Why Should We Fund a New Baseball Stadium?

[Veronica]

I usually don't spend too much time worrying about local politics, especially since there is so much occurring at national and international levels. However, I find that I am really angry about Mayor Fahey's proposal to fund a new baseball stadium with an entertainment tax. Apparently, restaurant meals and movie tickets, at least, would be subject to this 2% tax. I eat out several times a week, and I go to the movies about once a week, so I know my budget is going to be affected.

I have a lot of questions for Mayor Fahey. The first is why should I be forced to pay for a baseball stadium I will most likely never set foot in? Another question I have is, what's wrong with the current stadium? Seriously? I haven't been there in years, so I don't know it's condition. Another question I have is what will be done with Rosenblatt if a new stadium is built? I know that Mayor Fahey has voiced concerns that Omaha will lose the College World Series, and so another question I would have would be so what? I've heard the arguments about all of the revenue the CWS brings to Omaha, but would that justify the construction of a $117.5 stadium? That's a lot of questions, but I think Omahans deserve all the answers. Veronica

[drobyn]

I agree with you. So many people in the city think that potentialnew businesses will want to come here if they hear "Omaha" mentioned during the world series and see a spiffy new stadium. Maybe. But maybe a real improvement might be doing something so that 6-year olds aren't shot to death in north Omaha and homeless people don't roam the streets downtown becuase theres no funding for a place they can go in the daytime.

[Moderator]

Fahey's on crack if he thinks that Omahans are going to support a new 2% "Entertainment Tax" to pay for a new stadium. There's nothing wrong with Rosenblatt. Sure, the parking is a pain, but it's only for 2 weeks out of the year.

Also, I haven't heard anything from Fahey about how this extra tax will affect tourism. We already charge a very hefty room tax (it's actually 16.5%). With the additional 2% "Entertainment Tax" we'll be charging 9% total sales tax on restaurant meals. Obviously, conventions and visitors aren't going to want to come to Omaha if we keep raising taxes.

Of course the CWS says they want a new stadium. DUH! What else are they going to say? Someone asks you, "Hey, do you want a big, brand spankin' new house with off-street parking, or do you want to stay in your remodeled older home and continue to park in the street?". Gee, what do you think your answer would be?!

I also agree that Fahey needs to concentrate right now on other problems that are much more important and urgent.

[apwendy]

You're right, V. How much more in taxes are people willing to pay? The paper says we'll have to pay more tax for pensions for police officers and fire fighers and the sewers need repair. Why do we have to bend over backwards for some spoiled college baseball teams that are here for only a week or so?

[drobyn]

Looks like this plan is in trouble now. The paper says the NCAA is insisting on a stadium that costs over a hundred mill. I'd like to insist that they pay for it themselves. Who cares if they leave?

[Moderator]

Yep, the Mayor's "plan" is in big trouble. On Friday, the MECA board, which oversees the Qwest Center, publicly denounced the plan at their board meeting. Fahey wants to use the Qwest Center's Parking Lot D for the new stadium, which would mean a loss of 4,000 close parking spaces. The MECA Board obviously opposes this, and frankly, I think it's just common sense that anyone would.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10155588

[karaoke]

These bigshots think a big shiny stadium makes a city look good to business that could come here. Evry stadium area i've seen looks depressed, except fr the area near Rosenblatt. The zoo keeps that looking active