The taxpayer, the Falcons and the question of priorities
As owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank runs a class operation that represents the city well. And as such arrangements go, the proposal to build a $1 billion Falcons stadium downtown with $300 million in taxpayer subsidies is reasonable and probably fiscally sound.
But still ….
The NFL is easily the most profitable sports league on the planet. All 32 of its teams are included in Forbes’ magazine’s list of the 50 most valuable sports franchises on the planet. (The Falcons are listed at 35th with a value of $831 million, up from $545 million when Blank bought the team in 2002.) And because live sports programming is becoming more and more valuable to advertisers, lucrative new contracts will bring more the league more than $6 billion a year in TV revenue beginning in 2014. That represents a 50 to 60 percent increase.
Now contrast that prosperity with the fiscal plight of state and local government. Thousands of workers have been laid off in Georgia, including police officers, firefighters and teachers. We tell ourselves that education is the key to prosperity, but in many cases we can’t afford to keep our kids in school for the once-standard 180 days a year. Our transportation infrastructure is inadequate to meet the demands placed upon it, yet any attempt to raise taxes to generate the necessary money is rejected.
Overall, we’re told, government can no longer do the things we want it to do; it must do only those things that we need it to do.
Given those realities, why should the Falcons demand that the public subsidize their new stadium, particularly when the publicly funded Georgia Dome continues to serve that purpose admirably?
The short answer is also the honest answer — because they can. They don’t really need the money, or even a new stadium for that matter, but in a sports-mad world they can get it. So why not? Everyone else is doing it. It’s a “bigger is better” league, from quarterbacks that go 6-5, 275 pounds to stadiums that charge fans a five-figure fee just for the right to later buy tickets. And in that hyper-competitive world, it is considered unacceptable for the Falcons to be condemned to play in the 20-year-old Georgia Dome, the 10th-oldest stadium in the league.
Under the proposed terms, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority would supply the land for a new stadium, plus contribute roughly a third of the construction cost. That public contribution would be raised through a 30-year extension of the hotel/motel tax. Proponents of the deal argue that because the hotel/motel tax is paid by visitors to Atlanta, rather than by residents of metro Atlanta, it is somehow less of a tax. However, it is also money that by a simple act of the Legislature could be diverted to purposes more crucial than subsidizing a quite profitable sports franchise.
Under the terms of the proposal, the Falcons “will retain revenue streams from the new stadium, including tickets, premium seating, food and beverage, sponsorships, naming rights and certain parking revenue.” That’s for all events at the stadium, not just Falcons games. In return, the Falcons will pay the state authority $2.5 million a year. For the sake of context, that’s about what the team pays an offensive lineman.
And again, in the universe of such deals, the Falcons could perhaps have demanded even better treatment.
Assessed from a purely practical point of view, such a deal is still hard to justify. But this is the world of sports, in which rationality and practicality are often bench players to irrationality and emotion. If any other line of work inflicted the concussions, the crippling injuries, the long-term brain damage and shortened lifespans of football, for example, it would have been legislated out of existence long ago.
Instead, we pack stadiums and find ourselves yelling at our TV sets, driven by the human thirst for pride, glory and rushes of adrenalin, even if they have to be experienced second-hand and subsidized with money that would be much better spent elsewhere.
– Jay Bookman
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702 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
December 12th, 2012
1:38 pm
(most notably voicing the character of “The Brain” on the hit series “Arthur”)
It must have KILLED him when his character had to say his family celebrated Kwanzaa.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
1:38 pm
RB — “Maybe, but I’ll just continue to skip over his juvenile laughing/pointing pointless posts until he fully explains the “Big difference between “taking somebody down” and ‘taking someone down a notch or two.””
As I’ve told you several times, RB, hurry the hell up and get me those fleet fueling figures I asked you for over a month ago. I’m getting tired of waiting on your worthless behind.
