Monday, March 27, 2006
Oratory on the Arena
“…I can’t think of any more important public purpose that this kind of activity could be used for than an arena.”
Wait, he didn’t say that, did he? The quote is attributed to Pennsylvania’s junior U.S. Senator and the subject he is opining on is the use of slot proceeds to build an arena for the Penguins. Besides the fact that since he is a Federal official and the creation and regulation of gaming as well as the funding of an arena will be a state and local issue, the Senator’s statement once again reveal the problems with simply setting the application fee at $50 million instead of auctioning them off to the highest bidder.
First, who’s to say that an arena is the most important public purpose? One would think that reducing the City of Pittsburgh’s debt load so that it could cut taxes is far more important than an arena, especially since a new arena wouldn’t do much for the City’s finances above what the current one is doing now. Let’s face it: two new stadiums did nothing to prevent the City’s slide to insolvency. That goes without mentioning other purposes: infrastructure, condos, gambling prevention—any and all of these could be considered as “more important public purposes” than another sports venue.
Second, look how far away we’ve gotten from targeting gambling proceeds for property tax relief. Thanks to politicians viewing slots as a way to fund airports, hotels, arenas, and other economic development goodies, the state simply has another tool at its disposal to fund questionable projects. Here’s the predictable result: in future years, more and more of the gambling dollars will be used to pay off the debt from the assorted boondoggles dropped across the Commonwealth.
The Gaming Board must do its job without interference from elected officials lobbying for their favorite alternative. This whole gambling fiasco has been far too politicized already.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06083/675969-61.stm
Wait, he didn’t say that, did he? The quote is attributed to Pennsylvania’s junior U.S. Senator and the subject he is opining on is the use of slot proceeds to build an arena for the Penguins. Besides the fact that since he is a Federal official and the creation and regulation of gaming as well as the funding of an arena will be a state and local issue, the Senator’s statement once again reveal the problems with simply setting the application fee at $50 million instead of auctioning them off to the highest bidder.
First, who’s to say that an arena is the most important public purpose? One would think that reducing the City of Pittsburgh’s debt load so that it could cut taxes is far more important than an arena, especially since a new arena wouldn’t do much for the City’s finances above what the current one is doing now. Let’s face it: two new stadiums did nothing to prevent the City’s slide to insolvency. That goes without mentioning other purposes: infrastructure, condos, gambling prevention—any and all of these could be considered as “more important public purposes” than another sports venue.
Second, look how far away we’ve gotten from targeting gambling proceeds for property tax relief. Thanks to politicians viewing slots as a way to fund airports, hotels, arenas, and other economic development goodies, the state simply has another tool at its disposal to fund questionable projects. Here’s the predictable result: in future years, more and more of the gambling dollars will be used to pay off the debt from the assorted boondoggles dropped across the Commonwealth.
The Gaming Board must do its job without interference from elected officials lobbying for their favorite alternative. This whole gambling fiasco has been far too politicized already.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06083/675969-61.stm
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I heard the exact same quote. I was in the car driving to swim practice.
Unreal.
Ever hear of bridges, roads, schools, and a zillion other worthy causes. He has a serious lack of creativity and is ripe for the private sector.
Unreal.
Ever hear of bridges, roads, schools, and a zillion other worthy causes. He has a serious lack of creativity and is ripe for the private sector.
And, did I dream this, or did we not have a costly flood Downtown last year because parts of our water system date back to when this nation still had a Whig Party? Call me crazy, but a workable water and sewage system seems kind of important.
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