[Mpls] Minnesota Twins in Mpls.

[freealonzo at mn.rr.com]

The problem with this approach, as Represenative Kahn knows, is that 
Major League Baseball will NEVER approve public ownership organized in 
fashion as described below.  Kahn's plan is basically a canard, it 
allows anti-ballpark people to look like they are in favor of helping 
the Twins when in fact they are not.  Want more proof?  There is 
another flaw in the public ownership approach, it still doesn't address 
the need for a new ballpark.  If the "public" owns the Twins who 
contributes to the ballpark fund like the Pohlad's are?  Who is 
responsible for ballpark construction overruns like the Pohlad's are 
under the Hennepin County plan?  The Twins run a multi-million dollar 
deficit every year, who is responsible in covering those debts?

Would I like to see more community ownership of the Twins?  Sure who 
wouldn't.  However community or public ownership or whatever you want 
to call it won't solve the problem that is in front of this community:  
The Twins need a new place to play.  To muddy the discussion with the 
community ownership requirements is just politicians looking for some 
CYA.

Dean E. Carlson
East Harriet, Ward 10


----- Original Message -----
From: Phyllis Kahn <rep.phyllis.kahn at house.mn>
Date: Friday, December 2, 2005 0:13 am
Subject: [Mpls] Minnesota Twins in Mpls.

> 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  
builda 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.
> 
> Phyllis Kahn, State Rep. 59B,