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A special Talk of Minnesota call-in related to the Minnesota Citizens Forum on public financing of sports. Program begins with a report summary of forum; then MPR listener’s views are presented.

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Thanks, Perry 6 minutes. Now past 11. Today's programming is made possible in part by The Advocates of Minnesota Public Radio contributors include Cargill supporting Minnesota's tradition of community service and Norwest foundation on behalf of Norwest Investment Services Incorporated. Dang, good morning. Welcome to mid-day on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm very active glad you could join us this fall. Minnesota voters will be electing a new governor. And the odds are very good that Minnesota's next. Governor won't be nearly as gung-ho about sports as outgoing Governor Arne Carlson. Donor Carlson has virtually lived in that Golden Gophers sweater for 8 years. He's been seen regularly at Minnesota sports events. And of course, he led the charge for a new Twins stadium a new arena for the Minnesota Wild and for that matter for public money for the Target Center. So the Timberwolves would stay in town needless to say not everybody has shared his enthusiasm especially for the news sports facilities last while the legislature and the public soundly rejected plans to build a new baseball stadium, but this issue a public money for sports facilities is not clear-cut while the stadium was defeated the legislature a few years ago approved money for the Target Center and then last week of pro. 65 million-dollar interest-free loan to build a new arena for the hockey team. The track record is a little mixed and today on. Midday. We would like your thoughts on what the next governor should say and do about sports facilities Board of the point. What questions would you like to put to the gubernatorial candidates on this issue? We're going to record the program and add your comments to the comments of a cross-section of 40 citizens who were participating in a series of Minnesota citizens forums sponsored by the Star Tribune in Haiti catv in partnership with Minnesota Public Radio and Minnesota journalism Center Forum organizers. Will the Kool-Aid the information passed on at the candidates. So we hope you'll use this opportunity to add your voice to the mix. Give us a call or Twin City area number is 227-6002. 276 Thousand Oaks at the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828. What would you say to the gubernatorial candidates about the use of public Ma? KFOR sports facilities if he or she were sitting in your living room talking with you about the issue. What questions would you put to them last week that citizens Forum got together and Saint Paul to lose the Rochester for a teleconference on the issue of public financing of sports Minnesota public radio's Karen Louise Booth reports on what they had to say Karina in St. Paul Chuck Simpkins of Cannon Falls opposes, the lawmakers decision saying it was a proposal that piggybacked onto other Public Works funding plans. He says the vote was afraid it complete when it was probably some favoritism back and forth you scratch my back. I'll scratch your back and it was put in there and passed so that everybody else runs. They got their other little bills passed and it just seems like I know it's the process of government, but how can you maybe break that down a little bit and make it more issue-by-issue instead of more favoritism kind of the old boy. Backdoor Network beverage in an if Woodbury Express contempt over what is the likely re-emergence of a bill next session to help finance a new twins ballpark if the twins don't move to North Carolina before then she says it's an issue. That won't die despite the fact that public opinion liens against it. She wants a binding referendum on the issue because it feels like we have spoken many times. I many issues not just a sporting Stadium issue and I do not believe that they really listen if they don't like what we say, they bring it back again, and I guess I would like to see what they would say to that question Sandra Coulson of Minneapolis. Wondered what part of no do elected officials misunderstand why when the public spoke so loudly last fall Does the the issue have to be raised again? What is it seems to me that the government to legislators. The governor are not listening to the people. We are not being heard Lisa tubs of Rosemount and Peter wahlstrom of Saint Paul were among those seated around a conference table discussing the issue to their indifference to such funding apparent. They say they wanted they say they need it when I have them pay for it you talk so much about how you need this well pay for it sounds like the ticket price if they don't make the money it's their loss so we don't have to underwrite it. So if it does fail thing as a station be involved in it that the private organization has plenty of money if they would just eliminate some rules that they had to prevent revenue-sharing and perhaps eliminate the antitrust exemption at the enjoy They have plenty of money. The money is there that's that's the clear perception that I have is Joe qpublic other issues that participants raised is the need for a policy on how State money is used for Investments. Others want to know what the gubernatorial candidates will do to further debate over funding for the Arts parks and other recreational projects and they want more citizen input taken into account at the state capitol at the end of the evening participants at the same poll location were asked if they plan to keep up their citizen lobbying on the issue about half of them raised their hands participants are invited by the sponsor a news organization to attend five different forms dealing with issues of Education public financing for sports taxes welfare and