Morning Fizz
Apparently there is a ($500 MILLION) real estate challenge
1. Steve Ballmer spoke
to the Seattle Rotary yesterday. He defended his record as Microsoft's CEO and seemingly leaked some early quarterly results. What was also noted was that he went into detail about his possible role in bringing an NBA team back to Seattle. Ballmer said that if the real estate (aka $300-$500 million arena) problem was solved, he would, "buy a season ticket."
Despite mentioning the role of the real estate industry, many observers took that to mean a large (ish) city or King County would need to play a leading financial role in getting a facility built. Has there ever been a private stadium for a professional team in Seattle?
Fizz saw a little jockeying in the legislative session around the fading stadium taxes by more than one city, with all parties hoping to be able to rekindle the Sonic fires. It could seem that Ballmer was publicly egging on these potential suitors/skirmishers to step up and helpsubsidize build an arena for a team he would then buy.
2. The dogpile on Jay Inslee's pension funding startup plan continues , many, but not exclusively, who are jumping on being Republican. Interesting that the article cites a similar 2005 bipartisan effort in Olympia. Additionally, Fizz notes that it was President Bush who favored investing Social Security funds in the stock market. Even last year, long after the market collapse, he said not succeeding in the effort was one of his biggest regrets . Fizz realizes that this is not the same exact concept, but the sudden solemn defense of the state pension fund seems a bit of a reach.
3. The Seattle Times is reporting the Seattle School District is again in trouble with an Urban League contract. Fiscal management issues aside, this is making a very difficult environment for school board members up for reelection this fall. These are down ballot races that do not have a lot of money or voter attention. When scandal touches these elections, voters tend to become blunt instruments, akin to Strippergate, and vote out people regardless of if they were involved in the issues or not. These will be interesting races to watch as August/November approaches.
4. Hybrid drivers can no longer drive, alone, in the HOV lanes in California. The now dying six year policy was to reward owners of efficient vehicles with less traffic delays.
Do you think Hybrids should be allowed in the HOV lanes?
What about just electric vehicles instead?
Despite mentioning the role of the real estate industry, many observers took that to mean a large (ish) city or King County would need to play a leading financial role in getting a facility built. Has there ever been a private stadium for a professional team in Seattle?
Fizz saw a little jockeying in the legislative session around the fading stadium taxes by more than one city, with all parties hoping to be able to rekindle the Sonic fires. It could seem that Ballmer was publicly egging on these potential suitors/skirmishers to step up and help
2. The dogpile on Jay Inslee's pension funding startup plan continues , many, but not exclusively, who are jumping on being Republican. Interesting that the article cites a similar 2005 bipartisan effort in Olympia. Additionally, Fizz notes that it was President Bush who favored investing Social Security funds in the stock market. Even last year, long after the market collapse, he said not succeeding in the effort was one of his biggest regrets . Fizz realizes that this is not the same exact concept, but the sudden solemn defense of the state pension fund seems a bit of a reach.
3. The Seattle Times is reporting the Seattle School District is again in trouble with an Urban League contract. Fiscal management issues aside, this is making a very difficult environment for school board members up for reelection this fall. These are down ballot races that do not have a lot of money or voter attention. When scandal touches these elections, voters tend to become blunt instruments, akin to Strippergate, and vote out people regardless of if they were involved in the issues or not. These will be interesting races to watch as August/November approaches.
4. Hybrid drivers can no longer drive, alone, in the HOV lanes in California. The now dying six year policy was to reward owners of efficient vehicles with less traffic delays.
Do you think Hybrids should be allowed in the HOV lanes?
What about just electric vehicles instead?
