[Mpls] Minnesota Twins in Mpls.

[Phyllis Kahn]

Every time the Strib publishes a pro-stadium editorial or op-ed, I try
to get something along this piece in, with no luck. So here it is for
list readers:

Once again the Star Tribune editorial pages are being used to promote a
hopeless cause:  a special session to pass a stadium construction bill *
right after complaining about the scheduling of special elections at the
end of the year in the holiday season.

Commissioners Opat and Johnson do not seem to understand that the
election year is now.  There is no political advantage or cover between
acting at the end of 2005 or in 2006.

A previous editorial on November 9 gloomily concluded that if we don't
expeditiously fund a stadium, the Twins may end up outside of Minnesota,
ending with the plaintive call, "It doesn't have to be that way."

We note a persistence in asking the wrong question, IE (how do we build
a stadium?), when we should be asking (how do we keep the Twins here?)
The answer from a growing number of legislators has been a community
ownership of the team model to keep baseball here by taking the wheels
off the team.  The most recent version, HF 1368/SF 900, with chief
authors Rep. Kahn and Sen. Anderson finished the 2005 session on the
House and Senate floors, poised to pass (only lacking a nod from the
Governor.) The House bill alone had 35 bipartisan authors from all parts
of the state with a breadth of political philosophy ranging from
Rukavina to Krinkie.

The purpose section of this bill states:

Section 1.  [4B.01] [PURPOSE.] 
  1.7      The legislature determines that: 
  1.8      (1) a professional baseball franchise is an important asset

  1.9   to the state of Minnesota and ensuring that a franchise remains

  1.10  in Minnesota is an important public purpose; 
  1.11     (2) providing broad-based local ownership of a major league

  1.12  baseball franchise develops trust among fans, taxpayers, and
the 
  1.13  team, and helps ensure this important asset will remain in the

  1.14  state; 
  1.15     (3) providing community ownership of a professional 
  1.16  baseball franchise ensures that the financial benefits of any 
  1.17  increased value of the franchise will accrue to those members
of 
  1.18  the community who own the franchise; and 
  1.19     (4) enacting legislation providing for community ownership 
  1.20  indicates to major league baseball continuing support for 
  1.21  professional baseball in Minnesota. 

Our ownership structure is not government ownership; it is a public
ownership model that complies with Major League Baseball's criteria to
have a major private owner responsible for operating the team on a
day-to-day basis.

This proposal is the most effective and politically feasible way to
save baseball for Minnesota and eventually get a ballpark built that may
actually meet the fans interests.
    
Our ownership structure is not government ownership; it is a public
ownership model that complies with Major League Baseball's criteria to
have a major private owner responsible for operating the team on a
day-to-day basis.

This proposal is the most effective and politically feasible way to
save baseball for Minnesota and eventually get a ballpark built that may
actually meet the fans interests.

Phyllis Kahn, State Rep. 59B,