crime. The next citizens forum is scheduled for April 30th. This is Karen Louise Booth Minnesota Public Radio or about last week's the citizens Forum on public funds for sports facilities more on that. Turn the clock tonight on Twin Cities public television snooze night, Minnesota program. Check your local listings for the time in your area. That's at 7 tonight. Meanwhile, we would like your comments on public financing of sports facilities will be recording this hour pass it on to the organizers of the public forums. What would you like to ask the candidates for Governor about the use of public money for sports? That's the basic question. What questions would you like to put the governor candidates? Give us a call to 276 thousand is our Twin City area number to 276 thousand. Side the Twin Cities 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 802-422-8280 opportunity to get your voice in the mix John your first glad please thanks for taking my call. What I would like to ask the next Governor or the gubernatorial candidates is what I look at it as a City metro and stayed yd. Specifically what I mean is I think that you know, we have a terrific quality of life here in Minnesota. And one of the reasons we do is we have a very strong metro area and I think that the key to maintaining a strong metro area is maintaining strong central cities and I travel a lot of personal reasons as well as professional reasons and the ball parks that have been built around the country and continue to be built at a very rapid clip have done wonders for a lot of the inner-city areas where they have been built. And so what I would want to know from a gubernatorial candidate is if they're going to have candidly what I would consider, you know, the political courage to Buck public sentiment in respect of trying to get people together from all elements the state and try and get a Twins stadium done. I think it's going to be very easy to say no very easy to let what I consider a Civic asset leave and then I think once it happens every one's can Sit back and realize that we let something go that sparked a lot of enjoyment to people in the state and as importantly we let an opportunity go to strengthen Downtown Minneapolis, which really is the engine of the entire State John. Do you think the factory in a public opinion on this issue? It does seem from all indications that most people just are adamantly opposed to do, you know some using public money for these facilities. I definitely think they should Factor it in but I think that when they Factor it in, I don't think they should take what I would consider these irupe which is to say we're not going to do it all at all. And we're going to let the team leave I think they should Factor it in and try and get to the absolute best possible deal, you know that can happen and when we look at the investment for the wild Stadium as an example on the fact that several key, you know members of the legislature held back for a better deal. I think that was very wise for the public and then at the same time did something very positive. Play Paul, which is really trying to turn around their downtown and added another Civic asset to our state. So I think they should take into account. I think they should get the absolute best possible deal. But I think that they should realize there are going to be times as you know government where we need to spend to invest into the state and I don't think that's all bad like you for your call. Thank you for taking let's move on to our next caller a Greg's calling from Shorewood and your question for the gubernatorial candidates Craig to all of the pools and everything like that that that have conducted by the legislature In The End by the the news media and if it's not my mistake, I think that's what I've seen and heard is the people are tired of paying for everything like this. They're tired of subsidizing sports stuff. It's like our forefathers when they came over from England or it's kind of like taxation without representation. It doesn't seem like our legislators male and female legislators are even listen to I mean I sneak in a 65 million dollar deal and they kind of a kind of each other's throats do that. And if I think the people enough starter kind of tired of that question for the candidates would be what in the people have voiced their opinion and said, you know, we're tired of this retarded subsidizing billionaires. And where can we pay a huge? I mean, they're not going to accept a pittance back and why don't you sit and listen to people, you know, just so much of that goes. I know that's just don't want to seem to listen to us. Go on to another caller Jim. You're up next go ahead place. I think I'm with the majority who believe that there's just too much emphasis on Sports. The test scores are suffering in the schools. You see nothing but the sports-oriented activities outside of schools wear. These kids are not doing their homework. They're too busy competing in sports. I really feel if we're going to compete with Japan and the Orient that we are missing the boat and we had better turn the sports thing down little I'll hang up in and get the reaction at the point here is to get your reaction and get your question for the candidates. Let me let me get you get this from you sir in terms of talking to the governor tutorial candidate about this. Would your objection to the San Francisco in sports extend amateur sports too or just the big pro sports facilities at you hear so much about I would say in general sports are are overly done. I think the competition amongst kids whether it be in the in the ballfields OR hockey or whatever. I think it's misplaced. The competition should be in in the making a living as most people have to do in in educational like the mathematics is suffering engineering is suffering. Everyone is out to make $1000000 as a basketball player or a or a baseball