Pay Attention - They're Brainwashing You

You're going to pay for a downtown arena whether you want to or not.  You're being slowly and slyly tricked into thinking you need one.  It's a $100,000,000 building that you're expected to pay for and they are executing their plan to convince of this to perfection.

Just read this article HERE in the El Paso Times today.  You might remember that just the other day they had similarly themed article on downtown .  Expect to see many more.  You're being convinced via the media that downtown NEEDS an arena and there's only one way to fulfill that NEED - and I'm pretty sure it involves your wallet.

We've seen nothing going on downtown for almost five years now other than Paul Foster's gracious investments in his buildings and the adjacent park (to come).  Everything else just stayed stagnant - which is what El Paso is famous for.  Now all of a sudden there's a concern about downtown again and the solution is a gigantic tax hog called an "arena."

I have already told you that this arena is pretty much a done deal from top to bottom.  They've already picked the architect, contractor, suppliers, management company, vendors etc.. et al.  This is not a business opportunity for anyone but the people who have been pre-selected to participate.  This idea was cooked up by private individuals with the intent of making you pay for their project.  

The bottom line - an arena anywhere in El Paso is a loser from the word go. El Paso is not a live event town and every single promoter in the nation knows it.  Nobody will come to your arene and if they do, nobody will buy high priced tickets to view the event. 

You people in El Paso need to stand up for yourself before you get a $100,000,000 certificate of obligation type of situation dropped on your head. 

Have I ever been wrong before?  Yes, but I'm sure I'm right here. 

Comments

[Carl Starr]

http://refusethejuice.typepad.com/thinkaboutit/2011/07/downtown-arena-your-loss-their-gain.html?cid=6a00d83452a92569e2015433bd45a1970c

Ive posted research on this in above link. It may be home rule cities can petition to have CO's put to vote. So I dont see how the city is tax screwing us, if all it takes is activists raising a petition.

[Old Fart]

David K, what is your guess: will it go to voter, or be done in an underhanded manner?

What does your crystal ball say?

[paul j strelzin]

josh hunt and foster want a double A team in el paso and they want a new stadium downtown

[Andre]

What are the proposed locations? Do the 'powers that be' plan on leveling half of Segundo Barrio or Chihuahuita?

The biggest issue I have is the lack of parking. That and the prices for some events keep me away from downtown.

So much for Smart growth...

[Texaswoman]

The $100,000,000.00 amount will increse ones city tax bill an additional $50 a year for 30 years.. Of course that is just to build the darn thing. To run it is a whole other bucket of worms. If you want one be prepared to reach deep. Real deep into your wallet.

[Old Fart]

Thanks Texaswoman, the response you posted was helpful.

You posted:

* "The $100,000,000.00 amount will increse ones city tax bill an additional $50 a year for 30 years.. Of course that is just to build the darn thing. To run it is a whole other bucket of worms. If you want one be prepared to reach deep. Real deep into your wallet."

[Robnelp]

Easy to post made up numbers to serve your agenda, For or Against.
Now back it up with proof and show your math, otherwise it's all just worthless propaganda...

[Texaswoman]

Well let's see. The police and fire pension bonds are costing the City 16 million dollars per year beginning FY2012. They borrowed 210 million dollars. We want $100,000,000.00 for an arena. That's about 8 million dollars a year in tax payer funds needed. A one penny tax increase will generate around 3 million dollars and we need to pay for 8 million dollars to that's around a 3 cent increase in your taxes using the numbers from the recent budget session. Yes things change and these numbers are not exact. I would venture that it's probably on the low end as you are not going to get what they want for that price. Costs are rising every day for basic materials, labor, and the land they need to take from property owners for this soon to be budget busting mistake. Of course if anyone has any better numbers I'm listening.

[Old Fart]

Thanks Texaswoman for your post.

Now possibly Robnelp will give us his view of what the numbers look like?

Thanks again Texaswoman for your interest in this arena topic.

[voter]

A huge cost that no one has any idea how to estimate is the underground work that would need to be done. The utilities, the streets, etc. Remember - anytime we do something major downtown there are always things they find underground that have been there for years and years (including a skeleton one time). Right now construction is cheap because the economy sucks - but who knows what it will be in 3-5 years when they would be ready to build the arena. And then there is an eminent domain issue if they don't build it on city land - that costs - anyone figured that one out yet - could be battles in court for years. Clean up the streets first, make downtown look presentable and not stink of urine and vomit on almost every street and then maybe we can talk about arenas. Baby steps people.