“I’m guessing Joe got beat up alot on the playground…”
As usual, you guess wrong, Chimpleton.
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
1:39 pm
Brocephus,
$19,500 for a luxury box is a damn good deal. If you’re a small busiessman or just want a place and time to entertain groups its worth it and for a small businessman I’m sure it would pay for itself.
As I recall that is exactly the reason Blank said he wanted a new stadium- luxury boxes. He wants more of them and he flat out said that the reason he wants more of them is because because they make it that much more profitable.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
1:40 pm
E. Cat — “…I still see it a bonus for the city though”
More of a ‘Bone Us,’ IMO.
getalife
December 12th, 2012
1:41 pm
rb was a huge cheerleader for w’s destruction of our country.
He dressed up in a Yale cheerleader outfit too.
Mick
December 12th, 2012
1:42 pm
Bush and romney, both cheerleaders, the manliest of sports!!!
Brosephus™
December 12th, 2012
1:43 pm
EC @ 1:38
I appreciate your candor on that. I wish I could share your view, but I see it as a waste of money. Why not re-negotiate the current lease to get that added revenue? Couldn’t the dome be upgraded to add additional suites as well? It seems that building a brand new stadium is the least efficient method to get to the goals that Blank desires. That’s just my view on things though. Maybe if I were in Blank’s shoes, I’d see things differently.
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
1:43 pm
Joe…look at like the city is paying Blank back the same money he used to renovate the dome in 2006 for the benefit of the city.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 12th, 2012
1:44 pm
He dressed up in a Yale cheerleader outfit too.
Skull and bones,
Skull and bones,
Sis, boom, bah
Brosephus™
December 12th, 2012
1:44 pm
dB
I forgot all about that episode. It will probably air soon though, and my daughter loves watching Arthur.
getalife
December 12th, 2012
1:45 pm
cat,
You are shooting blanks.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
1:45 pm
E. Cat — “Joe…look at like the city is paying Blank back the same money he used to renovate the dome in 2006 for the benefit of the city.”
Was there an agreement in place for the city to pay him back in this way?
No?
Then he can go build his own new stadium.
Sorry, Artie. It’s just business. Nothing personal, you understand.
RB from Gwinnett
December 12th, 2012
1:46 pm
“What’s to dodge? The douchebag went looking for a fight and he got one. He’s a notch at best above those “God Hates F@gs” inbreeds.”
I’d check the story out for myself if it was covered by the “news”paper here in the ATL. It’s not. Just another in a long line of the AJC bringing you all the news the DNC wants you to hear about! Utterly Pathetic!!
UNCLE SAMANTHA
December 12th, 2012
1:46 pm
so we are too believe that the new stadium will be on time and on budget and that there will not be a penny more than the $300 million………….. or that there is other accounting trickery in which the state or city have to pony up through land deal, etc………..
all because we have all seen these PUBLIC negotiations and details that have been published
or do they have to pass it for us to find out whats in it?
Brosephus™
December 12th, 2012
1:47 pm
Doom
The pictures I saw looked nice too. I’m hoping that one opens up before they jack the price up too high. From the way things were sounding, I’ll probably end up getting season tickets in a different section, even if I don’t go to all the games. The money will still go back to the school.
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
1:48 pm
That and I love the idea of open air football on a grass field again..
In the long term, I don’t think the city will lose any money in this deal and will likely make some..Blank is on the hook for any cost over runs as well..not the city
RB from Gwinnett
December 12th, 2012
1:50 pm
“RB dodges the questions about his proof that Obamacare was going to create a $25 pizza from Papa Johns.”
Still can’t figure out the difference between a fact and an opinion can you, Keep? Sorry, but if you can’t figure it out by now, there’s no helping you.
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
1:50 pm
Uncle Sam
The total cost is $1B…the city is subsidizing only $300M and Blank is responsible for any cost over runs…Did you even read the article?
stands for decibels
December 12th, 2012
1:51 pm
I’d check the story out for myself if it was covered by the “news”paper here in the ATL.
