Coalition opposed to billion-dollar-plus stadium tax grows, now includes Councilmember Alvarez, others
SAN DIEGO (July 28, 2016)—The “No Downtown Stadium – Jobs and Streets First” coalition has grown and now includes City Councilmember David Alvarez, Chicano Park muralist Mario Torero, the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects and other community leaders.
“I oppose the Chargers ballot initiative because it’s another bad stadium deal for San Diego,” City Councilmember David Alvarez said. “San Diegans are tired of deals that give away millions of taxpayer dollars to people who don’t need the money. I am confident San Diegans will say ‘enough’ and reject this bad stadium deal.”
As for the San Diego Regional Chamber’s endorsement today of the billion-dollar-plus stadium tax, it is no surprise to see big business back big business over a deal that would only benefit one of its buddies.
No Downtown Stadium Chair April Boling pointed out the Chamber made its decision without its Board having an opportunity to hear from, and question, members of the opposition coalition. “The decision was based on a relationship, not a policy discussion,” Boling said. “It is nothing more than a membership organization supporting one of its own. Dean Spanos is important to the Chamber and that, unfortunately, was more important than good public policy.”
Boling, former board chair of the San Diego Convention Center and the city’s Pension Reform Committee, added: “I am opposed to Dean Spanos’ measure because our taxes would go up, we would get a stadium where we really don’t want it, a convention center annex that doesn’t work and is opposed by Comic-Con, and we would be putting our tourism economy at risk. There’s really nothing good about his plan to raise taxes by more than $1 billion. There’s a lot not to like.”
Here is what other members of the “No Downtown Stadium – Jobs and Streets First!” campaign are saying about Dean Spanos’ plan to raise taxes by more than $1 billion:
“As a lifetime San Diegan and longtime taxpayer watchdog, I am strongly opposed to Dean Spanos’ billion-dollar-plus tax increase that puts neighborhood services at risk and jeopardizes our tourism economy and jobs. Our City can ill-afford to make another costly deal with the Chargers that hurts taxpayers. This measure is a bad deal for San Diego and that is why our coalition is building momentum and growing larger every day.” –San Diego City Councilmember Chris Cate
“With the this plan, everybody loses. The fans lose tailgating. The tourist industry loses its competitive edge, half of its marketing dollars and conventions. Labor would lose high- and low-paying tourism jobs. Suburban communities would be forced to absorb 4.5 million square-feet of development that a downtown stadium would prevent. East Village would lose its redevelopment momentum, and Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights and East Village would lose their livability and desirability.
“The City loses because it won’t be able to use Dean Spanos’ billion-dollar-plus stadium tax to repair our streets or hire 911 dispatchers or fund after-school programs. The biggest losers of all, however, are taxpayers, who are ultimately on the hook for all of it — again!” –Rob Quigley, architect who designed the Downtown Central Library
“I am opposed to Dean Spanos’ billion-dollar-plus tax increase because there are better ways to spend our taxpayer funds. As the mother of two young children, I would prefer to see funding from a tax increase go to early childhood education and infrastructure projects that enhance water supply reliability and water quality for clean beaches and bays.” –Lani Lutar, past President and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association
“I’m fundamentally opposed to the stadium because of the negative impacts it will have on Barrio Logan. Planners have very little concern about how these massive changes affect Barrio businesses, residents and culture, essentially eliminating them over time. Along with others, I have been working to maintain the Barrio Logan cultural arts scene and its diversity in a way that honors and preserves the culture and people who have deep roots here.” –Mario Torero, Chicano Park muralist
“Of all the stadium options, downtown is the most expensive for taxpayers. It also has the highest cost overrun potential due to earthquake faults, environmental cleanup and eminent domain. Fans will be forced to give up tailgating and freeway access in exchange for higher ticket prices so the corporate crowd can have easy access to skyboxes from their downtown hotel rooms. If this boondoggle wasn’t bad enough, wrap it in a taxpayer-funded Convention Center annex that doesn’t work – its sole purpose is to disguise the stadium as multipurpose. It’s two boondoggles in one!” –William Adams, land-use attorney, editor of UrbDeZine and San Diego Free Press contributor, former Chair of the Gaslamp Quarter Association and co-founder of the Public Interest Advocacy Clinic in Southeast San Diego
“An urban planning analysis reveals the downtown location is a terrible site – no parking, grossly inadequate vehicle and transit access, and incompatible with the neighborhood and surrounding communities.” –Wayne Raffesberger, land-use attorney, university lecturer in urban studies and co-founder of the Downtown San Diego Partnership
“Imagine a future with a vibrant downtown that generates jobs and prosperity for San Diegans, and a redeveloped Qualcomm site that includes a permanent home for the Chargers, a beautiful riverfront park, and an opportunity for SDSU to expand. This seems like a win, win, win, win situation for all San Diegans, if the Chargers owners would only listen. Instead, they have embarked on a flashy and expensive campaign to persuade San Diegans that East Village is a better location, but the proposal carries huge risks for San Diego taxpayers. They want us to believe this is the best deal for us, we say not so fast.” –Bastiaan Bouma, Executive Vice President and CEO, American Institute of Architects San Diego
“Speaking for myself and not the organizations I represent, I have great concerns with the Spanos downtown stadium proposal. If we raise the hotel tax we should use that new revenue to fix our streets, maintain our parks and pay for other neglected needs in our communities, not a downtown stadium. Balboa Park, for example, receives little revenue from the existing hotel tax, yet it is a major tourist attraction. The deferred maintenance tab at Balboa Park stands at $300 million.” –Jack Carpenter, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, past president San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects, co-founder of the San Diego Council of Design Professionals, and Friends of Balboa Park Board Member
More: www.nodowntownstadium.com