This Week in the Mercury
Friday, August 1, 2008
News Good Morning News?
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 8:48 AM
How Bad is the Economy? Joblessness is the highest in four years, as 51,000 jobs are cut just in July.
Can Obama Point Out that he's Black? McCain's team gets angry at Obama for "playing the race card".
Did the FBI Drive a Scientist to Suicide? An anthrax researcher kills himself after the bureau announces its plans to investigate him.
Rape in the Army? Congress holds hearings on military sexual assault.
Why Are People Vicious on the Internet? The sociology behind blog trolls hinges on the phrase "reverse panopticon."
Bonus! One piece of good news on this downer of a gray day: "There's water on Mars. I've tasted it."
Commenting was not available when this article was originally published.
1
How about good news in the form of, owner of the Portland Timbers is getting ready to apply for an MLS team in Portland starting the 2011 season!
2
The MLS thing is NOT good news. Looking for a handout from the city that will approach $100 million... no way. I love how he's handled the Beavers so far, I must say, but if you want public money (our money) for your little toy sports teams....
KISS MY ASS.
KISS MY ASS.
4
The NYT article was terrifying!
It turned me into a 40 year old suburban housewife. I was all to Dane, "And these TROLLS on the WEB, well they can just do anything to you nowadays."
It turned me into a 40 year old suburban housewife. I was all to Dane, "And these TROLLS on the WEB, well they can just do anything to you nowadays."
5
That NYT article was silly. It's all "Oooh! Look at the scary trolls!" And the trolls are like, "It's justified because my granpappy stuck his dingdong in my butt"
The only neat thing is that the 4chan sysop was 15 when he started that thing.
The only neat thing is that the 4chan sysop was 15 when he started that thing.
6
Michelle -
here's the choice panopticon quote from the NYT magazine:
"Almost everyone posts as “anonymous.” In effect, this makes /b/ a panopticon in reverse — nobody can see anybody, and everybody can claim to speak from the center."
here's the choice panopticon quote from the NYT magazine:
"Almost everyone posts as “anonymous.” In effect, this makes /b/ a panopticon in reverse — nobody can see anybody, and everybody can claim to speak from the center."
7
@ Mikey,
Paulson is ponying up $40 million out of his own pocket for the team, and the economic and social benefit to the city will far exceed $100 million. Look at how much other cities are being asked to spend for MLS teams, or hell, what Portland was being asked to spend for MLB a few years back. Many, many times more. $100 mil, for an investment that is also largely financed privately, where the owner's dad's name is on your frickin' money, is a steal. Put it this way: choosing between spending some public money on a new bridge over the Columbia or to help Paulson get an MLS team here is a no brainer for the growth of the city.
Paulson is ponying up $40 million out of his own pocket for the team, and the economic and social benefit to the city will far exceed $100 million. Look at how much other cities are being asked to spend for MLS teams, or hell, what Portland was being asked to spend for MLB a few years back. Many, many times more. $100 mil, for an investment that is also largely financed privately, where the owner's dad's name is on your frickin' money, is a steal. Put it this way: choosing between spending some public money on a new bridge over the Columbia or to help Paulson get an MLS team here is a no brainer for the growth of the city.
8
Hey Jack,
If it's such a good deal, then why doesn't Paulson go raise the $100 million privately and reap all the benefits himself?
And if it's going to be so good, do I see Paulson offering the city 75% of all future revenue as well? We take 75% of the risk, we should get 75% of the reward. Plus interest.
I wish we could choose between the bridge and 40 new stadiums- I'd take the stadiums, of course.
The days of public stadium financing ended when the SF Giants got a beautiful new home on private money. Take a look at places like Kansas City- oh , there were all sorts of promises when they built the arena. But the arena is still empty and the city is paying for it.
Or how about Washington, DC? The city built the stadium- and they have MLB- and the stadium is still empty.
I'm a big sports fan. I wish Portland had MLB. But unless the city owns the team and builds the stadium a la Green Bay, there is no way he's gonna get a dime from the taxpayers here.
But I'm all for the new stadium and MLS if Paulson is going to pay for all of it- including all of the infrastructure improvements outside of the parks that will be needed to support them.
If it's such a good deal, then why doesn't Paulson go raise the $100 million privately and reap all the benefits himself?
And if it's going to be so good, do I see Paulson offering the city 75% of all future revenue as well? We take 75% of the risk, we should get 75% of the reward. Plus interest.
I wish we could choose between the bridge and 40 new stadiums- I'd take the stadiums, of course.
The days of public stadium financing ended when the SF Giants got a beautiful new home on private money. Take a look at places like Kansas City- oh , there were all sorts of promises when they built the arena. But the arena is still empty and the city is paying for it.
Or how about Washington, DC? The city built the stadium- and they have MLB- and the stadium is still empty.
I'm a big sports fan. I wish Portland had MLB. But unless the city owns the team and builds the stadium a la Green Bay, there is no way he's gonna get a dime from the taxpayers here.
But I'm all for the new stadium and MLS if Paulson is going to pay for all of it- including all of the infrastructure improvements outside of the parks that will be needed to support them.
9
SF's stadium wasn't a 100% privately financed construction deal. Might be a nice thought, but to my knowledge it's never happened before and it likely never will. The bricks and mortar for the Giants park may have been from private folk, but the City of SF contributed millions in the form of infrastructure improvements, as well as tax breaks and bank/interest incentives.
I agree with you that stadiums shouldn't be constructed entirely with public money, and I hate that cities are held hostage by greedy sports owners/teams. So we agree there. I just think it's fair that there's somewhat of a balance between private and public on this kind of thing. I see the economic value and growth to the city of having another major professional league team in town (we only have one, there's room for another)... jobs, restaurants/bars, tourism, hotels, social vitality, all of that has a value and an economic benefit to the city as a whole, not just to Paulson individually.
So yes, I agree with you it shouldn't be entirely publicly financed and Paulson should carry a large portion of the financial burden, but when he offers to pay $40 million privately and asks the City to contribute $60-$65 million, that seems like a fair deal to me on face value. We haven't seen his actual proposal yet though, of course. He already has the City Council in his corner in support of his plans. The public is going to be the tougher sell. And then the MLS decision itself is the biggest hurdle (Portland is in competition with Montreal, St. Louis, and Vancouver for an expansion team).
I agree with you that stadiums shouldn't be constructed entirely with public money, and I hate that cities are held hostage by greedy sports owners/teams. So we agree there. I just think it's fair that there's somewhat of a balance between private and public on this kind of thing. I see the economic value and growth to the city of having another major professional league team in town (we only have one, there's room for another)... jobs, restaurants/bars, tourism, hotels, social vitality, all of that has a value and an economic benefit to the city as a whole, not just to Paulson individually.
So yes, I agree with you it shouldn't be entirely publicly financed and Paulson should carry a large portion of the financial burden, but when he offers to pay $40 million privately and asks the City to contribute $60-$65 million, that seems like a fair deal to me on face value. We haven't seen his actual proposal yet though, of course. He already has the City Council in his corner in support of his plans. The public is going to be the tougher sell. And then the MLS decision itself is the biggest hurdle (Portland is in competition with Montreal, St. Louis, and Vancouver for an expansion team).
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