Post by Fish Troll on Jan 5, 2008 22:06:59 GMT -5
Not if this guy have something to say:
www.miamiherald.com/459/story/367870.html
Marlins have a way of keeping their fans at the edge of their seat, during the game and during off season.
Luxury auto dealer Norman Braman's blitz against a $525 million Florida Marlins ballpark and billions of dollars of downtown projects hits the airwaves next week -- just before a crucial county commission vote on the stadium financing.
''Here they go again,'' the narrator intones in the first radio ad set to air Monday. ``The downtown development deal is a downtown double-cross.''
Braman said Friday that a political action committee he created has purchased 175 spots on English and Spanish stations in advance of the county commission vote Thursday.
If commissioners approve the financing -- spread out among the county ($249 million), Marlins ($155 million) and city ($121 million) -- the stadium is very likely a go. Braman is trying to stoke opposition to stop it.
The Marlins' portion would come up front, while the county's contribution would come largely from a professional sports franchise tax and the city's largely from tourist development taxes.
The first ad, set to run Monday only, focuses on the ballpark and attacks city and county leaders for ``back-door deals with rich businesses.''
''Dolphin Stadium was built without taxpayer dollars,'' the ad says. ``The Marlins should do the same. These property taxes were intended for the poor. The Marlins are not poor.''
The second ad, set to run Tuesday and Wednesday, attacks a $914 million Port of Miami tunnel and a proposed $200 million streetcar.
It hits on familiar anti-corruption and anti-waste themes that have proved effective in past anti-tax campaigns Braman led.
Braman declined to say how much the PAC -- People Who Demand Honest Government Inc. -- is spending, though the figure will later be disclosed under law.
''I'm willing to spend whatever it takes,'' Braman said.
Last month, county commissioners voted 9-4 in favor of the massive agreement with the city to finance billions in new downtown spending that would also help build the stadium.
Thursday's stadium financing vote will include a detailed contract that, among other items, makes cost overruns the team's responsibility.
The final details may not be available until just before the vote.
''We've got to wait and see what the product is,'' Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro said, but added: ``A lot of us are inclined to support a stadium, looking at the previous votes.''
County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Marlins spokesman P.J. Loyello declined to comment on the attack ads or the upcoming vote.
Braman has a reputation for digging into his own pockets to battle tax increases and fight government waste.
The former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles ponied up $250,000 for the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts that is now part of the redevelopment deal.
In 1982, he spent at least $125,000 to help defeat a city of Miami sales tax proposal that would have paid for Orange Bowl renovations to keep the Dolphins there.
And in 1999, Braman cut short a summer vacation to take on then-County Mayor Alex Penelas and his campaign to raise the sales tax by 1 percent for transportation. Braman and the opponents prevailed by a 2-to-1 margin.
Braman said he has been asked by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and others to reconsider his opposition.
''I still consider him a friend and a supporter,'' Diaz said.
``Obviously, we disagree on this one. I told him that the entire package will create a lot of resources that are beneficial to the entire community, that do get rid of a lot of slum and blight.''
Braman isn't likely to change his mind: ``I've gotten my share of phone calls from the interested parties, asking me to back down. But it's like the last time: The more calls I get, the more resolved I am to stick with it.''
''Here they go again,'' the narrator intones in the first radio ad set to air Monday. ``The downtown development deal is a downtown double-cross.''
Braman said Friday that a political action committee he created has purchased 175 spots on English and Spanish stations in advance of the county commission vote Thursday.
If commissioners approve the financing -- spread out among the county ($249 million), Marlins ($155 million) and city ($121 million) -- the stadium is very likely a go. Braman is trying to stoke opposition to stop it.
The Marlins' portion would come up front, while the county's contribution would come largely from a professional sports franchise tax and the city's largely from tourist development taxes.
The first ad, set to run Monday only, focuses on the ballpark and attacks city and county leaders for ``back-door deals with rich businesses.''
''Dolphin Stadium was built without taxpayer dollars,'' the ad says. ``The Marlins should do the same. These property taxes were intended for the poor. The Marlins are not poor.''
The second ad, set to run Tuesday and Wednesday, attacks a $914 million Port of Miami tunnel and a proposed $200 million streetcar.
It hits on familiar anti-corruption and anti-waste themes that have proved effective in past anti-tax campaigns Braman led.
Braman declined to say how much the PAC -- People Who Demand Honest Government Inc. -- is spending, though the figure will later be disclosed under law.
''I'm willing to spend whatever it takes,'' Braman said.
Last month, county commissioners voted 9-4 in favor of the massive agreement with the city to finance billions in new downtown spending that would also help build the stadium.
Thursday's stadium financing vote will include a detailed contract that, among other items, makes cost overruns the team's responsibility.
The final details may not be available until just before the vote.
''We've got to wait and see what the product is,'' Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro said, but added: ``A lot of us are inclined to support a stadium, looking at the previous votes.''
County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Marlins spokesman P.J. Loyello declined to comment on the attack ads or the upcoming vote.
Braman has a reputation for digging into his own pockets to battle tax increases and fight government waste.
The former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles ponied up $250,000 for the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts that is now part of the redevelopment deal.
In 1982, he spent at least $125,000 to help defeat a city of Miami sales tax proposal that would have paid for Orange Bowl renovations to keep the Dolphins there.
And in 1999, Braman cut short a summer vacation to take on then-County Mayor Alex Penelas and his campaign to raise the sales tax by 1 percent for transportation. Braman and the opponents prevailed by a 2-to-1 margin.
Braman said he has been asked by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and others to reconsider his opposition.
''I still consider him a friend and a supporter,'' Diaz said.
``Obviously, we disagree on this one. I told him that the entire package will create a lot of resources that are beneficial to the entire community, that do get rid of a lot of slum and blight.''
Braman isn't likely to change his mind: ``I've gotten my share of phone calls from the interested parties, asking me to back down. But it's like the last time: The more calls I get, the more resolved I am to stick with it.''
www.miamiherald.com/459/story/367870.html
Marlins have a way of keeping their fans at the edge of their seat, during the game and during off season.
