Omaha city Councilman Jim Suttle gave a gift of thousands of votes to Mayor Mike Fahey yesterday when Suttle presented his kook idea for "saving Rosenblatt Stadium".
Suttle's hasn't been subtle (yuk yuk yuk) when talking about his interest in challenging Fahey for the Mayor's office in 2009. But when he stood out in front of Rosenblatt yesterday, he pretty much guaranteed that he won't be siphoning away any serious votes from Fahey come primary time next year.
Suttle's "plan" for Rosenblatt is to have a five-county wide tax -- including Nebraska and Iowa counties -- to make major improvements to Rosenblatt over the next twenty years or so. So, just to be clear, Suttle's plan is for the people of Herman and Blair, Nebraska and Neola and Pacific Junction, Iowa to pay for Omaha's new baseball stadium.
Got that?
This of course was greeted with laughter and derision by mayors and representatives and elected officials of all types. (Though those standing out in the cold near 13th Street with Suttle started chanting "Yes-we-can!" We're fairly sure this must involve Hope! and Change!)
So the next time anyone gets serious about suggesting that Jim Suttle should be the Mayor of Omaha, a quick reference to Councilman Kookypants' little plan should take care of that.
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And on the topic of realistic decisions regarding the stadium, it will be interesting to see what happens with the current Hal Daub-initiated plan of putting a new stadium north of Cuming street in the present UP yards. Anyone who has driven by there can see that there is an abundance of space and that it would be easily accessible from the Old Market and beyond.
It does sound like it would be more expensive in the short run, but in the long run, doesn't this seem like a much better solution than jamming it in with the Qwest? The fact that going to an event down there right now can mean up to an hour to park is ridiculous. Spreading things out has to be considered.
On questionable thing is the potential view of the storage tanks just to the northeast, but we would guess that would be addressed in any planning. We doubt that anyone would let ESPN's view of the Zoo's dome be replaced by those.
Suttle's hasn't been subtle (yuk yuk yuk) when talking about his interest in challenging Fahey for the Mayor's office in 2009. But when he stood out in front of Rosenblatt yesterday, he pretty much guaranteed that he won't be siphoning away any serious votes from Fahey come primary time next year.
Suttle's "plan" for Rosenblatt is to have a five-county wide tax -- including Nebraska and Iowa counties -- to make major improvements to Rosenblatt over the next twenty years or so. So, just to be clear, Suttle's plan is for the people of Herman and Blair, Nebraska and Neola and Pacific Junction, Iowa to pay for Omaha's new baseball stadium.
Got that?
This of course was greeted with laughter and derision by mayors and representatives and elected officials of all types. (Though those standing out in the cold near 13th Street with Suttle started chanting "Yes-we-can!" We're fairly sure this must involve Hope! and Change!)
So the next time anyone gets serious about suggesting that Jim Suttle should be the Mayor of Omaha, a quick reference to Councilman Kookypants' little plan should take care of that.
***
And on the topic of realistic decisions regarding the stadium, it will be interesting to see what happens with the current Hal Daub-initiated plan of putting a new stadium north of Cuming street in the present UP yards. Anyone who has driven by there can see that there is an abundance of space and that it would be easily accessible from the Old Market and beyond.
It does sound like it would be more expensive in the short run, but in the long run, doesn't this seem like a much better solution than jamming it in with the Qwest? The fact that going to an event down there right now can mean up to an hour to park is ridiculous. Spreading things out has to be considered.
On questionable thing is the potential view of the storage tanks just to the northeast, but we would guess that would be addressed in any planning. We doubt that anyone would let ESPN's view of the Zoo's dome be replaced by those.
Nonetheless, it's a good discussion point, and better than simply cramming a Qwest parking lot down Omaha's throat.
What say ye?
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15 comments:
It's good to see democrat Jim Suttle blow any potential serious Mayoral campaign chances to bits yesterday. It's rare to see a politician committ career suicide with such style..excluding a dead girl or live boy. He did secure the Forrest Gump vote if he does run for mayor.
The Qwest lot vs. UP property across Cuming Street appears to be a turf battle which would cost us $25 million more to purchase real estate the city doesn't own. If Hal is really serious about this proposal than he should be volunteering to raise the additional money needed.
It was only a matter of time for Suttle. Spend five minutes with the guy and find out how completely annoying he is. Omaha has much better options.
I'm still for blowing up a few of the flop houses to the west of Qwest and start over with those blocks.
The UP plan has some merit as well. Additional parking for Qwest, additional development possibilities, access to the interstate and other main roads.
I agree with anonymous. A stadium to the west of Qwest would connect Creighton's amazing soccer stadium and new buildings with the riverfront development. There would be plenty of space for parking lots and it would clean up the area. The skyline could replace the Desert Dome for the ESPN crew.
Omaha should petition the UN for a global tax to support building the new ball parks we need. The world is made better when Omaha folks are made less miserable; they should help with the cost.
Same logic as the wonderful "Global Poverty Act" which imposes a global tax.
I think some are missing the point.
