By Steve McGourty

May 19, 1995

I do not want my taxes raised to support a new baseball stadium in Seattle. I am not involved in sports and particularly dislike baseball (it's boring). If a new stadium is needed then let the sport pay for it, not the general public. If the rich cry baby extortionist (both owners and players) and the devoted fans can't come up with the money for a new stadium then it is clearly not needed.

Like any business, baseball (and it is a business, don't kid yourself) should support itself and not expect handouts from the various regional governments. If this region's fans can't generate enough attendance to keep the team here and pay for the new baseball palace then they are getting what they deserve.

Wasn't it only two years ago that the Mariners got big tax breaks so they would stay in Seattle forever? Now here we are again hearing that they will leave if they do not get a new stadium. As a tax payer, I am tired of being blackmailed by sports teams. Everytime they get a new and bigger tax break we the people get less return on our investment and end up with higher individual taxes. I for one say if they can't make on their own merits let them go.

In this time of shrinking government it is absurd to expect new tax dollars to support a sports facility, especially when schools and roads need those dollars much more. Doesn't it make more sense to give our kid's a better education, rather than an open air stadium that less than 20% of the population will use? Lets hope fiscal sanity prevails and our taxes do not go up so that baseball millionaires can keep more of their profit.

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