Stadium

Stadium https://www.dailykos.com/news/Stadium News Community Action Copyright 2005 - Steal what you want Mon, 27 Jan 2020 11:14:42 +0000 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 11:14:42 +0000 Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) Trump made it a 'priority' to have big sports teams' subsidies ban removed from tax bill https://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/12/20/1726243/-Trump-made-it-a-priority-to-have-big-sports-teams-subsidies-ban-removed-from-tax-bill You remember how Donald Trump has been up in arms about big sports business and their tax breaks? <div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content='&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!&lt;/p&gt;— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/917694644481413120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;October 10, 2017&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;'><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!Ã¢Â€Â” Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/917694644481413120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote></div> Yeah. As the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-is-poised-to-pass-sweeping-tax-overhaul-1513376474" target="_blank" title="">Wall Street Journal</a> explains. The one clause that may have ended big business stadium subsidies—that’s been exorcized. <blockquote> The bill also preserves the ability to use tax-exempt bonds for professional sports stadium bonds—a priority for Mr. Trump, a GOP aide said. </blockquote> Trump spent so much time attacking, so very specifically, sports businesses concerning those kinds of tax breaks, it’s “surprising” that it was a “priority” for him. Example number 1,003,234,654 of how full of shit Donald Trump is. *Smoke and mirrors=bullshit rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) Baseball CorporateWelfare NFL sportsteams Stadium TaxCuts trump _1726243 Wed, 20 Dec 2017 18:32:11 +0000 St Louis Rams owner wins lawsuit, can get stadium built on public's dime without public vote https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/8/7/1409825/-St-Louis-Rams-owner-wins-lawsuit-can-get-stadium-built-on-public-s-dime-without-public-vote <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://images.dailykos.com/images/125513/large/football.jpg?1421932927" alt="Deflated football" width="550" height="301" /> <div class="dkimg-cap">Building stadiums and you get the bill</div> </div> Professional sports teams building stadiums and making the public cover the cost is one of the great scams in the United States. Moral luminaries like GOP Presidential hopeful <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/10/1392120/-The-more-you-hear-about-Scott-Walker-s-NBA-arena-funding-plan-the-worse-it-gets">Scott Walker are proponents</a> of these kinds of practices. A few months ago National Football League's St. Louis Rams began making the early overtures most ownerships make when <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-stadium-inglewood-20150322-column.html">trying to get their scam on.</a> <blockquote>Stan Kroenke won't be empty handed this week when he arrives at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona. The St. Louis Rams owner will be packing finished schematic plans for the world's most interactive and integrated football stadium, a futuristic, $1.86-billion, privately financed venue proposed for the Hollywood Park site in Inglewood. </blockquote> You might be saying to yourself, but the St. Louis Rams are in St. Louis Missouri, right? Yes. Yes they are. But nothing scares up some municipal financing like threatening to leave. Also, St. Louis politicians couldn't just hand over the keys to the public coffers in this case because St. Louis had a law saying that the public must have a vote on these kinds of municipal projects. But a month after the above Los Angeles Times article and the NFL's commissioner (Roger Goodell) announcing "accelerated efforts" in getting the Rams moved to LA, Governor Jay Nixon and his stadium task force decided to <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/jones-dome-board-sues-st-louis-to-block-public-vote/article_d4235662-20b0-5808-aa4e-0316beb7974a.html">sue the city of St. Louis to get out of having a civic vote.