The San Diego city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a $500,000 study of their “downtown’s redevelopment future,” which is apparently code for “are we gonna build a Chargers stadium?” Though mayoral aide Phil Roth said the study — which will include a look at kicking back property taxes to fund redevelopment — “could be used to finance all sorts of different projects, hundreds of miles of sidewalks, all affordable housing, a stadium, a zoo, whatever you would like to do.”
This isn’t huge news — city councils typically authorize feasability studies at the drop of a hat — but Chargers stadium czar Mark Fabiani called it “pivotal” (the San Diego Union-Tribune’s word, not his), on the grounds that without it, a San Diego stadium project couldn’t move forward.
In other news, the sun rose in the east today, marking a key step in BP’s efforts to stop the Gulf oil spill.
Article 16 of the CA state constitution says that public officials may not give a gift of public funds to a private corporation.
Would someone please explain how giving redevelopment (public property tax) dollars towards a stadium does not constitute giving a gift of public funds to a professional sports team? Especially when the team typically gets all of the NFL etc. profit and cities/counties etc. are stuck with bills and (like Santa Clara) get a negative return on their investment?
San Diego needs another zoo?
The old one doesn’t have enough luxury boxes.
SCT, you’re really grasping at straws now.
The state slide closer to bankruptcy. The county finances are a complete joke. And the city somehow can shake lose with money for yet another feasibility study?
I am not familiar with California’s recall law. If possible, then everyone of these twits should be recalled.