Gregoire has worked for more than a year to save the NBA team, which plans to leave the small, no-frills KeyArena in Seattle. She stopped just short of endorsing the Sonics' new proposal to move to the Seattle suburb of Renton on land owned by Boeing Co. The team wants at least $300 million in public financing.
The governor's comments at a news conference were her most supportive to date for a proposal that faces a rocky road in the Legislature.
David Ammons, AP
Political support is usually the top item pointed to as a leading factor in making progress on any proposal. Last Week Washington State Speaker of the House, Frank Chopp, was less than supportive.
"I'm sorry, but the education of our kids is simply a much higher priority," Chopp said. "What am I going to do, divert money from [education] to pay for a place where the courtside seats cost, what is it, a thousand bucks a seat? Give me a break."
Frank Chopp, quoted in the Seattle Times, 02/15/2007
I would be less than enthused if Chopp and Gregoire had different positions in the government, but they don't.
It took nearly four years to find a tenant for the Seattle Center Arena after the 1962 World's Fair. It was built without a long term tenant, and I think that building has done pretty well by Seattle over the past 45 years.
I think that building a facility for Renton would be good for them, and to have a ready made tenant that is willing to pay 20% of the cost is much more than Seattle started off with way back when.
Why building four buildings for Seattle (Seattle Center Arena, King Dome, Quest Field, Safeco Field) is ok, but one for Renton isn't is just beyond me.
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