Once again, our needy RB is very needy.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
1:52 pm
RB — “I’d check the story out for myself if it was covered by the “news”paper here in the ATL. It’s not.”
There are plenty of places to check it out online, but I’ll give you the distilled version.
Conservative ‘investigative reporter,’ sympathetic to the methodologies of Breitbart and a hanger-on of O’Keefe, decides to go cause a confrontation with pro-union protestors in Lansing, MI.
‘Reporter’ assumes confrontational position and demands protestors respond to him.
‘Reporter’ continues to ask rude, nasty and presumptuous questions, much like some con posters here on Jay’s blog.
‘Reporter’ gets beat up.
‘Reporter’ doesn’t file a police report, but instead appears on Hannity’s show that same night, bragging about his experience.
Prediction: This particular ‘reporter’ will probably get beat up again sometime real soon.
Lesson for cons to learn: If you don’t want stink on you, then don’t stir up any s**t.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 12th, 2012
1:52 pm
That Black Guy: “If Art wants a new crib, he should pay for it.”
But what if he can get other to? Doesn’t that make him a “good businessman” for our kids to look up to?
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 12th, 2012
1:53 pm
“lieberman is finally leaving.”
and the Oscar for the least relevant Senator goes to …
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 12th, 2012
1:54 pm
RB, you still can’t figure out that the “fact” you claim now as uninformed and ignorant “opinion” still makes you look foolish.
But how silly you are for just not admitting you were wrong. Absolutely wrong. Seems to be a foolish problem many of you conned have.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
December 12th, 2012
1:54 pm
liberal nation on rise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzyRjX_pX5c
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
1:54 pm
get
You are shooting blanks.
no i’m not…considering they are gonna build it
getalife
December 12th, 2012
1:55 pm
“WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve will spend $45 billion a month to sustain an aggressive drive to keep long-term interest rates low. And it says it plans to keep a key short-term rate near zero until unemployment drops below 6.5 percent.”
gop obstruction is to blame.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 12th, 2012
1:56 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
You missed one:
‘Reporter’ releases doctored video.
getalife
December 12th, 2012
1:56 pm
cat,
You got some blank on your nose.
TaxPayer
December 12th, 2012
1:56 pm
The Republicans should call up Sheldon Adelson and tell him that for a mere 300 million dollars the Republicans can have access to a beautiful new place for their National Convention that is just plain guaranteed, according to unskewed polling results, to win them an election. Especially since Karl Rove has already agreed to sign on.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
December 12th, 2012
1:57 pm
hey Erwin
i read the OPINION
have you read the LEGISLATION and the CONTRACT?
do the words PROPOSED TERMS mean anything to you?
why do liberals believe any editorial they read by a liberal?
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
1:57 pm
WTT Occupation — “But what if he can get other to? Doesn’t that make him a “good businessman” for our kids to look up to?”
We’ve been told by our cons that getting other people to pay your way in life makes you a “moocher.” So no.
barking frog
December 12th, 2012
1:58 pm
getalife
the President should offer to make the tax cuts under 250000.00 permanent
and let the over 250000.00 go back to Clinton rates… that way nobody raises rates.
he should also require unemployment extension.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 12th, 2012
1:59 pm
liberal nation on rise
Looking in all the wrong places, Sam.
getalife
December 12th, 2012
1:59 pm
USinUK,
The three stooges are history.
graham and mccain are heartbroken.
rivercard
December 12th, 2012
1:59 pm
Erwin- The main focus of the 2008, 30 Million (not 300) renovation was to create more luxury suites which obviously would benefit Blank. Let’s quit pretending this is some altruistic act by him. It was announced jointly , but I will take your word that he funded the whole thing. I can guarantee he didn’t spend one dime without considering what his ROI would be.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
December 12th, 2012
2:00 pm
hey cat
i thought OBAMA was going to cut the defecit in HALF in his first term…………….. but he didn’t……….. you mean a politician/s will say one thing and do another
ask the fine citizens of MIAMI how they like the outcome on THEIR new stadium
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
2:00 pm
I’m a liberal!
