3 ms·

I don't know. When cities get involved in a venture like this, it's usually because that is what their citizens want. For example, Levi Stadium in Santa Clara w

by whyenot 11y ago

I don't know. When cities get involved in a venture like this, it's usually because that is what their citizens want. For example, Levi Stadium in Santa Clara went before the voters, who approved it's funding model (1). On a moral level, I have a real problem with a sport that when played successfully leads to debilitating brain damage (2), but it's pretty clear I am in the minority on that. 1. Without going too far out on a tangent, there was more to the story, see here: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20107165 http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20107165 2. "Stabler is the seventh former N.F.L. quarterback to be found to have had C.T.E. by Boston University, which has found C.T.E. in 90 of the 94 former N.F.L. players it has examined" http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/sports/football/ken-stabler-nfl-cte-brain-disease.html http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/sports/football/ken-stable...

giarc 11y ago
You could likely argue that the people that show up to vote for a stadium funding model are more likely to be sports fans. Probably wasn't a true representation of the citizens desires. Which isn't an excuse, everyone had the ability to vote, but still the decision can't be applied to everyone.
throwaway60453 11y ago
Excuse me, local resident here. Santa Clara City residents approved $400 million in financing. City Council went ahead with a promise for ... $1.3 billion so far. So most of it was not voted on at all.
- bringles 11y ago
  But how were the council members appointed? Resident approval must be involved somehow. If this city council is doing a bad job (seems like it), push for a new council. If the tide is too strong against, you have to challenge ideas. A lot of folks seem to believe there's a legal apparatus we need to invent that can solve this, when it's perfectly sufficient to just get traction for a critical stance on concussionball (gasp!)
  - throwaway60453 11y ago
    > push for a new council Kinda late, since the stadium is already built.
  - tamana 11y ago
    When you fire a council, you don't get the money back.
    - jessaustin 11y ago
      And they get to keep all but the most egregious bribes...
- ec109685 11y ago
  Hasn't most of that been paid back already due to personal seat licenses?

by whyenot 11y ago

giarc 11y ago

You could likely argue that the people that show up to vote for a stadium funding model are more likely to be sports fans. Probably wasn't a true representation of the citizens desires. Which isn't an excuse, everyone had the ability to vote, but still the decision can't be applied to everyone.

throwaway60453 11y ago

Excuse me, local resident here. Santa Clara City residents approved $400 million in financing. City Council went ahead with a promise for ... $1.3 billion so far. So most of it was not voted on at all.

bringles 11y ago
But how were the council members appointed? Resident approval must be involved somehow. If this city council is doing a bad job (seems like it), push for a new council. If the tide is too strong against, you have to challenge ideas. A lot of folks seem to believe there's a legal apparatus we need to invent that can solve this, when it's perfectly sufficient to just get traction for a critical stance on concussionball (gasp!)
- throwaway60453 11y ago
  > push for a new council Kinda late, since the stadium is already built.
- tamana 11y ago
  When you fire a council, you don't get the money back.
  - jessaustin 11y ago
    And they get to keep all but the most egregious bribes...
ec109685 11y ago
Hasn't most of that been paid back already due to personal seat licenses?