</a> <blockquote>The suit, filed in state court, says a 2002 city ordinance requiring a public vote is “overly broad, vague and ambiguous,” and asks the judge to rule that it either doesn’t apply in this case, conflicts with state statute or is unconstitutional. It comes at a key time. Gov. Jay Nixon’s two-man stadium task force has been working for months to solidify financing and sidestep project-killing delays before presenting plans for the $985 million riverfront arena to a National Football League owners committee this spring. </blockquote> Governor Nixon says that the issue was "time" and "not a public vote." What was amazing about this is that the ordinance was created so very specifically for this very reason. <blockquote>St. Louis residents passed the ordinance in 2002 by nearly 10 percentage points — 55 percent to 45 percent. St. Louis County voters approved a similar measure two years later, 72 percent to 28 percent. The laws — a municipal ordinance in the city and a charter amendment in the county — prohibit any “financial assistance” from the city and county to a professional sports facility without voter approval. They define “financial assistance” broadly, to include tax reduction, tax-increment financing, land preparation, loans, donations, payment of obligations, and the issuance, authorization, or guarantee of bonds. </blockquote> Well, today the NFL and St. Louis Rams' owner Stan Kroenke and Governor Nixon got what <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/article_51c33b67-9b72-5055-ba56-94cc9e1b46e2.html#.Vb-hJi52tcd.twitter">they wanted.</a> <blockquote>The city does not need voter approval before spending tax dollars on a riverfront stadium, a judge ruled Monday, jumping another hurdle in the race to keep the National Football League in St. Louis. Circuit Court Judge Thomas Frawley declared invalid the city ordinance requiring a public vote, calling sections “too vague to be enforced.” The law has so many “uncertainties,” he wrote in his ruling, “their sum makes a task for us which at best could be only guesswork.” </blockquote> Judge Thomas Frawley cited various "uncertainties" such as whether the city could conduct internal discussions without a vote or send people out, on tax dollars, to look into the stadium without a vote. Besides the fact that all of these things happened without a vote and people only wanted a vote to decide whether or not they actually wanted to spend the very real money on the stadium, these arguments seem specious. But who is to say? Maybe the law was written in crayon? <blockquote>Fred Lindecke, who helped pass the city ordinance, said he thought his group had followed the law on the initiative petition. “The people voted,” Lindecke said. “And now the judge has said forget all that. It makes me angry. “The law is as clear and straightforward as you can get. It covers every kind of technique known to man for getting into the taxpayer’s pocket,” he continued. “And it says very clearly, without ambiguity, that people have a right to vote before any of their tax money is used to build a stadium. I would hope that someone in city government would be as upset as I am, and would try to do something about it.” </blockquote> Good luck St. Louis. rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) NFL Scam Stadium stadiumbuilding StLouisRams _1409825 Fri, 07 Aug 2015 23:13:37 +0000 Power Crazed Wi GOP Leader Threatens Funding Because President Wasn't Disrespected https://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/11/14/1344987/-Power-Crazed-Wi-GOP-Leader-Threatens-Funding-Because-President-Wasn-t-Disrespected <div class="dkimg-l"><img src="http://images.dailykos.com/images/42388/small/cat.jpg?1375144979" alt="Crazy cat upside down" width="194" height="259" /> <div class="dkimg-cap">Real image of Robin Vos unavailable</div> </div> I'm not really sure how to title this <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/vos-arena-funding-plan-could-be-hard-sell-in-gop-run-legislature-b99390195z1-282624671.html">gobsmacking piece of news.</a> I'm ready for suggestions, though (Kosmail me). The Milwaukee Bucks have new owners and like many owners of sports franchises, they want a shiny new stadium - <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/03/1334124/-Top-Comments-Holding-Cities-Hostage-Edition">a topic I covered in Top Comments</a> recently. From the article linked first: <blockquote>The Milwaukee Bucks investors who are seeking public money for a new arena will have to negotiate a difficult political path in Madison, where Republicans have widened their control of the Legislature. The latest sign of trouble for those wanting public money for the arena came from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), who said he thinks Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry made a mistake by greeting President Barack Obama at the airport in the lead-up to last week's election. </blockquote> That's right, folks. If you show any respect to President Obama, you're in serious trouble with the GOP and when they're in control of the Governorship and entire Legislature (thanks, Gerrymander), there's going to be hell to pay. And going to meet the President of the United States (hated Democrat) when he comes to your city seems outrageous to loyal Republicans. All Hail GOP. It gets worse because Vos tries to shift the blame to others: <blockquote>Vos said Lasry's appearance "did not make my job easier" in terms of persuading Republican legislators to back a possible financial plan to build a