Dynamo: We want our share of the taxpayer-funded stadium pie
The Dynamo are getting more brazen in their demand for a publicly-financed stadium. In a Chronicle story about Oscar De La Hoya buying into the Houston soccer team, the ending paragraphs are key:
AEG is hoping the infusion investment from Brener and particularly De La Hoya will help reach a favorable agreement with the city for the construction of a soccer stadium just east of U.S. 59 and downtown. AEG reiterated its commitment to finance much of the project but wants the city to contribute a significant share toward the building of the $70 million to $90 million facility.
White has been reluctant to commit public money for the proposed project, although he recently said if the city does commit public funds, it will do so cautiously.
De La Hoya said he and Brener are prepared to invest "substantial" amounts of money into the project but want more support from the city.
"We just don't want to be at an economic disadvantage to other teams in the market," said Leiweke. "We don’t want to be the only fools who privatize the stadium. “Whether it’s the league or the other teams in town, we just want to be competitive.”
The fools are the taxpayers, of course, which is why Mayor White has spent the past couple of years keeping negotiations quiet, refusing to tell the public what's going on.
So let's visit the archives again, to see how the Dynamo and Mayor White have moved the goalposts:
This is from November 20, 2007:
White is seeking a deal that would not require the city to contribute public money. While AEG's proposal calls for the company to bear most of the construction costs, it still would require the city to provide millions of dollars in needed infrastructure improvements, city and team officials said.
This is from January 9, 2008:
"It's not going to be done the way it was done with other stadiums, where the taxpayers picked up the tab," said White said.
And this is from January 14, 2008:
Mayor Bill White said he doesn't want public funds used for the actual stadium construction.
And here's Oliver Luck from way back in 2005:
And among the first promises [newly named club president Oliver] Luck announced was a most important one that every sports fan should note: A soccer-specific stadium here would not be financed like every other sports mansion on the local landscape.
Financing will not be another tax burden on citizens.
As the old joke goes, how can you tell when a pol is lying? His lips are moving. Except that this joke won't hurt the politicians, only the taxpayers who get to foot the bill.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 03/01/08 12:49 PM | Print |
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