Comments on: Baseball on the ballot

By: The Fan District Hub » Blog Archive » Referendum is the answer

The Fan District Hub » Blog Archive » Referendum is the answer — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:44:25 +0000

[...] To read more about it go here, here, here, here, here. [...]

By: Richmond Greens » Stadium Stupidity: The Debate Drags On

Richmond Greens » Stadium Stupidity: The Debate Drags On — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:26:27 +0000

[...] are calls for referendums to settle the debate, but so far City leaders seem to be content to let the stupidy rage [...]

By: The Fan District Hub » Blog Archive » Baseball stadium issue whirl

The Fan District Hub » Blog Archive » Baseball stadium issue whirl — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:04:14 +0000

[...] The Fan District Hub’s call for a referendum is here. [...]

By: ShockoeBottomDweller

ShockoeBottomDweller — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:22:16 +0000

The idea that they would bring this up for a vote is a joke they already have shown they are backing this Boondoggle and that is why they did the study. Of course the study will take months and end up telling us that the ballpark has to be in Shockoe Bottom and once the ballpark magically appears ( won’t require over 10 years of construction, Traffic and parking displacement) It will Solve the area problems of Flooding,Jobs,stops Earthquakes and causes world peace. and you would vote against this you are not worth being heard. ( according to them)

By: schlep

schlep — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:47:16 +0000

The sadly hilarious thing about this whole Bottom vs. Boulevard debate is that people in Richmond don’t really care for baseball all that much.

By: Goldie

Goldie — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:44:57 +0000

I’ll do a write-in vote for a Rollerderby track/ Lucha Libre arena.

By: Melissa Loughridge Savenko

Melissa Loughridge Savenko — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:01:27 +0000

Dear FT:

I think you make a reasoned, rational and dispassionate argument for a referendum.

I’d also like to note, you have not suggested that EVERY development warrants a referendum. However, some developments are important enough that a referendum might be the best approach. I agree that the “Baseball in the Bottom” proposal is just such a development. Here are my reasons:

1. There is at least an $8M tax payer contribution required for infrastructure development. Some have argued this number understates the true investment amount required.

2. The area in which the proposed ballpark is to be built is historic. Once you develop it, there is no going back to the original historic character.

3. There is at least some possibility that the City would be on the hook in the event of default on the bonds. Thie extent of ths potential liability is unclear.

4. The area is proximate to residential neighborhoods, which will be impacted by any development. These impacts and the neighborhoods’ personal preferences should be considered.

I think it is unfortunate that some believe Richmonders are too stupid or too lazy to be able to cast an informed vote on whether or not to approve the Bottom development proposal. Democracy may be messy, and it can lead to imperfect results, but it’s the best system out there. I think we should give the people more credit.

By: FTRea

FTRea — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:43:20 +0000

Sean,

As I wrote at SLANTblog, I want to convince five members of council that they will look good asking the voters to catch the hot potato and settle the nettlesome stadium issue.

A non-binding resolution would let the voters have their say. I doubt the council would ignore the expressed will of the people.

After years of uncertainty and contradictory studies, why would council members be willing to stand against letting the voters have their say?

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:31:44 +0000

But a non-binding resolution would still have to be voted on by Council. If you went with the petition and it got more than 50% at the polls, it would automatically become law.

If Council puts the referendum on the ballot, they could ignore the result and vote the other way. There is no guarantee they would uphold the referendum outcome, whatever it was.

By: FTRea

FTRea — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:27:16 +0000

Sean,

Apparently, in Richmond, Virginia, there are two ways to get a referendum going. The way you have alluded to, and another way.

The second way would be for a majority of City Council to call for a non-binding resolution.

In 2005 Council almost did something along those lines — http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/clerksTracking/getPDF.asp?NO=2005-R34

Perhaps I can interest some members of the current council to think about it again.

We’ll see.