new, multipurpose arena in Milwaukee. "It's a tough sell when you're asking for millions of dollars," Vos said. </blockquote> It's going to be tough to back pedal this incredibly bare-knuckled partisan threat because it wasn't an isolated comment: <blockquote>For the moment, Vos' comments about Lasry's visit with Obama have grabbed the headlines on the issue. In addition to his statements to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he made similar ones to the Milwaukee Business Journal and WISN-TV's "UpFront with Mike Gousha." "If you're looking to people for support, you certainly don't want to poke people in the eye," Vos told the Business Journal. </blockquote> Oh yeah, Republicans are going there. Business owners are now on notice - if you want anything from Republicans, you'd better play ball their way and demonstrate that you hate Obama and the Democrats as much as they do. Or else. Of course, in Walkers Wisconsin, it's only his donors and supporters that are "entitled" to tax dollars. Just look at WEDC for proof. And the voucher school industry. And open pit mining.... It's a long list. Those statements aren't just hanging in the air unopposed. <blockquote>On Wednesday, the liberal group One Wisconsin Now asked Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and Racine County District Attorney W. Richard Chiapete to launch an investigation into Vos' comments to Gousha. The group contends Vos may have violated a state law that bars public officials from promising to take official acts — or promising to refrain from taking officials acts — because of political contributions. </blockquote> While the new Bucks owner has contributed to Democratic candidates in the past, he did not contribute to Mary Burke's unsuccessful campaign to replace Scott Walker as Governor. It's incredible how much Republicans abuse power when they're in office, in the majority, and in control. And no bottom to how low they'll go either. rss@dailykos.com (Puddytat) AbuseofPower crazystatements Elections FEELFREETOADDORADJUSTTAGS Funding Gerrymandering MilwaukeeBucks Outrage PoliticalExtortion Recommended Republicans RobinVos Stadium Wisconsin _1344987 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 21:49:47 +0000 MN-Gov: Mark Dayton (D) Helps Break Ground On New Vikings Stadium, GOP Cries https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/4/1260090/-MN-Gov-Mark-Dayton-D-Helps-Break-Ground-On-New-Vikings-Stadium-GOP-Cries <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MazVqzmfFvA" frameborder="0" defang_allowfullscreen=""></iframe> This one's for the football fans: <a href="http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/285203/">http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/60180/large/217STAD120413.JPG?1386178410" alt="" width="550" height="396" /></div> Zygi Wilf beamed in the middle of the sharp-dressed group, a gold-painted shovel in his hands, a purple Vikings hard hat on his head and star running back Adrian Peterson by his side. Finally, the work on Minnesota’s polarizing and long-sought new stadium was under way. After more than a decade of planning, dealing and pleading, the $1 billion project began Tuesday with a formal groundbreaking in downtown Minneapolis. About 600 people, including local politicians, business leaders and chanting fans, were in attendance as Wilf, Peterson, Gov. Mark Dayton and many others took turns flipping dirt and smiling for photos as fireworks exploded overhead. The grinning and digging took place in the parking lot next to the Metrodome, where the Vikings have played since 1982. Their last game there is Dec. 29, and a three-month demolition of the Teflon-topped stadium will start in mid-January. After two years outdoors at the University of Minnesota, the Vikings are scheduled to inaugurate the ship-shaped, glass-encased venue in time for the 2016 season. During a set of speeches in a nearby tent, Dayton joked that he felt just like Vikings coach Leslie Frazier after the team’s 23-20 overtime victory Sunday over Chicago. “I can’t believe it’s over, and I can’t believe we won,” Dayton said. - Duluth News Tribune, 12/4/13 </blockquote> And of course conservatives and Republicans had to shit on it: <a href="http://blogs.mprnews.org/stadium-watch/2013/12/03/vikings-officially-break-ground-on-new-stadium/">http://blogs.mprnews.org/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/60184/large/20110705_budgettalks2_33.jpg?1386179673" alt="" width="550" height="338" /></div> The Taxpayers League of Minnesota and other conservative groups held a separate news conference to highlight what they view as a bad deal for the state. Republican Senator Dave Thompson of Lakeville predicted that funding for the public share of the stadium will fall short and taxpayers will get hit harder. Thompson, who is a GOP candidate for governor, blamed incumbent DFL Governor Mark Dayton. “Who’s going to get stuck with it? Probably