laughable to think that the answer to what ails this town is a baseball stadium.Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03573575140584770666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14955194.post-1134843145991435192005-12-17T13:12:00.000-05:002005-12-17T13:12:00.000-05:00No public funds should be use for the stadium.No public funds should be use for the stadium.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com