….finally
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
2:00 pm
K’Chak — “Joe Hussein Mama You missed one: ‘Reporter’ releases doctored video.”
To be fair, there is as yet no evidence of doctoring. Then again, said ‘reporter’ has no evidence that anyone who struck him was actually a union member. Maybe if he’d hung around and given a statement to the cops, the miscreants could have been identified and arrested, as they deserve.
Then again, maybe things didn’t really go down the way the ‘reporter’ claims they did, which would certainly explain why he wouldn’t have wanted the cops involved.
Ralph Christian
December 12th, 2012
2:00 pm
I DON’T WANT A SINGLE $0.01 OF MY TAX LIABILITY TO GO TO BLANK ANN HIS GREEDY BUNCH!!!!
getalife
December 12th, 2012
2:01 pm
frog,
There is a senate bill passed that does that.
The gop are saying no to a tax cut.
TaxPayer
December 12th, 2012
2:01 pm
Not to worry, Erwin’s state taxes will increase in an amount proportional to that $12k increase in federal income taxes and that money along with similar tax increases on scout, RB, Recon, et al, will be enough for them to have that stadium paid for in no time.
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:01 pm
“the reporter who was attacked by the pro-union protesters yesterday.
That wasn’t an attack, that was a beat down”.
“I was looking on the AJC site for a link to the story about the reporter who was attacked by the pro-union protesters yesterday.
Steven Crowder is a “reporter” the same way that Ron Jeremy is an “actor.”
“What’s to dodge? The douchebag went looking for a fight and he got one. He’s a notch at best above those “God Hates F@gs” inbreeds.”
Do you cretins not have any sense of decency? Any? A man gets physically assaulted and instead of criticizing the criminal thugs that attacked him you reserve your ridicule for the victim. Do you POS punks have any class at all?What the f_-k is wrong with you sick people?
Ralph Christian
December 12th, 2012
2:02 pm
NOT “ANN” BUT “AND”
getalife
December 12th, 2012
2:02 pm
doomy’s head exploded again.
Williebkind
December 12th, 2012
2:02 pm
Hmmm I guess this aint worth reporting since they lied about the right to work law passed by the Mi. lawmakers.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
2:03 pm
Doom — “Do you cretins not have any sense of decency? Any? A man gets physically assaulted and instead of criticizing the criminal thugs that attacked him you reserve your ridicule for the victim. Do you POS punks have any class at all?What the f_-k is wrong with you sick people?”
As I said a minute before you, Maybe if he’d hung around and given a statement to the cops, the miscreants could have been identified and arrested, as they deserve.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 12th, 2012
2:03 pm
Deficits?
Which brings us to the economic level. The deficits that Bush ran up in the years in which the country was teetering on the verge of a serious recession had the beneficial effect of righting the economy. In that sense, deficits not only didn’t matter, but were a force for economic good.
Translation: IOKIYAR
Williebkind
December 12th, 2012
2:03 pm
“I’m a liberal! ….finally”
So you out of the closet now!
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
2:03 pm
In 2006, the Atlanta Falcons and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority announced a $300 million renovation to the Georgia Dome. The project was separated into two stages. The first stage, which took place before the 2007 NFL season, focused on updating the premium seating areas, including the creation of eight ’super-suites’ as well as an owners’ club.[8] In 2008, the exterior of the stadium was repainted from its original color scheme to match the Falcons’ team colors,
wiki
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:04 pm
“Then again, maybe things didn’t really go down the way the ‘reporter’ claims they did, which would certainly explain why he wouldn’t have wanted the cops involved”
Just another sick example of attacking the victim.
