Comments on: Seattle NBA deal: County Executive Constantine looking forward to ‘Welcome home, Sonics!’; Councilmember McDermott ‘thrilled’

By: Art Critic

Art Critic — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 02:59:47 +0000

Private business should go to the bank to get their money, like the rest of us must. Limited resources ie public money should be smarter allocated to programs that work, in my view. For instance 30% of homeless, prison, and jail populations are dealing with a serious mental illness through no fault of their own. I whole heartedly believe that 200 million $ bond could be put to greater use starting to solve that issue, one that affects a a large percentage of families everywhere in this country. If we had the will and vision. I’m not against sports, some of my best friends are athletic supporters.

By: Ex-Westwood Resident

Ex-Westwood Resident — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:29:19 +0000

Art Critic,

Well I voted for both Safeco and Clink fields and I sleep just FINE!!!
If the homeless advocates REALLY wanted to do something for them they would be doing MORE than just organizing fund raisers and donation drop offs.
I know of a place in Seattle that has three/four buildings that can house OVER 1000 people in SAFE, DRY, WARM and SANITARY conditions. There is even a building that has kitchen facilities to serve them food 4 times a day.
The city OWNS them and for the last 10-15 years have ignored them. Yet they, and the county, spend $ MILLIONS on programs for the homeless that do VERY little for them.
If the groups like “Share/Wheel” and their ilk TRUELY cared about the homeless, instead of getting face time with the media, they would be asking the city about these buildings and why they aren’t being used for that purpose.
I have my own idea, but I’ll let you see if you know about them and where they are. If you do know where they are, that might clue you in on why we’ll never see them used for that purpose.
The “funds” (which is actually just a co-signer on the loan to get lower interest rates) used to assist in the building of this arena WILL NOT REMOVE FUNDS FROM THE GAU!!!

By: george

george — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:23:27 +0000

How much money is allocated to art work on freeway construction projects, 1%? How about that money be used for schools, homeless, health care, etc? I don’t enjoy the art work myself, but I do recognize that other people do, and will support for those reasons, much like the Art Museums, parks, symphony halls (gov. funded). There are lots of aspects to this, but its always cynical to see the revolt against sports. Guess we should protest the high school basketball games since there is “no public benefit” for basketball. 87% of households were tuned in the Seahawks game a week ago. Yeah, theres no interest out there.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:25:25 +0000

Governments get better rates, that is why the group is using the bond power of the city/county to fund the rest of the arena. Those bonds get paid back over time. The general taxpayers are not funding the bond, the people who patronize the arena will be taxed to pay back the bond. Did you read the links?

By: East Coast Cynic

East Coast Cynic — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:25:09 +0000

Happy for the B-ball fans, but more interested in the NHL coming to Seattle and possibly the Rat City Rollergirls having an opportunity to use the new arena for bouts and tournaments if the Key is not available.

By: Art Critic

Art Critic — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:06:53 +0000

Should not the loan be coming from Country Wide or AIG? Another case of misuse of public funds. I hope you read your own links. And perhaps others. I remember voting against taxpayer funding of Safeco Field for instance. It is amazing to me that we can shift money away from GAU funding for instance to fund this kind of thing. Will there be places for homeless to sleep there? How do you sleep? http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2685/t/8761/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1879

By: george

george — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:13:36 +0000

Yes. The return of the Sonics are what every thing wrong in this city is to blame. Feel better now?

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:27:49 +0000

@ Ex-Westwood Resident…agreed
@ineedtwinkiesnow…read link above it does tell you this info.

By: ineedtwinkiesnow

ineedtwinkiesnow — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:27:18 +0000

Where is the “Loan” coming from?

By: Ex-Westwood Resident

Ex-Westwood Resident — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:25:32 +0000

Brandon,
I’ve read all the print on this from your link and the newspapers.
I’m looking forward to the return of the Sonics and NHL to Seattle.
But you know what they say:
“You can lead a horse to water…”
The naysayers will ignore ANY data that shows this is NOT diverting money from roads, schools, police, fire…etc, and actually includes road improvements, jobs…etc.
It doesn’t fit their paradigm and they are to obstinent to look any data or read any info that challenges thier myoptic view.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:54:18 +0000

I don’t think a lot of people have actually read any info on this arena. Look at where the dollars are coming from. The money used to build the arena does not come from the general fund. Its a loan to the investors. Please read material before making comments. I understand people’s concerns over money not being spent on schools but no money is being diverted away from schools, roads etc to build this. Key Arena is not a viable NBA arena, bottom line. Additionally, the building is actually property of the city, and will be required to be maintained to NBA standards by The group bringing in the basketball team. Therefore you don’t run into the problem of the sonics leaving again. Also, why be concerned with Traffic at 7:30 at night?

Link for info on arena so people can educate themselves: http://www.sonicsarena.com/

By: Smokes

Smokes — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:49:44 +0000

WOW! The Sonics are coming home and all the basketball/sports haters jump online to trash talk. Take your kid to the game, go on a date, get a group of friends together. Losers. GO SONICS!!!

By: rick

rick — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:20:19 +0000

Get out your checkbooks.

By: LivesIn WS

LivesIn WS — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:09:19 +0000

Groan. $$$ for grown men to chase around after balls. Congestion and taxes worse for the rest of us.

By: Dano

Dano — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:18:24 +0000

As far as the public’s desire to not fund improvements to Key Arena… I understand that….. However, it still is not in line with the belief to re-use, and recycle…… I remember a few years ago when Seattle boasted that it was going to be one of the greenest cities in America…. Environmentaly responsible, etc…. Why should consumers feel any responsibility to recycle electronics, outdated or broken items, etc when guys chasing a ball (and the people who idolize them….) say they won’t grace us with their presence unless we buy them a new, shiny stadium?….. Just throw things away and buy new stuff….. oh wait….. I get it….. The consumer based economy NEEDS us to be this way…