the taxpayer, and not the hated 1 percent,” said Thompson. “The regular folks in Minnesota that are getting up every Monday through Friday, going to work, working hard and earning an average living will pay for this stadium. It’s wrong. It shouldn’t have been done, and this governor should be held accountable.” Republicans controlled the Legislature when the stadium measure was passed. Public money makes up about half of the $1 billion project and is being paid for mostly with new corporate taxes, a small amount of new gambling taxes and a one-time excise tax on cigarettes. The Dayton administration has said the funding won’t come at the expense of any existing state programs. Dayton dismissed the cost concerns, saying state and city subsidies are worthwhile investment. He cited a maximum price guarantee the state negotiated with the builder and a $400 million mixed-use development planned just blocks from the stadium. - Minnesota Public Radio, 12/4/13 </blockquote> Here's a little more info: <a href="http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_24644925/vikings-minnesota-leaders-break-ground-new-stadium">http://www.twincities.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/60182/large/VikingsStadiumGroundbreaking2013_640_0.jpg?1386178954" alt="" width="550" height="344" /></div> The stadium will be built, "but the deal is not fully funded yet," said former state Sen. Ted Lillie, president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota. He noted that the original source of the state's contribution -- taxes on electronic pulltabs and bingo -- is falling far short of projections. He warned that stadium backers would try to tap tax dollars that would otherwise go to the state's general fund. Last May, Dayton, a DFLer, and the DFL-led Legislature shored up the state's ability to pay its share of stadium costs with a one-time cigarette tax that generated $26.5 million and an ongoing corporate tax-law change that will provide $20 million a year, if needed. The original stadium bill was passed when Republicans controlled the Legislature. The funding backstops would still leave the state short about $10 million a year if bond payments turn out to be $33.5 million per year, as has been projected, but state officials have said those payments may turn out to be lower and that Minneapolis will be picking up a greater share of the stadium tab as time goes on. If more funding does become necessary to complete the stadium, state Sen. Dave Thompson, a Lakeville Republican who is running for governor, said stadium users and the Vikings owners should foot the bill. - Pioneer Press, 12/3/13 </blockquote> But Vikings owners are already helping foot the bill: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/sports/football/for-minnesota-vikings-new-stadium-meets-lingering-doubts.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/...</a> <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/60183/large/Y-VIKINGS-1-articleLarge.jpg?1386179162" alt="" width="550" height="367" /></div> Recently the Wilfs agreed to cover cost overruns that have pushed the price of the project past the original $975 million estimate. The Wilfs pledged $26.4 million in additional financing and assumed the $15 million cost of playing games at the University of Minnesota’s stadium that had been part of the financing bill. The 64,000-seat stadium is expected to open in 2016. Exactly how much the Wilfs are committing remains a point of contention for those who opposed public financing for the building, a fixed-roof, multipurpose stadium. The bill calls for the Vikings to contribute $477 million, which will be culled from three sources: the N.F.L.; a financial consortium led by Goldman Sachs and U.S. Bank; and the Wilfs, developers from New Jersey who tightly guard their net worth. With the covered overruns, the team’s share is expected to surpass $500 million, a little more than half the cost. According to Vikings officials, the N.F.L. provided the team $200 million from its stadium construction fund, combining $150 million in loans with a $50 million grant. An additional $250 million will be privately financed through the consortium, $100 million of that recouped through personal seat licenses. Dayton criticized the Vikings last year for including personal seat licenses in the stadium bill. The Wilfs pledged another $100 million in cash, in part for interest payments and rising costs. The selling of naming rights could reduce the Wilfs’ share or the amount financed. Mark Wilf, the Vikings’ president, said his family and the team had contributed a large enough share. “This kind of public-private partnership was needed on this kind of project,” he said. “As the building goes up and as people start seeing what it means to the economy over the next few years, I think those positives will outweigh any contrary concerns.” When construction bids came back higher than expected, Wilf said, ownership