Taxpayers will contribute 50% of the costs
December 12th, 2012
2:04 pm
Jay – If you could please accurately characterize the city’s total financial commitment to this new stadium, I would appreciate it.
According to the AJC, in addition to the $300 million cash that will be handed to Arthur Blank, the city of Atlanta will also be financially reponsible for improving the roads and other infrastructure to suport the new stadium as well as another $50-$200 million to buy the property the stadium will be built upon.
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/football/what-would-falcons-stadium-deal-look-like/nTQhm/
So that is Atlanta ponying up fifty percent of the costs ($600 million of $1.2 billion) while the Falcons get to keep 100% of the revenues generated.
Whatta deal!
getalife
December 12th, 2012
2:07 pm
“ask the fine citizens of MIAMI how they like the outcome on THEIR new stadium”
Mick likes it.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 12th, 2012
2:08 pm
Hmmm… a man aggitates a crowd to provoke violence and ultimately claims to get it (after a few false starts, faked matters and highly edited video) but we are suppose to critize the “victim”
But hey, its okay to ridicule Fluke daily here according to the same poster.
It’s okay to ridicule the needy according to the same poster
What garbage.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
2:08 pm
Doom — “Just another sick example of attacking the victim.”
Just another example of crying, blubbering Doom looking for somewhere to vent his frustration.
Here’s a hanky, kid.
Once again, Maybe if he’d hung around and given a statement to the cops, the miscreants could have been identified and arrested, as they deserve.
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:08 pm
“Maybe if he’d hung around and given a statement to the cops,”
Joe Mama,
I can’t believe you’re going to play Monday morning qb on this one. Perhaps he was just rattled or concerned for his safety and just wanted to get the hell out of there. I’m sure the man was shaken up a bit and probably not thinking straight. That tends to happen to people when they’ve just been physically attacked. I can’t believe you guys are sick enough to start attacking the victim. What the hell is wrong with you people?
Andy
December 12th, 2012
2:08 pm
When this passes, and of course it will pass, they need to frame the law so that this tax is only collected from out of state hotel guests so no Georgians are penalized over this BS.
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
2:08 pm
ask the fine citizens of MIAMI how they like the outcome on THEIR new stadium
It’s a fine facility…and Miami has 1 more World Championship than Atlanta by regularly blowing up the team and starting over
Brosephus™
December 12th, 2012
2:08 pm
EC @ 2:00
Welcome to the Club!!!!!
getalife
December 12th, 2012
2:09 pm
Who let andy on this blog?
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:09 pm
Joe Mama,
Sorry dude but you and some of the other creeps on here have just sunk to a new low when you start attacking the victim of a physical assault. That’s just low down scum of the earth type shyte.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 12th, 2012
2:10 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
This morning I spoke with “mtalna”. “mtalana” is Matt Allen from Fowlerville, MI. He’s an 18-year college student and not a union member. He assisted me in putting this piece together and was present for the conversation that happens in the first minutes of the first video below.
Here’s the first, highly edited video which ends with Fox News contributor Steven Crowder getting punched by some union protesters:
This video is actually a composite of a things that happened over the course of the day, many of them hours apart. The initial conversation happened early in the morning. At about 0:16, it cuts to Crowder saying, “You’ve already destroyed one tent, leave this one alone.” That happened hours after the interview with the union workers that starts the segment. The guy he’s talking to is standing quite a distance from the tent but Crowder insists that he’s somehow tearing down the tent.
Selective editing at about 0:39 mark shows what appears to be union guy attacking Crowder for no apparent reason. However, if you look closely, you’ll see that the guy is getting up off the ground — that he was NOT the one that became aggressive first.
At about 1:13, as the tent is coming down, Crowder comes over to the cameraman and waves him off as if to say, “that’s enough filming.” The reason for this becomes clear if you watch this longer, less edited version of the video:
DS
December 12th, 2012
2:10 pm
I love football, and I enthusiastically support the Falcons. But it just isn’t right to force taxpayers to spend $300m on a football stadium while cutting services for other more essential things.