Actually Suttle's plan asks for people who will not vote in next years election to help pay for the project. His financing plan actually is done in many Metropolitain areas for building Pro-franchise facilities. It won't happen here though. Second it puts him in the good graces of South Omaha for supporting Rosenblatt and the anti-tax crowd in West Omaha that sees 140 million as too much to spend. One must remember the sucessful Qwest Center barely passed a public vote. That means Suttle believes he has South Omaha and 40 some percent of the public that voted against Qwest is in his camp. Throw a good republican in and you have a 3 way race. 40 % gets you through a primary (not that I think he gets that much) Is he an idiot or a stinkin genius? Hmmm you decide and publish a comment on this board.
Nice to see Mike Kennedy out in front for another Democrat.
Suttle is a world-class panderer of the first order, and anyone who has spent 30 seconds, let alone 5 minutes, with the guy knows this.
Yesterday was nothing more than a transparent attempt to weasel his way into the good graces of the Save Rosenblatt crowd. His "plan" is ludicrous - he might as well have stood out there yesterday and announced a plan to ask Warren Buffet to pay for the rennovations.
To Costner
Please enlighten me on what Democrats I have supported? I have only endorsed and given money to Republicans my whole life. You evidentily are too narrow minded to read what I actually wrote above. I will give kudos to those in politics, regardless of party affiliation, that make interesting political moves. My take is that Fahey and Daub supports a Downtown site. (I think downtown is the best site as well) It is politically shrewd for Suttle to take a base away from Fahey by pandering to South Omaha and those who oppose the Downtown ballparks price tag. (His 5 county tax plan is dead on arrival) Trash me all you want but I believe my analysis is what Street Sweeper is looking for on his or her site.
If we add one save-Rosenblatt plus and five county taxations, and divide that by a west-of-Qwest site, the answer is we need a stadium is in the middle of the river.
Suttle's and arrogant idiot; Daub's transparent; Vokal's a combo of both. The problem with the lot of them is they wouldn't support of Fahey Plan even if it is/was the most viable alternative, b/c they all want his seat.
The NCAA doesn't want to come off as an organization dictating what a city does; however, make no mistake, they want the park downtown among bars, retail, etc. I am entertained by the notion (stated by Daub on am 590 yesterday) that no matter what we do the CWS will remain. KC made this same assumption years ago and lost the organization to Indy.
I get the feeling Daub is pushing the UP lot for two reasons:
1) To distinguish himself from Fahey;
2) To protect his legacy which is the "Qwest".
Daub, Sokol, MECA, and South O are going to debate/fillibuster this thing long enough that the NCAA is going to take its own action.
What is lost in the debate is how great this would make our city. Can you imagine retail along the lines of K.C.'s Plaza accentuated by a minor league/college ballpark. This investment would put Omaha ahead in the arms race that is KC/Des Moines/Omaha/Okie City entertainment. It is baffelling anyone would be opposed to this, and short-sighted to say the least.
In the first place, anything Daub proposes is a bad idea, only generated to put money in his pocket or assist him in grabbing power. In the second place, how much does UP come out ahead if they sell those yards to the city? I'm for letting Rosenblatt remain Rosenblatt if only to annoy Daub and minimize city funds going to those with connections. Otherwise, Fahey should just say the NCAA has us where they want us and let the people decide if the new stadium is worth it.
My father in law was one of the folks who worked to bring the CWS to Omaha. And now a bunch of dopes and egomaniacs are going to piss it away . . . and deal Omaha a blow worse than when Northern Natural Gas became Enron, packed up and left town.
Now THAT'S how you grow a city.
how much has mayor fahey spent on the dead horse already i think it starts with a 8 correct me if im wrong ONCE THE HORSE IS DEAD THERES NO REVIVING IT /GO WITH THE FLOW GO WEST GET AWAY FROM THE CASINOS BURY THE BRIDGE ALTHOUGH IT PROBABLY WILL SAVE SOME HOMELESS PEOPLES LIVES THAT OTHERWISE HAVE TO TRY AND WALK ACROSS BRIDGE TO BAD THEY MISSED THE BOAT NOT BUYING AKSARBEN I KNOW OLD STORY KIND OF LIKE SOMEONE PAYING FOR STUDYS ON HOW TO FIX THINGS WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE HEATED BRIDGE ON NEW RAMP GOING WEST MORE MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN TAKE OVER ELKHORN CANT KEEP UP WHAT YOU HAVE NOW RUIN SOMETHING ELSE TO BAD MAYBE THE NEW SIGN FOR OMAHAS RIGHT THE BID ZERO OOOOOOOO! HE WILL PROBABLY GET HIS WAY BECAUSE WE WONT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO DRIVE TO POLES.
Suttle is a back-stabbing double dealing clown. I want him to run for mayor so everyone can see what a joke he is, evident by his Rosenblatt plan. Plus maybe he will have some very tough questions to answer publicly. For instance, I would like to know whether he thinks he and his family should belittle themselves to live by the same rules and laws that everybody else does, or if perhaps they are above that.
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