chose to pay more to maintain the features needed so the building could lure major events. Minneapolis is one of three finalists for the 2018 Super Bowl along with New Orleans and Indianapolis, and the city plans to bid for an N.C.A.A. Final Four and an N.C.A.A. football championship game. “We want to make sure we have the big-screen scoreboards, the ribbon boards, the Wi-Fi, the wider concourses,” Wilf said. “In order to make that happen and to keep pace with what is really a first-class N.F.L. standard, we had to step up to meet that budget gap. It’s a significant increased investment, but we want our fans to have the best type of experience possible.” - New York Times, 12/3/13 </blockquote> Leave it to the GOP to try and make something good sound horrible and claim that it will hurt Dayton next year.  Here's Dayton's response: <blockquote> <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/60185/large/20101103_mark-dayton3_33.jpg?1386179787" alt="" width="550" height="365" /></div> “Minnesotans have a right to decide whether they want to keep me on the job or not,” Dayton said after overturning a shovelful of dirt Tuesday. “Either way, I’ll know that I did what I believe was right for Minnesota. Economic recovery and putting thousands of people to work — that’s as good as it gets in my line of work.” - New York Times, 12/3/13</blockquote> Well said.  Dayton has been a great progressive Governor and he deserves our support next year.  If you would like to donate to or get involved with his re-election campaign, you can do so here: <div class="dkimg-c"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/60181/large/20131203_stadiumgroundbreaking02-630x551.jpg?1386178801" alt="A large rendering of the new Minnesota Vikings football stadium stands behind Vikings owners Mark, left, and &nbsp;Zygi Wilf, second from left, as they are joined by Gov. Mark Dayton, second from right, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak during one of several ceremonial dirt tosses at groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Minnesota Vikings NFL football stadium, Tuesday &nbsp;Dec. 3, 2013, in Minneapolis. AP Photo/Jim Mone)" width="550" height="481" /></div> <a href="http://markdayton.org/">http://markdayton.org/</a> rss@dailykos.com (poopdogcomedy) 2014 2014election 2014midterms 2014MinnesotaGovernorsRace AdrianPeterson DaveThompson Democrats Economy Election Election 2014 Election2014 Football GOP Infrastructure Jobs MarkDayton Minnesota MinnesotaVikings MN-Gov NFL ProfessionalFootball Republicans Stadium Tea Party TeaParty Vote Vote 2014 Vote2014 _1260090 Wed, 04 Dec 2013 19:00:19 +0000 Atlanta Braves relocation: what a joke https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/11/1254877/-Atlanta-Braves-relocation-what-a-joke So by now, a lot of you must have heard of the <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-plan-to-build-new-stadium-in-cobb/nbpNQ/">relocation</a>of the Braves from Atlanta to the neighboring Cobb County. <blockquote>The Atlanta Braves plan to build a new stadium in Cobb County and move there from Turner Field at the start of the 2017 season, team officials said Monday. Braves executives John Schuerholz, Mike Plant and Derek Schiller, in a meeting with a small group of reporters, said the new ballpark will be built at the northwest intersection of I-75 and I-285 in the Galleria/Cumberland Mall area. They said the team has “secured” approximately 60 acres of land for the project. The Braves said the stadium is projected to cost $672 million, including parking, land and infrastructure, and will be built in partnership with Cobb County. Schiller said the Braves will be a “significant investor” in building the stadium but refused to disclose how much the team will spend. “At this point in time, we are working with Cobb County, and when those details of our exact arrangement become final, we will let you know,” Schiller said. The Braves officials also declined to provide specifics regarding the public funding. “It is through Cobb County, and Cobb County will be responsible for delineating the various buckets of dollars,” Schiller said. </blockquote> I was hoping someone would start a diary on this because I don't have the time to put out a well researched diary.  