Another debacle for the public good

[Shane Wahl]

Billionaire owners getting taxpayers to build a stadium. It's a disgrace, but desperate sports fans are too desperate to see how ridiculous it is.

[glanzer]

In the end I'd rather have my tax dollars going towards something fun like a stadium that I'm sure to use.

[Gernzy]

What tax dollars? Do you even know anything about this bill? Public money is coming from expanded gambling. So unless you play the new electronic pull-tabs, you're not paying for this. Some money will come from user fees attached to the stadium, But unless you go to a game once again you're not spending any money.

 

I take it you were against Target Field as well. Should we just have played in the dome the next 100 years? I don't get how people completely flip out over this. Public funding for stadiums happens EVERYWHERE. There are a few exceptions like Dallas, but most cities have publicly funded stadiums. This deal favor the public more then any other I've seen in awhile. Taxes are not going up at all.

[James]

What tax dollars? Do you even know anything about this bill? Public money is coming from expanded gambling. So unless you play the new electronic pull-tabs, you're not paying for this. Some money will come from user fees attached to the stadium, But unless you go to a game once again you're not spending any money.

 

I take it you were against Target Field as well. Should we just have played in the dome the next 100 years? I don't get how people completely flip out over this. Public funding for stadiums happens EVERYWHERE. There are a few exceptions like Dallas, but most cities have publicly funded stadiums. This deal favor the public more then any other I've seen in awhile. Taxes are not going up at all.

The expanded gambling is actually just the state's contribution. There is also the contribution from the city, coming from extra hospitality taxes and bumped tax rates in Minneapolis. Which happens to be where I live. So, yes, my tax dollars are paying for a stadium that I will probably not use because I'm not really a football fan.

 

For the record, I love Target Field, but I was against using public money for that too. But, I'm not an elected official, and I didn't tell me representatives how I feel, so that part is my fault. Not that it would have done much good anyway.

[Gernzy]

What taxes are going up exactly? I thought the money was coming from the convention center tax. I haven't heard anything about income or property taxes going up in MPLS at all.

[Shane Wahl]

$150 million hospitality tax from Minneapolis.

[Shane Wahl]

It's the great 1% swindle of the public. Just because it happens everywhere else too doesn't make it right.

 

How are Minnesota schools doing? Childcare? Healthcare? Welfare programs? Haven't those all faced budget cuts?

[Gernzy]

I completely agree. There are a ton of issues besides the stadium. I'm just sick of everyone making such a big deal about it. Target Field was passed 6 years ago and people still complain about it. Something about stadiums gets under peoples sick. It is an investment for the state. Look what Target Field did to that part of town. Restaurants are packed before every Twins game! That area is booming.

 

Honestly I'm amazed it passed with the way politics are today. No one can get anything done cause most people are in it for themselves.

[powrwrap]

Billionaire owners getting taxpayers to build a stadium. It's a disgrace, but desperate sports fans are too desperate to see how ridiculous it is.

Wealthy art patrons get funded to the tune of $16M a year via the Minnesota State Arts Board. The Guthrie Theater was remodeled using $25M of tax payer money. Minneapolis taxpayers funded $5M for the move of the Shubert Theater. Art aficionados are too desperate to see how ridiculous it is.

[analizaB]

A lot of people suffer from the economic downturn of the country. People tend to work harder and buy lottery tickets. State-run lotteries are enticing, dangling carrots for many customers in the economic downturn. After all, who can't manage to lose a buck or two weekly? And if it pays off, all troubles solved. But is it a smart way of spending cash in a time when money is not that easy to come by? According to the recently-released Bloomberg Sucker Index, the reply is a definite number. Lowest earners waste more money on lotteries as they believe it the easiest way for them to become rich.