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Foes Of Rays' Stadium Plans Say Bidding Is Tainted
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Published: March 6, 2008
Updated: 03/06/2008 06:37 pm
ST. PETERSBURG Opponents of the Tampa Bay Rays' proposed downtown stadium claimed today that the process the city is using to obtain proposals to redevelop Tropicana Field has been tainted, and want the city to start over.
Members of the anti-stadium group Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront, or POWW, told reporters that recent articles about the Rays' stadium proposal in construction and architectural-related magazines and Web sites have created a "chilling effect" on potential bidders.
Former St. Petersburg city council member Kathleen Ford, a lawyer, said the two articles suggest that the Rays and their development partner, Hines, have already been approved as the redevelopers of the 86-acre Tropicana site.
One article appeared in November on a New York-based Web site about green building projects. It states, in part, that the Tropicana site will be transformed into a green building-certified "mixed use residential and retail community that the Rays will develop in collaboration with Hines."
The other article is from last month's Building Design+Construction magazine. It states that Hines has "reached a deal to redevelop the site of the team's current stadium, Tropicana Field … " It also says that the $1 billion cost of redeveloping Tropicana Field and building a new stadium on the downtown waterfront "will be paid for by private investment from the team, Hines and local developers."
The city is still waiting for developers to respond to the request for proposals it issued in January to remake Tropicana Field. The proposals are due March 18.
"How could this be published when the bids aren't even in?" Ford asked. "Whatever is being put out by either the Rays or the Hines organization somehow it's being interpreted in a way that would make the public believe it's a done deal.''
Ford delivered a letter to city council members and City Attorney John Wolfe outlining the concerns and asking the city to reject any bids from Hines or the Rays, or to cancel the bid process and begin again.
Wolfe said he had not read Ford's letter and could not comment on it. Council chairman James Bennett rejected the notion of canceling the bid process. He said the city reserves the right to reject or refuse any or all proposals.
He suggested that Ford, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2001 and may do so again next year, was seeking publicity for political reasons.
Ford also alleged that the Rays engaged in inappropriate lobbying of council members.
She said the T-shirts that Rays President Matt Silverman and Vice President Michael Kalt wore at a Feb. 21 public hearing on the Rays' stadium proposal constituted indirect lobbying of council members. The T-shirts referenced a Web site that promotes the Rays' stadium proposal.
"City council saw those T-shirts with that particular Web site reference," Ford said. "How could that not be considered indirect lobbying?"
Wolfe previously said he was not aware of any inappropriate lobbying of city officials.
Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at cmoncada@tampatrib.com or (727) 451-2333.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( raysfan ) on March 6, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Just cancel the whole thing and continue using the Trop. That's the answer to everyone's problem. I want to still be sitting in my regular seat when 2012 comes around. For once, listen to the fans. Let's keep the Trop.
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Posted by ( cyberpimp11 ) on March 6, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The Trop is the worst stadium in all of major league sports. The city needs to follow through with this deal to help out themselves and the rays.
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Posted by ( raysfan ) on March 6, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well, guess you won't come to any more of our games, cyberpimp. Oh well.
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Posted by ( StPetePilot ) on March 6, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What is wrong with Tropicana Field? No One has addressed this burning question! It's plenty big, has lots of parking, and very easy access. It hasn't been there for a hundred years, and is not falling apart, nor is it dilapidated in any way. What ever happened to stadiums gathering history? There is no room downtown for parking or other infrastructure related to a new stadium. And the proposed plan would be a hazard to navigation for pilots flying into Albert Whitted. Nobody has addressed this deal canceling caveat. Wake up, people and have the Rays stay home at the "Trop."
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Posted by ( GF ) on March 6, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wake up St.Pete. This deal was done a long time ago. They are just trying to make it palatable to you.
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Posted by ( StPetePilot ) on March 6, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Thanks, GF. Point well taken, but how does one make Dog Poo more flavorful?If it looks like Dog Poo, smells like Dog Poo, it probably IS dog poo. And it don't taste very yummy.
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Posted by ( JudyToo ) on March 7, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This deal has been rigged from the start. The Mayor and the City Council have been in on this for over a year. Baker wants to make Crist happy and Crist publicly states that he loves baseball and he loves new stadiums. Our Mayor wants to get to Tallahasee and he sees this as a way to get there, especially if Charlie wins the long shot VP lotterey.
Now here's the capper: all this public hearing and visioning b.s. are just to patronize the citizens, then it will go on the ballot as a referendum. The Rays will spend millions on advertising that will convince the voters this is the solution for everything: taxes will go down, jobs will appear in abundance, a magical wonderland will appear on the Trop site and St. Pete's economy will be booming - all because of a paltry $500,000,000 taxpayer-funded stadium that fills in part of the bay.
Oh, by the way, there's still 20 years remaining on the Rays Trop lease and there's still another $100,000,000 debt to pay off.
At least someone has the courage to attempt to put some light on the culprits. Thank you Kathleen Ford!
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Posted by ( LocalBoy ) on March 7, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Dear GF and others,
While the City Administration and possibly Council may consider this a "Done Deal", it cannot possibly be approved without the citizens approval through a referendum.
Do not let the Ray's and the administration ram this Boondoggle down our throats!
Tell them how you feel at the public forum on April 10th!
It cannot happen unless we let it.
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