player in this is rather ridiculous because it's such a minut part of our ability to make a living. This money could be more well spent on education and indirect competition with the other countries that were that we're definitely competing against. Thank you, sir. Appreciate the call. In case you're just tuning in the Minnesota citizens Forum sponsored by the Star Tribune ktca TV in partnership with Minnesota Public Radio in the Minnesota journalism Setter biking citizen views on what you would ask the gubernatorial candidates what you'd like to ask Google tutorial candidate about this issue of public money for sports facilities. And if you would like to join our conversation, if you have a question for the candidates, give us a call will record the program in Pasadena for rent for room organizers, a 227-6020 area number to 276 thousand outside the Twin Cities 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 800-242-2828 Wade Glen Place me afternoon. First of all, I think everybody is getting a little carried away by making a distinction between sports and business. It's one the same nowadays if it's the professional sport. And in today's hot topic of welfare reform, you know, when a lot of these politicians are so eager to call welfare recipients lazy freeloaders, you know, when they're removing their medical and food meme Financial benefits, you know, how can the same politicians be so eager to let these millionaires belly at the public trough and what makes it even worse cuz they're not looking for an opportunity. They're looking for even a bigger. Bottom line profit it's just it's actually it's laughable of this is receiving them debate. I mean, it's a private business. I'm a private business owner and you know, I'm not looking out looking for public money to build my place of business and then let me pay taxes on that. It's a private business for profit business. I don't understand what the even argument is and I think a lot of citizens in the states are really asking the same question. Why is this even issue? It doesn't it in terms of talking to the gubernatorial candidates about this then you would suggest to them that they not only should not support public money for sports facilities, but for any kind of private Enterprise, yes, and how do they justify it? When they do I mean these companies have more than enough money to do it and then dinner in return allow these company to turn around their downsizing, you know, so they're either Does cutting jobs entirely or they're offering minimum wage paying jobs that let me talk about this hockey deal. They made it mean it's laughable in that. I do have a question. I wish you had an answer for me. But I guess to give me an answer what can citizens do to stop this deal from going down. I mean, it's 65 million million dollars interest-free. They just give me forgiving 17 if we can use it for 50 days, you know that averages 3.4 million dollars a day for rent plus we don't get the revenue for what type of investment is this for the state, you know, I called the governor's office and ask somebody in their office. I'm a member of a Citizens group anyway, and what type of return are we going to see on this? I mean, I don't see any payoffs for the state and she goes well after about 10 minutes of going around being a rhetorical question. I mean her her standard rhetoric. She said well, you know, all Investments aren't necessarily monetarily. Will be able to go to an NHL hockey game. He can't afford a $50 ticket to go see it. You know, I just so I would ask Governors. How can they justify investing in private companies when I only have garbage cans on my bus stops. Now, let's see some accountability here likes her to move on to another caller from Minneapolis Mitch your turn. Go ahead Place. Yeah, I guess I've been listening to your call and show here and I guess my main question for the Google know the governor of people that are running our is it seems like the you know that we the people always get stuck with the bill and I guess I don't mind it so much but my main key is were always putting it in the city Minneapolis. Now, we're trying to save Saint Paul and raise it since we're the fans and we're paying for it. Why can't we have the stadium where we can enjoy it again such as the old met Stadium put something out in Shakopee. So if you want to barbecue before it When's game work? If you want to enjoy a facility, you can instead of just letting like all the hotels in the bars and everybody else reap the rewards when we the citizens are stuck paying for everything. So your question for the building tutorial candidate has less to do with the use of public money than the the seeming fixation on locating one of these facilities in central City's right? I think the fans and the people wouldn't be upset as much if they're stuck paying for something because you can't control what the house and the Senate all do because everybody wants something you scratch your back. I'll scratch mine, but if the fan is going to pay for it give the fan back what they had before. Thanks a lot for your call. Thank you. Next caller is from Plymouth Audrey. Yeah, thank you for taking my car. I would like to ask the governor elect what they would do really invest in the inner cities and in on schools. I don't believe you know, a new stadium is in our best interest that there is no or very few of Fireball housing areas downtown. You know how many condominiums in that type of high-cost housing but we are not investing in the inner cities through things that people can really afford a new stadium will only bring high prices that only the middle class and the other people can afford and the wages they bring in the people that work at the stadium are minimum wage jobs. There's also a problem of accessibility. I went to the Target Center when it first open. And I never went back again because I'm 62 years old