December 20, 2007
Dade County neither approves nor doesn't approve Marlins stadium
The Florida Marlins stadium plan's headlong rush though the legislative process hit a speed bump today, as the Miami-Dade County commission voted to put off a vote on the $525 million stadium project until January. Earlier in the day, commission chair Bruno Barreiro had said he might defer the vote "so all parties - the city, the county and the team - can hash things out, take a breather" - implying that there's still more back-room dealing to be done before the deal can be done.
Commissioners instead spent the time debating whether it was a good idea for city and county officials to receive 22 free season tickets and two free luxury suites at a new stadium, with some saying it smacked of payoffs, others that tickets were fine but not suites, and others that suites are fine but not season tickets. The Miami Herald, meanwhile, helpfully pointed out that the free-ticket deal was no more egregious than the Washington Nationals' deal with D.C., which really isn't what you want to use as a benchmark.
TO: Miami-Dade County commission
RE: Free season tickets and luxury suites for commissioners
Dear Commissioners:
Let me make this simple for you: The above not only smack of payoffs, they ARE payoffs.
Sincerely,
JohnW
