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ChefJoe

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May 10 ChefJoe commented on Hansen Ups Offer for Sacramento Kings. Again..

Hansen does remember that his MOU requires that they get a 30 year non-relocate agreement and the NBA franchise has to maintain their good standing with the NBA during the 30 year term. Doing ish like this isn't exactly kosher, and he certainly can't abscond with the team and wait for the NBA to "come around".

May 1 ChefJoe commented on KeyArena's Days Are Numbered, Whether or Not We Get a Sodo Arena.

@14, I thought the Mercer arena was being held for the PNB to buy in the future... something about assembling stages there.

But, really, the idea that the city is going to want to own this 30 year old arena at the end of Hansen's lease is a farce... as is a promise by his shell company to buy the property back.

Seattle/King County will own the land Hansen sells them before the place is built... counting appreciated value 30 years down the road is a joke.

KeyArena's days may be numbered, but that doesn't mean Seattle should turn its back on the public playground they created at the Seattle Center and putting the space to best use. It's a far more attractive downtown arena land space than SoDo is.

Apr 29 ChefJoe commented on NBA Committee Rejects Hansen Bid to Purchase Sacramento Kings.

Hooray, finally Seattle politics can move on from "should we give a crapload of tax money to billionaires?"

Hansen's MOU has a 5 year window... so calm down NBA fans. Unless you actually fear giving voters time to act on this issue.

Apr 28 ChefJoe commented on Dear NBA: Don't Take Seattle for Granted.

@17, " not removing from funds from one public service and just giving it to Hansen."

You know we pick up the property tax bill for Hansen's arena, have those tax collections from others pay arena bonds rather than fund property-tax stuff, and give Hansen's arena "exemptions" on B&O taxes and a lot of sales taxes - transferring those to pay arena bonds.... that means we'll have a new arena property to support in the city that's not paying most taxes that would support it.

It's not explicitly stated in the MOU, because they're crafty like that, but it's like paying for the guest of honor when you go out to eat. Everyone else chips in more to cover the person not paying.

Apr 13 ChefJoe commented on Dear NBA: Don't Take Seattle for Granted.

and the city council visitor log http://www.seattle.gov/council/sign_in/2… indicates that Hansen and his lobbyist actually met with the council staff giving that I-91 presentation several days ahead. He had opportunity to "correct" their calculations if they were valid.

Apr 13 ChefJoe commented on Dear NBA: Don't Take Seattle for Granted.

http://clerk.seattle.gov/~public/meeting… Old MOU didn't pass I-91... don't see why new one does either. Also don't see why (unlike most city properties) the increase property tax I have to pay for this needs to end up being used to pay arena bonds rather than to offset/pay for the city services needed by the arena. Seems like it is bound to create shortfalls elsewhere.

Apr 13 ChefJoe commented on Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking to Block Sodo Arena.

McGinn stated at the Feb 2012 announcement of the arena proposal that he also voted for I-91("the arena will comply with initiative 91, it was the will of the voters, and I voted for it as well") so Goldy is in good hypocrite company.

Mar 25 ChefJoe commented on Seattle Arena Deal Kicks Sacramento Arena Deal's Ass.

Sacramento has about $823 M in debt (and a bunch of underfunded benefits) http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/…
Seattle has about $1,019 M in debt and other obligations (and who knows how underfunded the city pensions are.... )
http://clerk.seattle.gov/~public/meeting…

Mar 25 ChefJoe commented on Seattle Arena Deal Kicks Sacramento Arena Deal's Ass.

@22, actually, property taxes do pay Hansen's arena bonds and the non-city owned property in the Sac deal will be part of the payback to Sacramento from the investors. Hansen's property tax bill will be covered by the rest of the city/county's property tax payers but it does get pulled out of the general fund and used to pay $1M + in arena bonds. It's in the chart at the bottom of http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/fn…

Dec 28, 2012 ChefJoe commented on What We Really Want to Hear from the Candidates Running for Mayor.

The city has an arena MOU, pending some studies and another round of votes on those results. On top of that, there's no bonds being created until Hansen finds a team and gets them to sign a lease that all parties are happy with.

I could care less about them, but Virginia Beach's arena money-backers are sitting down and talking with NBA teams so they've got that leg up.