and I have the disability but I and I'm not in a wheelchair but I have trouble climbing up and down if there's a lot of people my age that won't go to the Skatium because it's steps are too high there no railings on the side and they say these things are accessible and they're not so they're not speaking to the needs of all the citizens that pay taxes out here and it's a disgrace when I read what they cut in the budget for the school of special education a bigger more children in the classroom and not we need more teachers and smaller classroom. Actually, they increased spending by 124 million dollars for education, but Is cut the special education down a lot and teachers have been losing their jobs in the last few months and the School of Art Classes. Okay. So use that public money for education and affordable housing things like that and don't spend it on public funds for sports facilities, right? Okay. Thank you. John your next day. What would you ask the gubernatorial candidates in terms of public money for sports facilities? I guess a public funds if the public wants to spend it on the stadium would be fine. But I think that the grades projector picture of our state as our hockey team now States the Minnesota Wild the new name of our hockey team picture of Minnesota to Turner says clean and wild or lakeshore's are becoming more developed in the ruins are being replaced by wet bikes every week. There's a news that's what happened to boil our water or hard famous. Going this a fluid into a stream and I think that we in Minnesota if we're going to keep a projecting our state as a tourist Mecca and some place people want to be we should start investing in wildlands an opportunity for that was the subject of the day. Do you do you see the use of public funds for sports facilities as taking away from money that could be used better for environmentalist issues like that? If people want to Stadium, that's fine, but I think that we've had this large budget surplus and I think that we should do figure out what to do with it. Then we're going to be spending millions or possibly more than that. Then Dykes in the Red River Valley, let's spice and wetlands and maybe we won't need the next after all it's stop the water before it gets to the occasional Wildlife Investments and you'd be willing to support money for a public Stadium then to thanks for your call the place I would like to ask the next Governor what he would do if he or she would go to keep Minneapolis and st. Paul competitive with other Metro areas and if it's necessary to filter money into sports Arenas, I feel like that's necessary at the River Center and the Minneapolis Convention. Center bolt receive large amounts of money, but I don't feel that it's just for sports facilities. I feel that it draws many people here for many reasons and it certainly adds to the culture and diversity of the metro area. And as far as making it accessible both the River Center Minneapolis Convention Center, the Target Center are very accessible by are multiple Transit opportunities that we have here in the metro area. And I I do say I would I would support him if he heard her if they did filter money for the sports facilities. Would you support that candidate if they came out against the use of public money for sports facilities came out strongly against that I think I would because I think he needs to look here. She needs to look at that with an open mind and not to see it as a sports facility. We're talking this hour about what you would like to ask the Google tutorial candidates in terms of the use of public money for sports facilities for the question is one of the questions being posed to Citizens leave Minnesota citizens Forum sponsored by the Star Tribune ktca TV in partnership with the Minnesota Public Radio in the Minnesota journalism Setter Gathering comments from citizens on this issue a specifically what you do what you ask the candidates if they were to appear have magically in your living room. So you have an opportunity to put those questions to them what we're doing this hours recording this program and we will pass the program comments on to the to the organizers of the Forum. So great opportunity to get your specific question in great opportunity way in on this issue. We hope you'll take advantage of a 227 6000 is our Twin City area number to 276 Thousand Oaks had the Twin Cities one. 802-422-8282 276 thousand or one 800-242-2828. And again the issue here is what question would you put to the gubernatorial candidates in terms of the use of public money for sports facilities will get this more collars and just a moment. This week Minnesota Public Radio takes a close look at treaty fishing rights and tribal sovereignty in northern Minnesota everything. I've owned as went into the resort that's been my dream and this comes along and it destroys your dream and I'm not going to take it laying down listen for a series of reports and commentaries weekday mornings at 7:20 on Minnesota Public Radio k n o w FM 91.1 in between cities. Major funding for Minnesota public radio's documentary fund is provided by Phyllis Taylor in memory of Walter stremmel over the noon hour. Today. We're going to be joined by political analysts by Meek and Tom Horner. They'll be here to talk politics in the broadest sense of the word. We'll be talking about the let's see Senator wellstone strip to Iowa. He's down in Iowa this week looking for both. So he's exploring a bid an official bid for president will take a look at the governor's race here in the state of Minnesota delegates have been attending all kinds of conventions forming behind. Some of the candidates will find out how that process is going who's ahead and so on what the candidates are talkin about. We'll take a look back the legislative session and see how that will play out politically this year. It's coming up over the noon hour. And we hope you'll