July 11, 2006 County Council Meeting

[Burninator]

You are quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune as saying the following: "I doubt any businessman in this room would make this investment." Nevertheless, Real Salt Lake has $100 million in private capital lined up for investment in the county you represent. How can you justify what you said in regards to the millions backing Real Salt Lake and the half billion plus backing the rest of the development? Someone obviously believes in this proposal.

You are quoted by KSL as saying: "As stewards of the public’s money, we are obligated to look at the financial package and say 'This is a good deal'." How can 3,500 new jobs and over a half billion dollars in private investment be a bad thing for your county? How is this not a good deal? $30 million plus debt service in exchange for over $.5 billion in private investment, 3,500 new jobs, and increased tourism (with all the resulting tax revenues) seems like a decent deal to me.

Why did you not extend the same courtesies to Dave Checketts that previous council members extended to Larry H. Miller?

I am baffled by the Council's vote on this issue. Sandy and Real Salt Lake worked hard to reduce the overall cost of the infrastructure and land support they requested and made the deal even better by bringing more money to the table. What was this vote really about? Sandy versus Salt Lake? If that's the case, I think you have done your county and its residents a great disservice.

I am not one of your constituents, and I don't live in your county. Therefore, you are not losing a vote. I am considering taking steps to keep my money out of your county as much as possible, however. May you not do such serious disservice to your constituents in the future.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Why did you not extend the same courtesies to Dave Checketts that previous council members extended to Larry H. Miller?

That little fact seemed to be absent from every single newspaper and television report... gosh!

Originally Posted by Burninator

What was this vote really about? Sandy versus Salt Lake? If that's the case, I think you have done your county and its residents a great disservice.

I think it was more about Checketts vs. Larry Miller...

---

I find it ironic that Mark Crockett says to RSL "Who do we have to buy off to get the vote?"

I think he was asking the wrong person!

and I wonder which one of the council members cringed at the question?

[Jose Luis Luviano]

Maybe RSL should just start passing out Jazz tickets to politicians?

Politicians will vote for pretty much anything in exchange for Jazz tickets.

[Burninator]

Thank you for keeping 3,500 new jobs, $600+ million in private investment, and high-profile tourism out of Salt Lake County. Those are all things we really could do without.

and a PS for Jenny Wilson - How much money would the Jazz make if they had to play (and pay to play, at that) where the U of U Basketball team plays?

[Jose Luis Luviano]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Why did you not extend the same courtesies to Dave Checketts that previous council members extended to Larry H. Miller?

.

The NBA had been around for 40+ years.

The Jazz had been in town for 10+ years.

The land where the Delta Center is was located next to an abandoned rail yard.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Jose Luis Luviano

The NBA had been around for 40+ years.

The Jazz had been in town for 10+ years.

The land where the Delta Center is was located next to an abandoned rail yard.

And? It's still unfair to Checketts. The $$$ amount is roughly the same after inflation. Why did Miller want the Delta? Maybe so he could make more money and better support and develop his team? Gee, sounds a lot like Checketts.

[Burninator]

Let's be sure to also thank the 4 that voted yes!!! I thanked them for trying to bring 3,500 new jobs, $600+ million in private investment, and high-profile tourism to Salt Lake County. I also commended them for their vision. 🙂

[fuegote]

Originally Posted by Burninator

And? It's still unfair to Checketts. The $$$ amount is roughly the same after inflation. Why did Miller want the Delta? Maybe so he could make more money and better support and develop his team? Gee, sounds a lot like Checketts.

but let's compare apples to apples. Miller only built the Delta Center. Dave wants to build KFC Field and stores, and tv studio, and radio station headquarters, and condos, and .....

If this was only about the stadium, I'm convinced groundbreaking would have been in April.

[Jose Luis Luviano]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Thank you for keeping 3,500 new jobs,

The Real Stadium development would not create 3500 new jobs. For the most part, it would take jobs from South Towne Mall, Cottonwood Mall, those hotels by the 215 and other commercial developments.

Visits by the Riot Squad by themselves will cause a huge increase in our beer tax revenues. Skiiers would spend some money there during the winter. And presumably, we'd see various US national teams (men's, women's, youth). But 3500 jobs is a stretch.

I don't think that we'd ever see an MLS Cup (it has to be on a Sunday) and I think that the NCAA soccer championships play on Sundays.

Taxpayer spending on sports facilities; even those that are part of a larger commercial development; do not automatically create jobs.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by fuegote

but let's compare apples to apples. Miller only built the Delta Center. Dave wants to build KFC Field and stores, and tv studio, and radio station headquarters, and condos, and .....

If this was only about the stadium, I'm convinced groundbreaking would have been in April.

Why? If anything, it seems like Sandy was trying to sweeten the deal for the County. I'm convinced that some Council members thought they were on the Salt Lake CITY Council instead of the County Council. Phenomenal lack of vision, though.

You say, "Miller only built the Delta." Well, Checketts has $100 million lined up to build more assets. Wouldn't this be a positive thing for the County? More assets = more jobs = more tax revenues?