January 20, 200521 yr Marlins seek $60M for stadium But state Senate President Lee says, 'I don't negotiate with terrorists.' By S.V. Date Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau Thursday, January 20, 2005 The Florida Marlins, already hinting that they might move to Las Vegas, say it will cost taxpayers another $60 million to keep the team in South Florida. In a letter to state House Speaker Allan Bense, Marlins President David Samson said not only does the team need a new stadium with a retractable roof because of rain delays and fan "discomfort," but the team's landlord will not renew the team's stadium lease, which expires in 2010. "Our landlord has informed us that it will not, under any circumstances, extend or renew the current lease; thereby, giving the Marlins no place to play in South Florida after that time," Samson said in a Jan. 12 letter to Bense. Bense said Wednesday that he has not studied the request, which comes a month after a much-publicized presentation by the team to Las Vegas regarding a possible move there. "I want to look at it," Bense said. The Marlins, though, may have a bigger hurdle on the other side of the Capitol, where Senate President Tom Lee appeared less receptive. "I thought that we already appropriated money to help them move to Vegas," he said. "I was very disappointed that they publicly announced the negotiations and discussions with Las Vegas, and I don't negotiate with terrorists." Samson wants $2 million a year for 30 years. He said that money would allow the team to borrow $30 million today and "close the current funding gap" toward a $360 million stadium. The city of Miami, Miami-Dade County and the Marlins also are picking up part of the tab. "This entire transaction, and in fact the future of baseball in South Florida, hinges on securing a sales tax rebate from the state," Samson wrote. Although Samson's letter describes the money as a "rebate," under the law, the money is actually a subsidy, not dependent on how much sales-tax revenue the new stadium generates. In fact, Wayne Huizenga's Dolphins Stadium will continue to receive the $2 million a year it has been getting for the Marlins since 1993 for another 18 years ? whether the Marlins move to downtown Miami, Las Vegas or even, as was rumored two years ago, are eliminated as a franchise. Current law prohibits a team from getting more than one subsidy. The new language Samson wants gets around that by reassigning the existing subsidy to the football Dolphins and letting the Marlins get the new subsidy. Huizenga ? the original Marlins owner and the current owner of the Dolphins ? tried to get $2 million a year for the Dolphins in 1997, but the plan was defeated in the House on a floor vote. At a recent news conference, Huizenga described the Marlins' possible departure as something the team brought up first, when it was owned by John Henry. Huizenga recently said the team's departure would allow him to stage other events and improve the stadium. "They have informed us that they are leaving," Huizenga said. "We understand that they might stay until 2010, but that is not what I am hearing. I am hearing that they will be out before that." Gov. Jeb Bush in 2000 rejected an attempt by the Marlins under Henry to build a new park using a tax on cruise ship passengers. Then, in 2001, a $240 million tax break for a new park died on the final day of the legislative session. An attempt last year by the Marlins to get the $60 million subsidy also failed. Palm Beach Post staff writer Charles Elmore contributed to this report. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/conte...adium_0120.html Damn it, how f***in stupid is that ploy with Vegas now? Do these idiots not understand the concept of a good faith negotiation? Before that they had both the House and Senate leader and the governer saying they were open to the rebate and now the Senate leader is calling them terrorists! :banghead :banghead
January 20, 200521 yr I'm more outraged with the guy calling Marlins officials "terrorists" when people are being killed all over the world by real terrorists. Besides, Florida politicians would just come up with another excuse for not helpin the Fish get a stadium even if they didn't negotiate with LV.
January 20, 200521 yr I'm more outraged with the guy calling Marlins officials "terrorists" when people are being killed all over the world by real terrorists. 660529[/snapback] I agree what the hell can this guy be thinking...I hope he sends some sort of apology out. That is a ridiculous statement. If the difference of 60 million forces this team to leave when we are talking about a 400 million dollar stadium I will be more than pissed. Get this damn thing done. And besides how is it even legal for Huizeinga to still collecting that money
January 20, 200521 yr Besides, Florida politicians would just come up with another excuse for not helpin the Fish get a stadium even if they didn't negotiate with LV. My thoughts exactly. Oh, and shame on Tom Lee for that idiotic comment.
January 20, 200521 yr He is using the Las Vegas thing as a scape goat. The is some powerfull force that will block this from becoming a reality on the State leg. Wayne wins again. The state legislature is showing the middle finger to the Marlins. Time for plan b.
January 20, 200521 yr Tom Lee is only 1 vote. There are others with equal weight in their vote. 660772[/snapback] What if Sen. Lee decides to do what Sen. King did last year and not bring the bill up for a vote?? Have you forgottened last year already?? http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins I believe that the same thing happened to a John Henry financing proposal a few years ago(2001??)....it was "blocked" by the Senate President and didn't even get voted on. You're right....Lee is only 1 vote....if it ever gets voted on.....and unfortunately he looks like he has the power to not have it voted on, since he presides over the State Senate.
January 20, 200521 yr State House can pass it and force it onto the floor for a vote. The Senate President cannot stop a bill from being introduced. He can delay it, but as long as it is on the docket the supporters will try to bring it to the floor.