be able to join us making Horner be joining us in the Studio's good chance for showers and thunder showers all day long across the state of Minnesota with highest today fifties in the North mid-sixties in the South the Twin Cities cloudy and Breezy with a high near 65 and a good chance for a shower or thundershower right now. St. Cloud as a cloudy Sky 53 Rochester also cloudy in 53 Duluth cloudy in 55 Hilton with a partly cloudy Sky 66 Fargo cloudy and 51 Sioux Falls sunny and 58th. And the Twin City temperature is also 58° and skies are cloudy this hour. We hope to hear from you the question before the panel today is what question would you put two are gubernatorial candidates if you had the opportunity, what question would you put in terms of the use of public money for sports facilities. We are recording this program and we will pass it on to the organizers of The Middle. Rocitizens Forum to 276 thousand Twin City area number to 276 thousand outside the Twin Cities one. 800-242-2828 Dan your turn evening, Good afternoon. Good afternoon. My question I guess would be if the state politicians or the governor feels that we must use public money to invest in private businesses. Economically, will it make more sense to invest in such large amounts of money in several different Financial Ventures? Don't follow you. You lost me there like the stadium now, they're going to invest 65 million dollars into the stadium. Wouldn't it be smarter to invest such a large amount of money in several different businesses instead of instead of throwing it all into one one business. So you don't necessarily opposed the idea of public money for private business so much is putting all the eggs in one basket correct or a hold on the state. If you don't give us what we wanted to believe and I guess I guess I don't agree with that move on to another caller. John is on the line from Bloomington. Good morning, sir. Good morning to you and my question to the candidates for Governor would be a how to use the referendum. Decide controversial issues is the issue of the stadium and are there are I think God given said well, of course there are arguments on both sides. And in this case. Well, I appreciate the referendum a democratic form. But but in the case of the stadium be a joke because it would be overwhelmingly defeated. And so I would ask when and where should we use the referendum for these very very controversial issues. Do you think what would you advise the gubernatorial candidates in Minnesota should move to a system of initiative and referendum Right. And right now in my understanding is that if you had a Statewide vote on something like this, it would it would not be a legally binding It could only be advisory obviously that is people to pay attention to what you would assume but if we don't have official initiative initiative and referendum in the state of Minnesota, do you think you would urge the candidates to move in that direction are we do have a course on the local with school boards and so forth but not on the state. That's my understanding. I was not aware of that. I well I tell you I I just think that I am I appreciate the referendum I really do and but when things are so inflammatory and so very important doesn't have to be necessarily financing a ballpark. It could be well look at the civil rights for goodness sake in various states that I had they put it to the people it would. Overwhelmingly, I defeated and so therefore I I think that the legislature with the the wards that they do have a still they are more responsible for the citizen radio General there. I just said thank you, sir call let's move on to another call your turn Mark. What question would you put to the gubernatorial candidates on this issue of the using public money for sports facilities, please for the people of state of Minnesota redeveloping old sports facilities for swimming or public used by tennis players for public use my hockey players with in different areas State rather than building professional sports facilities. They are spending some money on that. I suppose the candidates would reply a minimal amount compared to what's going into someone else and the taxpayers are paying for this and they aren't getting the direct benefits that they could use better which would increase the quality of light and also help the citizens in general. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Next caller is from St. Paul Lynde up all your question for the candidates for the government. Give me a trailer of candidates. I have a question concerning the sports Arenas how I mean this as cuz I never listen to the voters, right? How can they justify their actions? When we the voters put them there to represent us? That's all I wanted to ask. What if they said to you while G. We did we voted on that twins. Idiom never got off the ground. I would look at the rest of the people and they did not do a very good job on that either. It's been pretty tentative though the whole time I've been listening to this debate knob for over a year and a half of whatever how long it's been going on that. Our elected representatives really depend on big money to become reelected. This is very discouraging to those of us who don't have the big money and I am also small business person. So your basic question is why don't you listen to the people? That's right. