March 6, 200917 yr Miami Herald, March 6, 2009 http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/story/935292.html MARLINS STADIUM Swing vote on Florida Marlins stadium is in play A Miami commissioner demanding money for the inner city said she believes her concerns are being addressed -- a potential boon to prospects for a new baseball stadium. BY CHARLES RABIN crabin@MiamiHerald.com Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, Miami's potential swing vote on a Little Havana baseball stadium pitched for the Florida Marlins, said Thursday she met with key county leaders and her concerns over the hot-button deal are being addressed. Her main worry: that her inner-city Overtown district wouldn't receive a sizable share of revenue likely to come from a larger city revitalization that would also benefit a stadium. Last week, the commissioner said that unless Overtown got its fair share of community redevelopment money, the Marlins wouldn't get her vote. Soon after, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, one of the stadium's biggest backers, called a press conference and blasted elected officials for making demands that he said had ``nothing to do with baseball.'' Spence-Jones said she met with Alvarez on Thursday in a session she called ''very enlightening.'' She said the mayor assured her that he would push through the county's end of the redevelopment plan to benefit her district. Spence-Jones made the comments during a workshop meeting she called for Thursday evening to address how the expansion of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency would spur new tax dollars to aid the community. The city's five commissioners act as its CRA board, with Spence-Jones as chairwoman. Although only two commissioners -- Spence-Jones and Marc Sarnoff -- attended the workshop, the session provided a window into their differing views regarding the CRA. On March 12, the CRA will vote on expanding and extending the life of the Overtown/Park West CRA -- a key piece of the $3 billion Global Agreement reached in December 2007 to reinvigorate downtown Miami. Because of Spence-Jones' demand, the CRA vote could be an integral part of that larger plan -- which includes the Florida Marlins' long quest to build a $609 million ballpark and parking facility. Spence-Jones' comments do not ensure a ''yes'' vote on the stadium, which has encountered roadblocks since Miami commissioners deadlocked 2-2 while she was on maternity leave last month. But for supporters, it may offer promise amid a new legal challenge and questions over whether tourist tax dollars will be ample enough to help build the facility. Thursday's meeting at the Overtown Youth Center began innocently enough, with Spence-Jones explaining how CRAs were created to address slum and blight, then asking city officials to outline how the expansion of the special taxing district could benefit the community. But the meeting turned feisty when Sarnoff questioned Miami Chief Financial Officer Admin Spring's projection that growing the district could mean up to $500 million for Overtown. Sarnoff represents the Park West district. Spring admitted that the projections were created before the market collapse last year. ''You probably only have, at a maximum, $100 million in bonding capacity, not $500 million,'' Sarnoff said before Spence-Jones cut him off, asking that everyone focus on the workshop. Later, Sarnoff pressed Spring on how the county planned to bond out its lion's-share responsibility of the stadium cost of more than $450 million. When Spring said he wasn't privy to the county plan and Sarnoff pushed further, Spence-Jones again cut off the conversation. ''I just want to make sure the most needy people are not left behind,'' said Spence-Jones. ``If we can't bond $500 million and we know the market won't support it, we're not going to do it. But if we can bond $100 million -- guess what -- we'll take it.'' Sarnoff said it was more important to share his concerns than to give the people ``ear candy.'' He followed that with a statement that drew boos: ``When you're really, really poor, you really don't know there's a bad economy out there because it's pretty much the same. I get that.''
March 6, 200917 yr I thought the most telling comment was after his proclamation that the County was done with stadium stuff until the City came around and not one penny or minute of time should be expended on it, where is Carlos Alvarez and what is he doing but meeting with Spence-Jones discussing just that. She'll take "what we can get..." is the right approach rather than anymore grandstanding and with a little luck and some more cajoling on both mayors' parts maybe we get to see Marc Sarnoff twisting slowly in the wind come March 19th.
March 6, 200917 yr good positive news , I was listening to Samson on the radio he stated definitively it was the orange bowl site (this agreement) or bust . He also confirmed the marlins will not be allowed to further extend their lease at DS . I think we will finally have closure one way or the other soon and I hope and I think we will be happy with the final result.
March 6, 200917 yr I felt and still feel this is her way of getting dollars she was going to get anyway but making it look like it was because she applied pressure to the stadium deal. This way she comes off a hero(oine) to her district and she can support the stadium and Mayor Diaz, as she has in the past. Now, let's hope that after she gets her allocation that there is no double cross.
March 6, 200917 yr How is this stadium going to get built before the Marlins' DS lease runs out? Aren't they going to have to do year by year extensions?
