Politicians, sports fans gather to discuss arena project
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SEATTLE -- Supporters of the proposed SoDo sports arena gathered Thursday to get a sense of where things stand, and it's safe to say the group is feeling pretty good.
The supporters -- a mix of businessmen, basketball lovers and politicians -- met at a Seattle bar and restaurant. Among those in attendance was Chris Hansen, the man behind the arena project.
"It's a meeting of people who have reached out and tried to make a difference in the community, and that's what it was about," Hansen said.
The Port of Seattle and many business leaders have been critical of putting another arena in the SoDo neighborhood, fearing the facility would create traffic jams and interfere with the movement of freight.
"There's another side that we hear from a lot when we build light rail or we build the Space Needle or bring the Sonics back, and those are folks who are always finding reason for why things can't be done," said King County Executive Dow Constantine.
Joining Constantine at the meeting was King County Councilman Bob Ferguson and Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell.
"We actually have one City Council member here," Constantine said. "So maybe we don't need five votes, we need four."
It was just a few days ago that eight of the nine city council members sent a letter to Hansen requesting changes to the arena deal. They want a greater share of tax revenue generated by the arena, and they want Hansen to agree to cover more of the cost involved in building the arena.
Harrell was the lone council member who didn't sign the letter.
"I was the only member who did not sign it," he said. "I don't like negotiating in public like that. I didn't want to put Mr. Hansen in a situation where he has to push back on public interests."
On a night when Hansen ate and drank with members of the political bodies charged with deciding the arena's fate, some were left to wonder if there's potential for a conflict of interest.
"This is in the home stretch and they're trying to make sure that people are reaching out and people who support the cause are making a difference, so I'm not sure why there would be a conflict of interest," Hansen said.
He also said he's looking forward to working with the City Council to address their requests.
The supporters -- a mix of businessmen, basketball lovers and politicians -- met at a Seattle bar and restaurant. Among those in attendance was Chris Hansen, the man behind the arena project.
"It's a meeting of people who have reached out and tried to make a difference in the community, and that's what it was about," Hansen said.
The Port of Seattle and many business leaders have been critical of putting another arena in the SoDo neighborhood, fearing the facility would create traffic jams and interfere with the movement of freight.
"There's another side that we hear from a lot when we build light rail or we build the Space Needle or bring the Sonics back, and those are folks who are always finding reason for why things can't be done," said King County Executive Dow Constantine.
Joining Constantine at the meeting was King County Councilman Bob Ferguson and Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell.
"We actually have one City Council member here," Constantine said. "So maybe we don't need five votes, we need four."
It was just a few days ago that eight of the nine city council members sent a letter to Hansen requesting changes to the arena deal. They want a greater share of tax revenue generated by the arena, and they want Hansen to agree to cover more of the cost involved in building the arena.
Harrell was the lone council member who didn't sign the letter.
"I was the only member who did not sign it," he said. "I don't like negotiating in public like that. I didn't want to put Mr. Hansen in a situation where he has to push back on public interests."
On a night when Hansen ate and drank with members of the political bodies charged with deciding the arena's fate, some were left to wonder if there's potential for a conflict of interest.
"This is in the home stretch and they're trying to make sure that people are reaching out and people who support the cause are making a difference, so I'm not sure why there would be a conflict of interest," Hansen said.
He also said he's looking forward to working with the City Council to address their requests.
The parks don't even have basketball courts in them. Seattle is not a big basketball town in that aspect. Most fans are either out of towners or too lazy to play basketball. More courts are in the outlying areas. The arena should be built there where there is a bigger fan base. Seattle would be a good place for a 'Latte/coffee team'. The arena should be built on the east side where people actually play the game.Â
 @Granny_MACYou clearly have no idea what you are talking about. Seattle has the highest per capita NBA recruitment in the world. For every 1 million city residents, there are 15.04 players in the NBA. Miami is second a 9.68 players per million. http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/2010/02/23/seattle-is-nations-most-fertile-nba-training-ground/
BREAD AND CIRCUSES**Â Â Got to keep the populace entertained as we are being "trickled down" upon and the climate changes. Maybe we won't notice what's happening to us until it is too late to do anything about it.
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**"Bread and Circuses" (or bread and games) (from Latin: panem et circenses) is a metaphor for a superficial means of appeasement. Juvenal decried it as a simplistic motivation of common people and hence the political strategy implied. In the case of politics, the phrase is used to describe the creation of public approval, not through exemplary or excellent public service or public policy, but through diversion, distraction, and/or the mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace
how about any cost over runs are paid for by the city,not the state?
 @toadaway:Â
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The City is already on the hook for nearly 50% of the cost. If Hansen wants this so bad, let HIM be responsible for cost overruns. It's his baby, afterall
 @LocalLady He already is.
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Per the MOU: "If the revenues from the two previous sources are not enough to cover the cost of repaying the bonds, the investor is obligated to pay an additional rent payment to make up the difference."
How about changing the deal to require that all traffic upgrades in the area be completed BEFORE the arena is built? We didn't do that with Safeco and we wound up only getting 1 out of 3 promised on-ramps and overpasses.
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Sodo traffic can't handle the arena as is, anyone who thinks it can isn't living in reality.
Wow! Glad to actually see some local politicians actually working together to actually make something happen for once. Wish the city would do the same.