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Bye bye. Next caller is from Wilmer and Ralph. Your question for the candidates question would be worth to such a good investment for the state of Minnesota. Why not just buy the teams and avoid being blackmailed every couple of years by the professional teams. So you would not necessarily opposed the use of public money, but it would need to be to actually purchase the team as opposed to build a stadium for them for having teams in Minnesota. We might as well on them. Okay? Thank you for your call. Let's move onto Betsy who is calling from St.Paul your question for the gubernatorial candidates. That's it. Yeah. I have a question with a family with four children and we make between 30 and $40,000 a year. And my question is how can you offer subsidy for sports stadiums or whatever and make it affordable for people like us I look at the hockey loan and yeah, it went through and they made a good deal. Maybe the best deal they could make But I'm concerned about the cost of sports these days. And actually I'm expecting that what's going to happen with this hockey deal is that it's going to end up the cost world is going to end up falling on the taxpayers of Saint Paul and I would take my husband and kind of laughed and said, well, I guess we could move to get out of this one. We've lived here for almost all our life if there is demand for sports and for stadiums, you know, we've got to have this in with an economic Civic asset then I think we should look at it and do it the drop it down from this macro-level that seems to exist which is number one so far out of our control in terms of the cost of operating something like this and look at bringing it down more to a micro-level. What about Regional Sports? Maybe that's not too expensive, you know, our state is growing in some real Regional areas. And maybe that's good for us and maybe we need to look at how we can provide Sports as a Civic asset more on a regional perspectives instead of sitting under this National Sports agenda, which is operated by such large big money big business big interest and I agree with the one or two calls before about small business, small small our business. There's a lot to that that's where the girl says in our country and I think we'd look at that. So I guess you know, how is this going to be affordable for someone like us because I'm not going to be able to afford those tickets to go and watch these guys, you know, and I'm going to be listening to him in the yard while I'm doing my lawn work on the radio. Would one of your questions then be for the governor candidates. If you're if you're going to support these teams or what would you do to make sure that people like myself could actually go and watch them or if if you can't because it seems to me that there's so much out of States control over this that then instead of saying what we don't have a choice. I think we can be creative and and trade an alternative choice that isn't going to add into sort of the dysfunctional system. That's out there where the only choice that that we have is too, you know, keep playing this game where the money gets funneled into big business and it disappears and someone like myself, you know in my family we don't see the benefits of that in the long run. Okay, put an emphasis moron St. Paul Saints type operation another Calder Audrey. Good morning fun going to keep Sports going, but I don't really think we can afford to just let it go. I think it's been valuable for the kids. I've got a senior in college that's playing ball, and I've always felt he's excelled in school. Annex Building Forts and I've always felt that the kids have to have something fun. I helped them through the dry. Spell the word. What about what about the you so of public money for these big sports facilities that have to go that way. I mean, I'd like to spend my money myself, but I have to go that way and obviously the legislators aren't going to give it back to us if they're going to spend it. I'd rather see if gold for for sports than a progressive State like Minnesota losing. It really makes sense. Thanks for call Audrey. Bob is up next in your question for the gubernatorial candidates on this issue with public money. Yes. I have one, two comments and one question. The question is where is the steel safe for this operation? And we haven't abolish the business cycle and if We do go into a downturn entertainment is going to be on the short end of things and the comment I have I think we're setting a very dangerous is if we let the account of this or the politicians thumb their noses at us after they hurt so loud and clear on the public on this issue. Okay, so I'd like to make a regard the baseball as pure entertainment and I really don't think it's right or ethical for one group of people to pay for another group of people's entertainment make it clear to the candidate that you have no interest in using public money for this purpose. I'd like to make it so I would really like them them to clarify. What are financial responsibility for the stadium is if it fails thanks for call Bob. Next caller is from northern Minnesota been yes. I think a state hockey team is great. But when we have to cut our budget for education and social programs for kids in the disabled. and I'm public Highway funding and An environment. I think we have a problem with that. So your question for the candidates would be is this a demon without affecting the You know that the people of northern Minnesota and the rest of the state. Is there a if there's a way to do it without the cutting back on any of these other programs maybe but otherwise, no, right? You don't win? You know, we can't even afford to finance our programs were collecting comments from those of you listening on what it is that you would ask the candidates about this issue of using public money for sports facilities part of a Minnesota citizens Forum project sponsored by the Star Tribune Kate DCA TV in partnership with Minnesota Public Radio in Minnesota journalism Center. We are recording this program and a we will pass on your comments to the organizers of the foramen. Of course, they haven't asked them onto the gubernatorial candidates pull over the noon hour. Today. We're going to be talking among other things about those gubernatorial candidates political analyst Time Warner and by Meek will be joining us. Meanwhile more listeners are on the line