But here goes some of my thoughts. Since it remains in the same region, you will not hear protests from team fans as much as the loyalties are not broken. BUt there is a lot of anger from people in region about taxpayer waste. Turner Field was carved out of a brand new Olympic Stadium which was built only for the Olympics and nothing else. They did a good job converting into a fine baseball stadium which still looks good. I usually sympathize with the sentiment that we should not give government a free check to do anything, especially sports. I am huge sports nut, but I hate the way politicians OF BOTH parties have given away taxpayer funds in many cities to build new stadiums. Turner Field was built at a time when luxury box seats were already prevalent/ rss@dailykos.com (pravin) AtlantaBraves AtlantaGA Baseball CobbCounty Relocation Sports Stadium TurnerField _1254877 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 23:41:21 +0000 Don't let GOP bash decision to stay indoors https://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/9/5/1127991/-Don-t-let-GOP-bash-decision-to-stay-indoors I'm sure we'll get more instruction on this later in the day, but fellow Democrats ---- let's make sure we don't let the GOP run with the idea that Obama's speech <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/09/05/what-moving-obamas-speech-inside-means/">was moved</a> out of the 85,000-seat stadium to the 20,000-seat arena because of lack of interest. Let's make sure we find ways to show that there were thousands more interested in attending the event who could not, so there's no question that demand wasn't an issue. <blockquote>Is it people watching from other large organized venues nearby? (not sure this is practical given the timing)</blockquote> <blockquote>Is it people watching from the streets outside? (tail-gating the stadium, as it were? Could it be simul-cast in some fashion?)</blockquote> <blockquote>Is it people watching from house parties but registering somehow so their numbers can be logged?</blockquote> <blockquote>Is it people "liking" a Facebook group called "I Would Have Watched the President's Address Live from the Stadium" or something, so a count can be started? (no such group exists to my knowledge -- just an idea)</blockquote> <blockquote>Other suggestions?</blockquote> I'm not sure -- but already I abhor the idea that the GOP will try to add to it's "the thrill is gone" narrative with this new, purely weather-related change to the schedule. The threat is <a href="http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Hourly.aspx?chart=Precipitation&location=USNC0121&day=Tomorrow">very real</a>, by the way -- and folks got soaked yesterday around Charlotte.  I think we can agree that a last-minute evacuation of the stadium, huge numbers of empty seats from unprepared dressed up folks (no umbrellas allowed, remember), or a soaking POTUS would all be much less desirable than this shuffling. But let's remove any doubt. Optics are important.  Messaging matters.  If you're a low-info voter who's not really paying attention, let's make sure you don't get the idea this was a debacle. Let's organize in the next 34 hours to make sure that there's no question that the President would have filled that venue to overflowing with people excited to hear him speak and itching to get him renominated and reelected to another four years!! rss@dailykos.com (Save the clock tower) DNC Obama Speech Stadium _1127991 Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:02:09 +0000 Today - 4:30 PM City Hall - Minneapolis Says NO to Stadium Tax Scam!! VampireSquid! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/5/23/1094151/-Today-4-30-PM-City-Hall-Minneapolis-Says-NO-to-Stadium-Tax-Scam-VampireSquid FYI - this rally announcement is propagating on facebook and the list-serves of traditionally DFL allies in our area... a referendum is what voters put into place and deserve, and I think it is apalling that we would use our limited taxing and bonding capacities to subsidize a billionaire's pro sports team while expanding gambling. There is time to stop this theft and show the State Legislature and Governor Dayton that we hold schools, hospitals, basic functions of civilization to be higher priorities than corporate mass spectacle. Have fun! Thanks, Soren Call Mpls City Council to demand Minneapolis' right to vote. Especially Reich, Tuthill, and Colvin Roy, are the mostly likely to switch sides.  We just need one more no vote! (See details below). Join others in the rally and hearing. Though if you do, call your City Council person now and join us next week. Minneapolis Says NO to Stadium Tax Scam!! No Subsidies for Billionaire Zygi! We Demand Our Right to Vote! RALLY:   Wednesday, May 23, 4:30 - 7pm, Mpls City Hall.  Meet outside on 4th St. side. Come as soon as you can. It's not a "done deal".  Zygi Wilf can't get any money from Minneapolis unless the Mpls City Council votes to approve the deal.  We have just days left to stop them.   rss@dailykos.com (ImpeccableLiberalCredentials) Football Goldman Sachs GoldmanSachs Minneapolis Minnesota Stadium Vikings _1094151 Wed, 23 May 2012 14:59:24 +0000 32 bills the MN GOP worked on instead of balancing the budget https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/5/24/978896/-32-bills-the-MN-GOP-worked-on-instead-of-balancing-the-budget <img align="right" width="180" src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa388/MNProgressive/clowns.jpg" />The 2011 legislative session was supposed to be strictly about the budget.  Republicans did nearly anything but work on the budget.  