Besides, we were told that Atlanta probably wouldn’t get another Super Bowl after the 2000 ice storm.
Besides, the Georgia Dome hosts other big games just fine, like the Falcons regular season, SEC championship and Peach Bowl. Don’t need a new stadium.
Besides, Falcons tickets are getting so expensive, who could afford to go to a game at a fancy new stadium anyway?
If the Falcons want a new stadium, let them pay for it, not the taxpayers.
getalife
December 12th, 2012
2:11 pm
doomy,
He went looking for a fight and found one.
Ivan
December 12th, 2012
2:11 pm
If the lefties here think the reporter got what was coming to him, I guess that seals up the Travon Martin case.
TaxPayer
December 12th, 2012
2:12 pm
It’s nice to see Doom on here defending the OWS folks that were unfairly treated. Oh. What. Really. You don’t say. He did what.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
2:12 pm
Doom — “Joe Mama, I can’t believe you’re going to play Monday morning qb on this one.”
Why not? YOU are.
“Perhaps he was just rattled or concerned for his safety and just wanted to get the hell out of there. I’m sure the man was shaken up a bit and probably not thinking straight. That tends to happen to people when they’ve just been physically attacked.”
Too shaken up to holler for the cops, but not shaken badly enough to go on Hannity’s show THAT NIGHT and brag about what he’d done.
GMAMFB.
“I can’t believe you guys are sick enough to start attacking the victim. What the hell is wrong with you people?”
Had he not gone on national TV to *brag about* what he’d done THE SAME NIGHT IT HAPPENED, you might have a point. As it stands though, eff him.
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:13 pm
What kind of an idiot equates someone being physically assaulted to verbal criticism of someone’s politics?
getalife
December 12th, 2012
2:14 pm
If you go out looking for a fight, you will find one.
I will go to the next tea party and start yelling at the cons to see what happens and film it.
Fair enough?
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
2:14 pm
Doom — “Joe Mama, Sorry dude”
I know you can’t help the kneejerk criticism.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
December 12th, 2012
2:14 pm
miami has $2.4 billion debt service for their new stadium that the owner said he couldnt afford
read the term DEBT SERVICE
they are tricking you with $300 million…………. ask what the DEBT SERVICE will be???
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 12th, 2012
2:15 pm
If the lefties here think the reporter got what was coming to him, I guess that seals up the Travon Martin case.
Yeah, because a kid walking down the street eating candy, drinking tea and generally minding his own business is EXACTLY THE SAME AS a fake reporter purposely agitating a crowd.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
December 12th, 2012
2:16 pm
credit cards use to be only for the 1% until the 1% realized they could get richer by making money on the DEBT SERVICE of dumb liberals and blinded conservative of the middle class
now credit cards are everywhere
TaxPayer
December 12th, 2012
2:17 pm
What kind of an idiot equates someone being physically assaulted to verbal criticism of someone’s politics?
A Republican
JamVet
December 12th, 2012
2:17 pm
I just watched the video of the guy getting punched.
Looks to be uncalled for.
But in comparison to the woman who got her head stomped on, for no legitimate reason, by the thugs in the Kentucky Tea Party, it was pretty tame
And other pro-union people there went to his defense, which again, is more than I’ve ever seen a gang of cons do…
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:17 pm
“but not shaken badly enough to go on Hannity’s show THAT NIGHT and brag about what he’d done”
The key being later on that night. In other words he had had several hours to calm down and recover. But don’t let that stop your justification for a physical assault.
The man was not seriously hurt. He just had a cracked tooth and some mild bruises I suspect. That’s not the freaking point dum dum. The point is that he was physically attacked. Apparently that point seems to have escaped your little noggin.
“As it stands though, eff him”
Stay classy Joe mama. Stay classy.