with candidates for our questions rather for the candidates ball. Do you have any offers at the twins think they have they do not have a solid offer any where they are going nowhere. If you getting a research to be to read carefully the College of Jay whiner beer writer for the yard for the trip second question. If you support this thing, why is this even legislative matter? Why not just have one of the legislators who thinks that serve as a consultant to the owner of the Twins and tell him how he can run this operation successfully without taxes in the third thing is is that the use of 65 million tax-free loan isn't that a use of taxpayers money since it's not turning the interest that it should be ready for the general find thank you. Thank you, sir. More questions for the gubernatorial candidates Linda. Mother of four children in my suggestion to the candidates would be to take a parenting class on raising responsible children and then use those techniques and trying to make decisions regarding thing such as professional subsidizing professional sports teams is my feeling that in our family budget. I get lots of requests for my children for various things that they want just the same as the candidates will receive from various parties request for things that they want and I think it's important to be looking at prioritizing where does the money need to go? And then if there isn't money available or it's not a high enough priority for the luxury items friends does a 16 year old that wants a sports car if the money is not there than at 16 year old need to make that happen for themselves and I feel the same way about the sports teams. They're paying their players millions of dollars and if they can afford to do that than they can afford to take responsibilities. Providing themselves with a facility that they can do their trade and play their professional sports that every time I buy a ticket to watch that event that I'm assisting that business and being here just the same as when I buy a theater ticket. I'm supporting that local business in my local community. Thanks for calling back to Eden Prairie we go Chris the kind of things that were spending her money on and if it's a good idea or not. I think one thing lost in the hockey arena, is it Saint Paul is looking to replace the Civic Center. Anyway before there was talk of a Avenue professional sports team and as much as I have mixed emotions about whether the state funds directly or indirectly professional sports, I think of you took a look at the bonding Bill to be alive. Things that could be able to the same kind of scrutiny. Hey know who is benefiting from a Convention Center or or or water park or that I guess there's several things to question. And I think that the arena is not exactly should be the flash point of it all what about the specific issue though of using public money for sports facilities that seems to be such a Flashpoint these days over and above these other projects that get funded or don't get funded about that because I do believe there is a you know, a certain intangible assets, you know, it's difficult to demonstrate the the cost-effectiveness of spending money on these kinds of things but I think that's unfortunate events or the nature would government gets involved with it's difficult to prove that what you spent money on is benefiting certain people in certain ways. And what's an almost impossible to get a cost per dollar value on education. But of course public education is a terrific asset, so it's a difficult thing to explain away and I hope a good Governor could explain things to people in Make them feel comfortable with where the money was going. All right. Thanks, sir, or a question for the considered the cost of the infrastructure associated with putting in a new stadium that issue has never been raised and it's it's a big dollar item for Public Funding dogmatically goes to Public Funding mean they roads in the shower is not working, right? All right, thank you sir. And pant your question for the candidates Place public money should be involved in building. The sports facilities is because we're Minneapolis. Minnesota is in competition with other states and other cities and if we want to world-class city in the world class stayed then Now we have to make that investment and if we can expect that owner of a baseball team to take at $3000000 loss per year and want to stay in the state said metro area is a net out pair to the rest of state if I'm not wrong about that. I mean the money that is generated for the metro area is given its net out. The rest of States. I think that this is just a public investment where the rate of return is in the Public's benefit. It's not something that's just throwing down a sinkhole so to speak thanks for call. Unfortunately. We are out of time. That's all the time we have in terms of taking your media questions for the gubernatorial candidates on this issue of public money for sports facilities program, as we said was recorded and will be passing it on to the organizers of the Minnesota citizens for him now and again, if you'd like to find out more about last week citizens Forum TuneIn 7 Talking idly TCA public TV in the Twin Cities or Newsnight, Minnesota will continue here on midday in just a moment. Minnesota Public Radio invites you to a special evening with national public radio religion correspondent Lynn Neary has won numerous awards for her work as a host newscaster and reporter with NPR join Lynn Neary Wednesday evening, April 15th for exploring the landscape of religious America beginning at 7 at the Macalester College Chapel in St. Paul tickets for the lecture are free and available at Mississippi Market in St. Paul and the Linden Hills Co-Op in Minneapolis. Making Horner are political analyst will be along over the noon hour time now for Garrison Keillor

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