Squanto wrote:
The county is already broke. Over a $100M yearly budget deficit, under a state ordered control board, cutting back services all over the place.
I don't blame those folks for voting it down.
I agree. I don't think this has anything to do with them being "lesser" fans and I'm kinda annoyed by people spewing that.
The county's finances are in shambles; many people think that Wang can do it himself and doesn't need taxpayer support; they're skeptical of the numbers given, because let's face it, any time there is a project like this the cost is always on the lower side and the return is always on the high side; plus, the county could see more tax revenue if Wang did it himself than from the county paying for it and receiving lease payments; the amount of jobs that the building the arena would bring would be temporary and it wouldn't add any new workers since there already is an arena, so that's another overly optimistic figure; and so on.
I see nothing wrong with the voters being informed and voting no. Oh, and I almost forgot to add that having the "special" election day cost the voters over $2 million when it would have cost NOTHING to have it on election day in November. Wang said he would only cover the cost if it passed. Well, it didn't.
I hate the notion that, "Oh, they're rich. They can easily afford it and they shouldn't complain." The rich don't stay rich because they throw their money away on investments they think they'll lose on. There's a lot of risk in footing the bill for a new arena and there's not an enticing return.