See how Hillsborough, Tampa could fund Rays\u2019 billion-dollar public ask | April 14<\/p>\n
Having taxpayers subsidize elaborate new sports stadiums is a gross form of corporate welfare. Yet, if we want to keep the Rays in the Tampa Bay area, which I do, the local governments need to play the game. So, here is my idea: In addition to a hefty rent to service the public debt incurred to finance the construction of the stadium, give taxpayers an equity stake in the team, preferably as the equivalent of preferred shareholders. Before any distributions of profits are made to the Rays\u2019 owners, pay a substantial preferred dividend or other form of distribution to the taxpayers, with the payments going into the general revenue funds of the city or county. Give the taxpayers an added incentive to finance a new stadium.<\/p>\n
Finally, as someone who grew up in South St. Petersburg and, as a kid, saw Casey Stengel and Stan Musial walk the hallowed grounds of the old Al Lang Stadium, oh how I wish that were the site of the Rays\u2019 next stadium. No disrespect to Hillsborough County.<\/p>\n
Bruce Barnes, Safety Harbor<\/p>\n
It\u2019s far from a done deal, but this Rays stadium might just survive | Column, April 17<\/p>\n
The new Rays ownership believes they hold all the cards, bullying Hillsborough County into agreeing to their terms for a new stadium and community development. Times columnist John Romano suggests that the Rays need to make it easier for the commissioners to say yes.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the way: Give Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa a 10% equity ownership in the team and surrounding development.<\/p>\n
The billionaire owners are going to net another few billion dollars when they sell the club in 10 to 20 years, so allowing the community that diverted so many dollars to share in the appreciation is quite reasonable.<\/p>\n
The Green Bay Packers are a community-owned corporation. Why not a 10% slice to the Tampa community?<\/p>\n
Scott Wagman, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
It\u2019s far from a done deal, but this Rays stadium might just survive | Column, April 17<\/p>\n
Gov. Ron DeSantis is showing his blatant hypocrisy when he now supports the stadium plans of the current Rays owners, who are large contributors to his political committees. Evidently, the previous owners did not contribute to DeSantis\u2019 political committees or other GOP politicians, so they didn\u2019t get any support from the governor. Now, DeSantis is tripping over himself to figure out ways to provide taxpayer-funded support to the team through land donations, infrastructure improvement, disaster aid and anything else he can push through. Unbelievable hypocrisy.<\/p>\n
Gregory J. Kuebler, Dunedin<\/p>\n
Much work remains after Rays workshop | April 17<\/p>\n
C\u2019mon Tampa! Hillsborough! Build the darn stadium. It\u2019s only a little over a billion dollars. Hell, President Donald Trump spends that every couple of days in Iran. You don\u2019t hear him whining about it.<\/p>\n
Those billionaire owners need your help.<\/p>\n
Martin Fouts, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
More I-4 money; no end to congestion in sight | Column, April 19<\/p>\n
Viewpoints editor Graham Brink\u2019s column correctly highlights what every Central Florida driver already knows: We can pour billions into Interstate-4 and still end up staring at the same brake lights. Of course, that\u2019s not a bug; it\u2019s the feature of a system run by leaders who treat public transportation like some kind of socialist fever dream.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s not forget the greatest \u201cwhat if\u201d of all: When then-Gov. Rick Scott turned down federal funding for high-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando. Imagine a forward-thinking solution that might have actually reduced congestion. Naturally, it never stood a chance.<\/p>\n
As for I-4 itself, I can offer a bit of historical perspective. The highway was completed in 1965, when I was a teenager living in Sanford. And in the 61 years since, it seems to have been under constant reconstruction, an eternal project with no finish line in sight. At this point, \u201cimproving I-4\u201d feels less like infrastructure policy and more like a generational tradition. So yes, more money is coming. But if history is any guide, the only thing that won\u2019t be arriving any faster is the daily commute.<\/p>\n
David Burg, Tampa<\/p>\n
DeSantis official pans Polk County data center proposal | April 17<\/p>\n
There are two main objections to these huge data centers: They use massive amounts of electrical power and water. For the electricity, make them supply their own, including solar panels, wind turbines, a power plant, or whatever works. As to water, make them plumb in a loop with a cooling tower and just recycle the same water around. If they object to the expense or the bother, bid them goodbye.<\/p>\n
Pete Wilford, Holiday<\/p>\n
Woman says she was raped by Rep. Eric Swalwell | April 15<\/p>\n
Truly horrific situation regarding Rep. Eric Swalwell, so much so that the article in the Times\u2019 April 15 edition ran 11 paragraphs. Maybe if it ran 12, people would known that he\u2019s a Democrat. Surely that missing detail was just an oversight.<\/p>\n
Scott Lewis, Holiday<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n