Comments on: Bet on the C.I.B.?

By: Old Guy

Old Guy — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:01:42 +0000

TA – OK. Then lease the ball park to the Indians like the city golf courses have been handled. Haven’t they been financially successful? It still seems like a good idea to me to do whatever is appropriate to get rid of the CIB while at the same time addressing the fiscal situation.

By: Taxpayer 834512

Taxpayer 834512 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:59:32 +0000

Just say “No”, to playing a hand that depends on taxation or spending that’s no longer affordable. Just fold. How high does out-of-wedlock childbirth, need for police, sewer repair, parks funding, and the non-graduation rate become to be deserving of this Keystone Kops scurrying for sports teams?
.
Again, more realistically, how much to stay in & how much to get out?

By: KarenK

KarenK — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:21:41 +0000

Mike…yes much worse…..

By: mike

mike — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:36:54 +0000

karen k …. kinda like it is now?

By: malercous

malercous — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:23:43 +0000

Duh, do what I do when I need money; sell crack.

By: KarenK

KarenK — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:20:00 +0000

Personally, I believe that a casino downtown would be a nightmare that might eventually kill downtown. Think about it….it would not just attract the middle class blue hairs who throw their money away at the boats…..Every gang banger, pimp, hooker, drug dealer and hustler imaginable would be downtown…..shootings, robberies…..It would be a nightmare for the police and cost a fortune. No thanks…

By: Think Again

Think Again — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:06:09 +0000

Old Guy: Victory Field is a huge asset. I, as a Taxpayer, don’t want to give it to the Indians. They are a well-run organization and have been for 40 years. But they’re playing ball in a low-rent manner, albeit in one of the nation’s finest ballparks.

We’re all wildly flailing around like perch on land. The problem is really simple:

The Simons got Green Envy when they saw the Colts’ deal. The Simons may need a different deal, but a deal is in place now. We are not obligated to do anything with their deal.

The Colts’ deal is a state matter. The state refused to finance the stadium in the manner CIB had used for decades, and now there is an annual operational fund shortage. It wasn’t entirely a surprise, but the deficit is huge.

It’s Mitch’s problem to solve. I’m anxious to see how he solves it. He’s no dummy.

Taxpayer, I tend to agree with the failures of funding important issues with gaming taxes. But that’s the hand we’re dealt. No pun intended.

By: Old Guy

Old Guy — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:24:50 +0000

Think Again – Well then do the same thing with Victory Field (the Indians have always seemed to make out) and let the convention people run the convention center – as city owned property if necessary. Anything to get rid of the incompetents at the CIB along with very substantial savings to the taxpayer.

By: Really

Really — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:17:49 +0000

Colts need $40 million this is how you get it. There are roughly 9 regular season home games (this does not include preseason or postseason). Lucas holds rougly 63000 fans. Add a $70.55 tax on every Colts (fan) ticket. Do the math, case closed. The Colts don’t want to pay, let the Colts fans pay it. When the seats are empty, and revenue plummets, the Colts will come around.

By: Taxpayer 834512

Taxpayer 834512 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:51:19 +0000

TA- I stand somewhat corrected and thank you for your attention to detail. An outfit called the Rockefeller Institute has an online study on 2008 gambling revenues. Indiana showed to be #27 in lottery revenue, #6 per captia, and #3 in casino revenue among the states. I also stand by my assertation that pursuing revenue from vices versus pursuit of root problems and solutions is not the way to go.