January 20, 200521 yr Bill Introduced Through House: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/civics/house_idealaw.pdf
January 20, 200521 yr State House can pass it and force it onto the floor for a vote. The Senate President cannot stop a bill from being introduced. He can delay it, but as long as it is on the docket the supporters will try to bring it to the floor. 660843[/snapback] Where did I say that the Sen. President could stop a bill from being introduced?? It still needs to be voted on. And twice, (a bill concerning Marlins getting State financing) it wasn't voted on. It was "killed" by the Senate President. I'm just pointing out that you saying that Sen. Lee is only 1 vote is quite naive.
January 20, 200521 yr State House can pass it and force it onto the floor for a vote. The Senate President cannot stop a bill from being introduced. He can delay it, but as long as it is on the docket the supporters will try to bring it to the floor. 660843[/snapback] Where did I say that the Sen. President could stop a bill from being introduced?? It still needs to be voted on. And twice, (a bill concerning Marlins getting State financing) it wasn't voted on. It was "killed" by the Senate President. I'm just pointing out that you saying that Sen. Lee is only 1 vote is quite naive. 660874[/snapback] and I am saying that the Senate President isn't going to be able to kill this plan like 2 previous times as easily because there is plenty of time, open minds from the Northern legislators, and support from the Southern legislators.
January 20, 200521 yr what is this "we already appropriated money" to help them move to Vegas crap? what money is this? if this is true I'm gonna go hunt someone down...
January 20, 200521 yr The letter was sent to Bense, not Lee. Political Fence Jeb Bense Lee Bense is on the fence, if the Marlins convince him to support this...it will get done. Bense was a small business owner from Panama City whose company worked on roads and sidewalks (this stadium would help his industry in South Florida and he is familiar with many of the details)
January 21, 200521 yr Calling them terrorists because they use a ploy every team tries to use when they're trying to get a new stadium? If they're terrorists, then every pro sports franchise is a terrorist organization.
January 21, 200521 yr Calling them terrorists because they use a ploy every team tries to use when they're trying to get a new stadium? If they're terrorists, then every pro sports franchise is a terrorist organization. 661446[/snapback] Sounds like something Senator Boxer would say in 1992 as the Giants left for Tampa Bay. Senator Feinstein got the Giants reeled back a few months later.
January 22, 200521 yr 'Terrorist' remark draws criticism By Charles Elmore Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Friday, January 21, 2005 WEST PALM BEACH ? Florida Marlins executives said they wanted a word with Florida Senate President Tom Lee a day after he had a word for them ? terrorists. E-mailers and at least one advocacy group called Lee's wording inappropriate, but Marlins President David Samson avoided directly criticizing Lee after a talk at a Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce lunch Thursday. "He didn't say it to me, so I wouldn't be able to respond," Samson said. "What we have done with House Speaker Allan Bense, and what we plan on doing with President Tom Lee, is to meet with them to talk through what we are trying to accomplish." Lee spoke Wednesday in response to a letter from Samson, who warned lawmakers that the two-time World Series champions might leave Florida without state money for a new stadium. To some lawmakers, the letter had the feel of an ultimatum after team leaders had visited Las Vegas and talked publicly about it as a possible relocation site. "I was very disappointed that they publicly announced the negotiations and discussions with Las Vegas, and I don't negotiate with terrorists," Lee said. In the letter, Samson wrote, "This entire transaction, and in fact, the future of baseball in South Florida, hinges on securing a sales tax rebate from the state." Lee received a number of calls and e-mails about the comment and acknowledged Thursday he probably could have used a better word than terrorist. "That description or that term has sort of taken on a different meaning after 9/11, and I certainly don't mean to suggest that they're acting within the context of those kinds of things," Lee told The Associated Press. "Blackmail's a great word. They're trying to blackmail us. If it becomes a question of which community wants the team bad enough and which community is willing to pay the highest price for the sports team, you can count me out." One e-mailer wrote Lee: "You could have articulated mature, actual reasons for not wanting to provide stadium funding such as needing more money for education or environmental restoration. Instead, you chose to dole out some reckless juvenile rhetoric which served no purpose other than to announce the revelation that, emotionally, your feelings were hurt by the Vegas meeting." Said Mark Medin, Florida regional director of the Anti-Defamation League: "That's a poor and inappropriate choice during a time when terrorism and terrorists have created so much death and destruction in our country and around the world." West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel said the issue of financing sports teams has come up before. "It's a tough issue," she said, "because of the needs we have in this state, including health care and affordable housing." The Marlins want the legislature to approve a $60 million subsidy that would pay off $30 million in construction bonds for a $420 million stadium and parking garage next to the Orange Bowl. The team has pledged $192 from stadium revenues. City and county leaders in Miami are negotiating a deal that would cover all but the final $30 million. Samson said that makes the state component "critical." Nice to see Tom Lee eat some crow after his inappropriate comment. :thumbup
January 22, 200521 yr Hopefully he will continue to eat crow. Get this thing done Mr. Governor! Get this thing done House Speaker Bense!
February 3, 200521 yr WE CAN GIVE DELGADO $52 MILLION, BUT WE CAN'T GET $60 MILLION TO BUILD A STADIUM.
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