March 6, 200917 yr I felt and still feel this is her way of getting dollars she was going to get anyway but making it look like it was because she applied pressure to the stadium deal. This way she comes off a hero(oine) to her district and she can support the stadium and Mayor Diaz, as she has in the past. Now, let's hope that after she gets her allocation that there is no double cross. :thumbup
March 6, 200917 yr I felt and still feel this is her way of getting dollars she was going to get anyway but making it look like it was because she applied pressure to the stadium deal. This way she comes off a hero(oine) to her district and she can support the stadium and Mayor Diaz, as she has in the past. Now, let's hope that after she gets her allocation that there is no double cross. That actually makes a lot of sense. I think you got this exactly right. And whose to say you can't learn something from following Miami politics
March 6, 200917 yr Miami Herald, March 6, 2009 http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/story/935292.html BY CHARLES RABIN crabin@MiamiHerald.com Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, Miami's potential swing vote on a Little Havana baseball stadium pitched for the Florida Marlins, said Thursday she met with key county leaders and her concerns over the hot-button deal are being addressed. Her main worry: that her inner-city Overtown district wouldn't receive a sizable share of revenue likely to come from a larger city revitalization that would also benefit a stadium. Last week, the commissioner said that unless Overtown got its fair share of community redevelopment money, the Marlins wouldn't get her vote. Soon after, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, one of the stadium's biggest backers, called a press conference and blasted elected officials for making demands that he said had ``nothing to do with baseball.'' Spence-Jones said she met with Alvarez on Thursday in a session she called ''very enlightening.'' She said the mayor assured her that he would push through the county's end of the redevelopment plan to benefit her district. Spence-Jones made the comments during a workshop meeting she called for Thursday evening to address how the expansion of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency would spur new tax dollars to aid the community. The city's five commissioners act as its CRA board, with Spence-Jones as chairwoman. Although only two commissioners -- Spence-Jones and Marc Sarnoff -- attended the workshop, the session provided a window into their differing views regarding the CRA. On March 12, the CRA will vote on expanding and extending the life of the Overtown/Park West CRA -- a key piece of the $3 billion Global Agreement reached in December 2007 to reinvigorate downtown Miami. Because of Spence-Jones' demand, the CRA vote could be an integral part of that larger plan -- which includes the Florida Marlins' long quest to build a $609 million ballpark and parking facility. Spence-Jones' comments do not ensure a ''yes'' vote on the stadium, which has encountered roadblocks since Miami commissioners deadlocked 2-2 while she was on maternity leave last month. But for supporters, it may offer promise amid a new legal challenge and questions over whether tourist tax dollars will be ample enough to help build the facility. Thursday's meeting at the Overtown Youth Center began innocently enough, with Spence-Jones explaining how CRAs were created to address slum and blight, then asking city officials to outline how the expansion of the special taxing district could benefit the community. But the meeting turned feisty when Sarnoff questioned Miami Chief Financial Officer Admin Spring's projection that growing the district could mean up to $500 million for Overtown. Sarnoff represents the Park West district. Spring admitted that the projections were created before the market collapse last year. ''You probably only have, at a maximum, $100 million in bonding capacity, not $500 million,'' Sarnoff said before Spence-Jones cut him off, asking that everyone focus on the workshop. Later, Sarnoff pressed Spring on how the county planned to bond out its lion's-share responsibility of the stadium cost of more than $450 million. When Spring said he wasn't privy to the county plan and Sarnoff pushed further, Spence-Jones again cut off the conversation. ''I just want to make sure the most needy people are not left behind,'' said Spence-Jones. ``If we can't bond $500 million and we know the market won't support it, we're not going to do it. But if we can bond $100 million -- guess what -- we'll take it.'' Sarnoff said it was more important to share his concerns than to give the people ``ear candy.'' He followed that with a statement that drew boos: ``When you're really, really poor, you really don't know there's a bad economy out there because it's pretty much the same. I get that.'' I am amused at the part when Sarnoff drew boos. It was a very inappropriate comment. Maybe he does not realize that a poor economy affects job opportunites for the whole spectrum. It is not the same, it is worse and the jobs that development will generate may very well open up opportunities for these people that Sarnoff so easily dismisses.
March 6, 200917 yr I finally think that we definitely have it this time guys. This will pass in the city and now that we dont need a super majority in the county commission it will pass there too. i have a good feeling about this.
March 8, 200917 yr The elitist Sarnoff strikes again. What surprises me is that his district doesn't get rid of him. Then again, they're probably elitist like him.
March 9, 200917 yr They need to get this stadium done once and for all. This franchise is never going to get anywhere without their own profitable baseball stadium! The commisioners and the citizens of Miami need to step up to the plate and make this happen!
March 10, 200917 yr What an inappropriate and snarky comment. He fails to realize that this will bring jobs and construction to a city that is in limbo. I am disgusted that this jerk represents anyone. Sarnoff and Regalado both need to head off to some island in the middle of nowhere (Think Lost but with much more agressive polar bears and black mists.).
March 10, 200917 yr the national unemployment # for the construction industry in Feb of 2008 was over 20%
March 11, 200917 yr how she happy going get money to her area so we could see yes vote that why county now set a date
March 11, 200917 yr What an inappropriate and snarky comment. He fails to realize that this will bring jobs and construction to a city that is in limbo. I am disgusted that this jerk represents anyone. Sarnoff and Regalado both need to head off to some island in the middle of nowhere (Think Lost but with much more agressive polar bears and black mists.). sarnoff would be all in if it were a stadium for ballet .
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