Andy
December 12th, 2012
2:18 pm
What kind of an idiot equates someone being physically assaulted to verbal criticism of someone’s politics?
A taxpayer
TaxPayer
December 12th, 2012
2:18 pm
Before credit cards, I had to carry around wads of cash and a check book. Now I get cash back.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 12th, 2012
2:21 pm
Hmmm… what kind of creepy piece of garbage claims that John Lewis deserved to be spit on because he “went looking for it” by walking up the front steps rather than using the rear entrance. Someone is on major fake hissy fit.
That Black Guy
December 12th, 2012
2:21 pm
Andy
December 12th, 2012
9:00 am
How about Arthur foots the stadium bill 100% and in return the City of ATL will put this $300 million tax into the APD to patrol around the slums that encompass the Dome area, invest in the ATL public school system to increase the graduation rate significantly, add many local GED and vocational programs to get welfare moms into productive jobs and daycare subsides so newly trained welfare moms can afford to go to work? Hell, give these newly trained now employed baby mommas Marta cards too with this tax money.
After 10 years and a lot of hard work, suddenly the City of ATL could have a new working class that will take care of their home and lawn, which in return will raise property values including the value of Arthur’s new stadium. It’s a Win/Win right?
*************************************************
Here is an article from Creative Loafing along those lines. Interesting read.
http://clatl.com/atlanta/the-stadium-effect/Content?oid=6296522
Williebkind
December 12th, 2012
2:22 pm
Liberals claim to be so educated that they have cutting and pasting down to an art. But their reading comprehension is suspect. Their ideology has them too tunnel visioned to see an accurate account of simple facts. The attack by the union members on a person and property was not their fault someone questioned their motives and behavior. We all know you cannot question a liberal’s vile disgusting behavior or they will pass another law, hurt someone, or destroy property. Also the Mi. right to work law allows non union members the “CHOICE” not to pay union fees if “NOT” a union member. Now we hear they are losing their collective bargaining rights. Yepper their comprehension is not up to the level of the education. Amazing is it not?
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
Doom — “The key being later on that night. In other words he had had several hours to calm down and recover. But don’t let that stop your justification for a physical assault.”
Actually, I believe the time between the alleged assault and his appearance on Hannity was less than *two* hours, not “several hours” as you wildly guess. But don’t let that stop your unbridled speculation.
“The man was not seriously hurt. He just had a cracked tooth and some mild bruises I suspect. That’s not the freaking point dum dum.”
I gladly accept your concession and surrender, Doom. If you can’t refrain from calling me names, then just keep on walking, because you’ve already lost.
“The point is that he was physically attacked. Apparently that point seems to have escaped your little noggin.”
And here’s your third try at hitting this particular softball, Doom. Apparently the words in it are *way* too big for you to grasp: Maybe if he’d hung around and given a statement to the cops, the miscreants could have been identified and arrested, as they deserve.
I don’t know what kind of person this ‘reporter’ is, but if I’m assaulted on the street, I’m going to find a cop and get the offender arrested. The fact that he *didn’t* do that smells funny to me.
“Stay classy Joe mama. Stay classy.”
I’m already more classy than you from the get-go, Doom. I don’t make up stuff about OWS protestors crapping on police cars and the like.
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
JamVet
December 12th, 2012
2:17 pm
I just watched the video of the guy getting punched.
Looks to be uncalled for.- JamVet
Thanks for your sense of decency Jam. As you said the man did not say anything to warrant that attack. He just asked a question.
The woman who got her head stomped on her tea party aggressor should be ashamed of himself and hopefully the police got him and prosecuted him.
Doesn’t matter the politics. When one group or people start physically assaulting another person that is when every decent person should say this is unacceptable.
Its breathtaking to see folks like Joe Mama and others either downplay or blame the victim of a physical assault. I never thought I would see them stoop to this lowly level. Never thought I’ld see it.
indigo
December 12th, 2012
2:25 pm
Erwin’s cat – 1:15
So taxpaye’s money can only legally be spent on GWCC?
