Category: Misc

As you’ve probably heard, the twofold arena tax measures will officially be on the ballot this fall. All it took was some last-minute hammering out of the details of the arena deal to make sure the points were in writing. So in other words, before they could agree to go forward with the ballot initiatives that cannot explicitly raise tax money for the arena, they had to make sure that the deal to build said arena using tax money was in writing.

I urge all potential Yes voters to remember this–they are purposely circumventing the law to win approval for a deal that was negotiated and signed in private, to fund an arena with a tax that has a greater impact on the poor and allow a private company to keep all the profits from said arena. I can’t remember a more shady political scheme than this. It’s not about our support for the team, it’s about turning down a terribly lopsided deal. You can do it, Sacramento!

Thanks FauxPaws for helping me beat the drum! Got busy making widgets yesterday and neglected to point out that Daniel Weintraub now says what I said last week, that the Maloofs’ rent should not be considered as a contribution to the building costs. Further, he went on to demonstrate that under a conservative estimate (assuming the low end for things like parking fees and naming rights) the Maloofs’ spending and income for using the arena are a wash, meaning that their only contribution to the entire project is the $20 capital repair fund. Assuming the higher end they come out ahead. We taxpayers, on the other hand, are out $1.2 billion.

Here’s a question: If the arena would be publicly owned, wouldn’t it make sense for it to be open several times a year for free events? I don’t think I’ve heard that proposed in this deal.

… if your last name is Maloof, that is. From R.E. Graswich in this morning’s Bee:

Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn figured taxpayers would get a raw deal from the new Kings arena proposal. Then he ran the numbers. It’s much worse than Steve dreamed. “Incredibly, we would be better off building the arena and giving it away to Joe and Gavin Maloof,” said Steve of the happy Las Vegas brothers who own the Kings. “The rent they will pay is less than what they would pay in property taxes, by 2 or 3 million dollars a year.” As proposed, the public will own the new arena. That means zero property taxes.

Here’s the rest. Read it and open your wallet … or vote “no” on the arena measure that won’t be mentioning “arena” in it.

World-class city or world-class suckers? I’m not opposed to a downtown sports venue — love Denver’s and San Diego’s — but this deal doesn’t work for me. As for the Maloof’s recent civic generosity … oh, puh-lease.

Do not get excited by the fact that I am so deliriously enchanted with the end of the heat wave and the return of the Delta Breeze that I am tonight leaving most of my windows open (with screens, of course, hello, West Nile virus). I have three very large dogs and one small yappy one. OK, so the small one is all bark, no bite, one of the big ones is old and losing her hearing, and the two youngsters are very friendly.

I also have a parrot who’d as soon bite you as look at you. So don’t get any ideas.

Cool breeze! Cool breeze! I don’t remember ever appreciating it so much.

Just because it seems like a good time to do so, I wanted to take a second to state that while I do think increasing the sales tax to pay for the arena is the wrong thing to do, I believe that those who disagree with me do so because they are likewise trying to do the right thing. I do not, as it might be tempting to interpret, think that they are in favor of taxing the poor or kicking puppies to raise money.

However, I think it is worthwhile to try to convince everybody that two No votes in November are the only right thing to do. I’ll start by reminding everyone that this whole thing is premised on two notable lies by our local politicians.
Continue reading “Clearing the air”

Local right-wing morning talk show host Eric Hogue has come out in favor of the arena tax measures. Clearly, though, this is one homer who doesn’t watch his “Simpsons,” because Hogue is also further suggesting the construction of a monorail for downtown Sac. Even before I heard this actually suggested was hard not to think about the great “Marge vs. The Monorail” episode, written by Conan O’Brien.

Quimby: Now wait just a minute! We’re twice as smart as the people of Shelbyville! Just tell us your idea and we’ll vote for it!
Lyle Lanley: All right, I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll show you my idea! I give you the Springfield Monorail! [audience gasps] I’ve sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and by gum, it put them on the map! [cue Monorail Song]

But I kid. I think a monorail is a stupid suggestion, but I’m not trying to make a point here, just crackin wise.