As the last day of the session ground to a halt and GOP legislators sat idly by, I reflected upon what they tried to pass this session instead of the budget. Obviously, the marriage discrimination constitutional amendment comes to mind.  So does the <a href="http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/tag/voter%20id">Voter ID</a> constitutional amendment as well as the new stadium for billionaire MN Vikings owner Zygi Wilf. But that barely scratches the surface and much of it was totally insane: rss@dailykos.com (The Big E) 2011 Abortion Education Gay Marriage GayMarriage GOP Guns Health Care HealthCare Immigration Legislature Logging MealsOnWheels Minnesota NonProfits Republicans Stadium Vikings Voter ID VoterID Welfare _978896 Tue, 24 May 2011 22:00:02 +0000 The Governor of N.Y. and the Mayor of N.Y.C. are liars https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/19/685473/-The-Governor-of-N-Y-and-the-Mayor-of-N-Y-C-are-liars The <a href="http://www.ny.gov/governor/keydocs/speech_0107091.html">governor</a>: <blockquote> We in government need the courage to balance our budget as well as our priorities.  We need the courage to sacrifice for the future, but this must be a shared sacrifice. </blockquote> Which resulted in <a href="http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/aug2008/nycu-a23.shtml">draconian budget cuts</a>: <blockquote> The legislature passed a 6 percent reduction in services, including $141 million in cuts to health care. This includes a reduction to Medicaid funding, which services the health needs of poor people, by $127 million. </blockquote> rss@dailykos.com (America) DavidPaterson MichaelBloomberg NewYorkMets NewYorkYankees Stadium taxpayers _685473 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:05:55 +0000 I just finished watching Obama's speech https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/578221/-I-just-finished-watching-Obama-s-speech I worked five hours late tonight trying to finish an international proposal before the holiday weekend (to avoid coming in on my day off); I didn't get home till after 11:45pm.   When it became apparent I'd have to work late, I fired up the handy uVerse DVR web interface and set it to record tonight's MSNBC convention broadcast.   Once I got home, I fed the cats, and let the dogs inside, made myself an impromptu dinner of leftovers, opened a Tecate and sat down to watch my recorded convention night.  I just finished watching Obama's speech five minutes ago. rss@dailykos.com (bustacap) accept Acceptance Barack Obama BarackObama Berlin Democratic Democratic National Convention DemocraticNationalConvention Democrats Denver John McCain JohnMcCain Nomination Speech Stadium _578221 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:14:48 +0000 Obama in the house that Elway built https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/8/548491/-Obama-in-the-house-that-Elway-built I'm sure everyone on Daily Kos is aware of the change of venue for Obama's acceptance speech in Denver: <a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/08/1186478.aspx">Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium</a>.  I personally have no doubts that they will be able to find 75,000 people to jampack the stadium for a raucous good time.  I've been there for a couple college football games (Colorado State vs. U of Colorado...and by the way, go Rams!) and it can be deafening in there.   But let's look at the history of Invesco.  A small sales tax was used to fund the building of that stadium.  And the vote for the tax came after two Denver Bronco superbowl wins.  (If I remember correctly).  John Elway happened to donate to Rudy Guiliani. rss@dailykos.com (ssmt) DemocraticConvention InvescoField JohnElway NFL Obama Republicans Stadium _548491 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:51:55 +0000 Took me out to the ballgame ... https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/21/539887/-Took-me-out-to-the-ballgame <img align="left" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2597643759_083ac733b9_m.jpg" title="Strike Out Exxon" />Last evening, amid gorgeous weather, a call to action sent me out to the ballgame.  While the 14-inning game was great (GO NATS!), play on the field wasn't the only action. The <a href="http://strikeoutexxon.org/">Strike Out Exxon</a> campaign began yesterday.  The Washington Nationals new stadium is the "greenest" in baseball. Yet, who is one of their principle advertisers: that <a href="http://www.exxposeexxon.com/">great friend of the environment Exxon-Mobil</a>.  A coalition has come together to call attention to this absurdity and to Exxon-Mobil's roadblocking of action against Global Warming. rss@dailykos.com (A Siegel) Action Activism Baseball Environmental Exxon-Mobil Global Warming GlobalWarming greenwashing Rescued Stadium _539887 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:44:48 +0000