So what about city employee salaries, sewage, water, etc. etc. etc.?
T'VILLE DAWG
December 12th, 2012
2:26 pm
I am not debating pro or con on building the new stadium, remember this the reason Blank wants a new stadium is because he’s getting hosed on profits that his colleagues get from stadium deals. The contribution from the tax will end when the construction is complete. Expanding Medicaid will never end until Georgia is just trying to maintain Californication’s level of pandering to those with their hands out. There will come a day when the hard working man will say I’ve had enough of giving people part of my wages so they can sit on their a$$es.
indigo
December 12th, 2012
2:28 pm
Kamchak – 1:44
singing boola boola, boola boola
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
2:28 pm
TBG
You might find this read interesting
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/12/15845485-as-its-universities-turn-out-engineering-grads-poland-attracts-us-tech-giants?lite
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
December 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
Well, I been reading up on Doom. You may think that DOOM rhymes with BOOM but don’t forget it also rhymes with GLOOM. That poor guy getting punched by a bunch of thugs.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
Its breathtaking to see folks like Joe Mama and others either downplay or blame the victim of a physical assault.
Except that NO ONE is “downplaying” or “blaming the victim”…. just because unlike the scum of the earth who try to claim union thugs, we just are not elevating this play for attention. You have hit a new low doom.
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
I think this guy was a breitbart guy. Wasn’t Breitbart the guy that said that John Lewis was lying about being spat on and called the n word and he put up a 100k to give to anyone that could produce audio or video of Lewis being spat on or called the n word? You would think that of the multitudes of cameras and mics there that just one, just one of these cameras or mics would have verified what Mr. Lewis claimed to have happened. The problem was it did not happen. Just the facts. Just the facts.
Regnad Kcin
December 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
“If the lefties here think the reporter got what was coming to him, I guess that seals up the Travon Martin case.”
What an amazingly silly person you are!
UNCLE SAMANTHA
December 12th, 2012
2:31 pm
WILLIE
are you PRO-CHOICE?
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
Joe Mama,
Dude don’t even waste any more of your time trying to do your tap dancing on this issue. Your behavior in blaming the victim is nothing short of despicable. Plain and simple.
Williebkind
December 12th, 2012
2:33 pm
Erwin’s cat
December 12th, 2012
2:28 pm
I dont watch or read NBC news, I like my news fair and balanced.
Erwin's cat
December 12th, 2012
2:34 pm
indigo
The money collected form the hotel taxes can only legally be spent by the GWCC for the dome, it’s the way the legislation is /was worded.
You want that other stuff then you need a new tax or a change in the law….and if YOU don’t want to pay it, then don’t stay in a hotel downtown
Thulsa Doom
December 12th, 2012
2:34 pm
Pencil Neck convert. Come on now. You can do better than that. Amuse me.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
2:34 pm
Doom — “Its breathtaking to see folks like Joe Mama and others either downplay or blame the victim of a physical assault.”
Maybe if he’d hung around and given a statement to the cops, the miscreants could have been identified and arrested, as they deserve.
It’s breathtaking to see the degree to which chronic illiteracy has spread in our country.
Williebkind
December 12th, 2012
2:34 pm
WILLIE
are you PRO-CHOICE?
I dont like it but I would never interfere with the decision.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 12th, 2012
2:35 pm
Doom — “I think this guy was a breitbart guy.”
Apparently he hangs out with the O’Keefe crew. You know, the ones who dress up as pimps and who violate Federal law by committing voter fraud.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 12th, 2012
2:36 pm
Some posters don’t comprehend facts.
bob
December 12th, 2012
2:36 pm
This has to be a winner because it is shovel ready. Only tea party people can’t understand the value of shovel ready projects paid for with hax payer dollars. Look at how well jobs were created by shovel ready projects in the stimulus. Some people never learn.