Slog
News & ArtsFriday, September 14, 2012
Politics / City / Sports Council, Hansen Pander to Goldy on Arena Deal
Posted by Goldy on Fri, Sep 14, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Shortly after The Stranger published its full throated endorsement of the proposed new Sodo arena, I posted a few caveats, suggesting three modifications to the agreement that should be implemented before the Seattle and King County councils moved forward:
- Modify the Memorandum of Understanding to assure that both KeyArena and the Sodo arena are union shops;
- Forcefully restate existing city policy that maintains Sodo as an industrial zone, resisting further residential and commercial development outside of the current stadium district boundaries;
- Commit to funding necessary east/west traffic improvements, including the long-promised Lander Street Overpass.
As it turns out, the council and Chris Hansen managed to address all three of my concerns:
- Hansen confirmed yesterday that he has reached agreements with the teamsters, stagehands, and service employee unions to make the new arena a union shop, and that he would maintain KeyArena as a union shop were he to take over its management.
- The council has declared its intention to impose a new Port Overlay District that would more proactively protect maritime and industrial uses within the Duwamish Manufacturing and Industrial Center.
- Transportation improvements within Sodo will be initially funded by $40 million in arena revenue and bond financing, money which the city and county hope to use to get matching contributions from the port, the state, and the federal government.
Can't say that the $40 million is enough to mitigate east/west mobility in Sodo, but it's a start, and it comes at no additional expense to taxpayers. So all in all, there's at least one voter who feels like his concerns were heard.
1
Thanks again for the Stranger's even-handed coverage. And while the City Council was at times exasperating, hats off to them for negotiating hard and getting more concessions without driving the Arena far away to Bellevue. Politicks... working?!!??? I'm still pleasantly shocked that this happened.
2
Why does this feel so much better than when we had the Sonics outsourced from under us?
That plus free beer ...
That plus free beer ...
3
Goldy is SOOOO socialist that he supports massive taxpayer handouts to billionaire.
But at least it is a Union shop, not like the union fat cats fleece both the taxpayer and their members.
Yea it is ok, $40 million is just a start, the taxpayer can fund the rest.
But at least it is a Union shop, not like the union fat cats fleece both the taxpayer and their members.
Yea it is ok, $40 million is just a start, the taxpayer can fund the rest.
5
@3; Union Fat Cats? what the hell are you talking about?
And the Taxpayers do fund Infrastructure.
And the Taxpayers do fund Infrastructure.
6
And while we’re on the subject of infrastructure, the city needs to separate the grade crossings at the BNSF right of ways
7
Obviously the investors want to make money and are probably pretty crafty smart at it cause they're rich. So why can't Seattle just by a team and vote on a coach every 4years and pocket all the money instead of relegating what is only logically large sums to rich investors? Sorta like the Green Bay Packers.
8
Why is it that with this much log rolling and payoffs I get the feeling two years from now the guys who didn't get their cut will bring it all to a screeching halt.
12
@11 Its one of this years top 5 words/phrases of the year.
5) Kate Middleton
4) 99%
3) Back Room Deals
2) Dystopian
1) Police State
5) Kate Middleton
4) 99%
3) Back Room Deals
2) Dystopian
1) Police State
14
Another Big Bilk of the taxpayer, for the benefit of the massively rich, and propping up the illiterates-in-underwear pro sports enterprise. "No cost to the taxpayer" is now installed officially as the Fourth Big Lie.
15
So you all have it out for the 1% but have no problem giving them a quarter billion dollar loan.
The rich get richer and you all are a bunch of schmucks.
The rich get richer and you all are a bunch of schmucks.
17
Goldy is either a liar, or he purposely repeats the Hansen talking point of "Stadium District". There is no such thing. It is a marketing term, not a zoning designation.
18
It's "Stadium Overlay District"
http://publicola.com/2012/08/22/is-this-…
"Stadium District" is a failed marketing attempt by the Mariners to capitalize on the Stadium Overlay District's property development.
www.StadiumDistrict.org
http://publicola.com/2012/08/22/is-this-…
"Stadium District" is a failed marketing attempt by the Mariners to capitalize on the Stadium Overlay District's property development.
www.StadiumDistrict.org
19
@15 they always get richer. But for those of us with small businesses in SoDo, we're pretty stoked to get more people in our neighborhood.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
All You Motherfuckers Complaining That aPodments Are Too Small at 200 Square Feet by Dominic Holden
-
SL Letter of the Day: Did You Think I Was Going To Tell You Not To Come Out? (PLUS: Help Free Kate!) by Dan Savage
-
It's Spring! Who's Ready for Street Harassment? by Cienna Madrid
-
America's Epidemic of Toddler-on-Toddler Gun Violence Continues by Goldy
-
Dutch Artist Turns Dead Cat into Remote-Controlled Helicopter by Bethany Jean Clement
-
Slog Overnight by Dan Savage
-
Saint Genet Re-Creates "Shoot" by Brendan Kiley
-
New Gun Enthusiast... by Dan Savage
-
The City of Portland, Oregon Should Run for Washington Lieutenant Governor by Goldy
-
Slog Bible Study: Revelation 1:9 by Goldy
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (20) RSS