“Where is the outrage?” It’s a brewing storm just off the radar and about to blow as the uninformed realize what has happened to them. The difference is the public caught the tail end of the Harrison Square issue and was able to voice their outrage before the final vote.

WHy bother “turning out the lights” when it appears they weren’t turned on in the first place (so the PEOPLE could see)?

Enough really IS enough.

B.G.

I am suprised everyone thinks this project is being “rushed” through. The State lLegislature has totally changed the way you will be taxed in the entire state and did it in less than 6 weeks. Where is the outrage?

“Q. “What’s the rush? Why are Mayor Graham Richard and the city moving so fast on this?”

A. An informed and educated populace simply would not tolerate this folly. By rushing this through, the calculation is that opposition will be intimidated, uninformed and too disorganized.”

“we won, get over it”.

FALSE! The COLISEUM keeps that money- it is NOT a city facility.

Randy Brown works for the Coliseum/County.

The Wizards will be responsible, as I understand it, to book the ballpark at Harrison Square.

My comment was in response to what Ron Reinking wrote:

“Neither the city nor the Wizards has demonstrated any expertise or success in booking profitable events at Memorial Stadium.”

How could they? It is controlled by the County/Coliseum Board/Randy Brown.

As to your taking Mr. Reinking to task for “not understanding the restrictions on TIF funds” – you are the one who needs educating. Just take time to review IC-36-7-14-39b-3 – If you need the help of an engineer to shoiw you how to get this on line – I will help you out -

It reads, “When the monies in the (TIF) allocation fund are sufficent to pay when due all principle and interest on bonds described herein, and is not needed for the other purposes stated herein, monies in the allocation fund in excess of that amount shall be paid to the respective taxing units in the manner provided in subdivision (1) of this section.”

Subdivision (1) of 36-7-14-39b in the Indiana Code identifies these taxing units as “any public body entitled to a distribution of property taxes on taxable real property” or, in other words, our public school system, our fund to pay all city salaries (including the fire and police department pension account which we have left grossly underfunded), our library and so on.

So where in the heck did you get your information? It is not a good idea to believe ANYTHING that comes out of the wordprocessor of any member of the Fort Wayne print media – not to mention any names but the chief has initials T.W.

John B. Kalb

If booking the current stadium was the responsibility of Randy Brown, who will be responsible for (aka the appointed fall guy for) booking the new stadium if not the Wizards and city? Clearly such responsibility would not be passed to another party when its success/failure is so contingent on the box office.

The mixing up of “county” & “city” – isn’t this understandable due to the fact that the City of Fort Wayne is attempting to dictate to Allen County that IT (Ft.W.) is the politcal entity that is going to write the new “deal” with Hardball?

As far as your taking Mr. Reinking to task for “not understanding the restrictions on TIF”, you are the uninformed one, not he. Take the time to do some investigation before you blow off – see IC-36-7-14-39b-3 which states “When the monies in the (TIF) allocation fund are sufficient to pay when due all principal and interest on bonds described herein, and is not needed for the other purposes statyed herein, monies in the allocation fund in excess of that amount shall be paid to the respective taxing units in the manner provided in subdivision (1) of this chapter.”

The taxing units referenced are the General Property taxing units – our schools, our fire & police department (including their pensions we have left unfunded), our City salaries, our libraries and so on. (The cost of all the services that the city offers)

John B. Kalb

“Neither the city nor the Wizards has demonstrated any expertise or success in booking profitable events at Memorial Stadium.”

Booking of Memorial Stadium is in the hands of Randy Brown- NOT the city or the Wizards.

This guy CLEARLY does not understand how our different levels of government work- and who is responsible for what.

WRONG- the city DOES NOT have a lease with Hardball. The County does and it will expire BEFORE Harrison Square is complete. That is why Hardball and the County will have to work out an extension on their current lease.

“The valid question not raised is “if so, why not devote these resources to unnavigable streets and roads or to fund the potential half-billion-dollar obligation of our ancient water and sewage systems”?”

He clearly does not understand the restrictions on TIF and CRED financing.

I could go on and on…his whole column is full of errors.