Blogging Black Miami

Part 1: Florida Marlins’ misled public in stadium deal?

The Marlins’ refusal to disclose the organization’s financial position should have been a deal breaker in the public financing request for their stadium but it wasn’t. Now, the outrage over learning the Marlins misled the public is ludicrous. By approving the deal without the Marlins' financial position, our elected officials were complicit in this charade. Shame...shame...shame.

 

Posted on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010

Outrage simmers over Florida Marlins' stadium deal

By ADAM H. BEASLEY AND CHARLES RABIN

Revelations this week that the Florida Marlins had turned a $37.8 million profit at the same time they were negotiating a sweetheart stadium deal has some elected officials and a local activist charging the team misled the public during the contentious, drawn-out debate.

``[The idea] is horrible and the financing is even worse. And now you see they took us for a ride,'' said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, who voted against the stadium plan that ultimately secured city and county funding.

As the Marlins made their final push for a retractable-roof stadium in Little Havana in early 2009, team president David Samson framed the issue as a struggle for the franchise's existence.

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Part 2: Marlins' Samson is not going down alone

Posted on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010

Florida Marlins' president: Officials knew about profits

By ADAM H. BEASLEY

As the outcry grew over illuminating team financial statements made public this week, Marlins president David Samson said Wednesday that city and county officials were aware of the ballclub's relative health during negotiations for a publicly funded baseball stadium.

But that stands in contrast to statements made this week by several Miami-Dade commissioners, as well as those of a county official speaking on behalf of Mayor Carlos Alvarez.

Appearing on 790 The Ticket on Wednesday evening, Samson said the leaked documents -- which first appeared on Deadspin.com--indicating the team turned a $49 million profit for 2008 and 2009 should have come as no surprise to elected officials who negotiated the $642 million stadium deal.

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Mayor Regalado questions hiring practices on Marlins Stadium project

If you recall all the hoopla about the Marlins Stadium construction, there are concerns about the number of jobs promised from the project. New Mayor Tomas Regalado is calling on the inspector general to investigate. Check this out: 

Miami Today: Mayor Regalado protests what he calls lack of local jobs on Florida Marlins ballpark construction

By Risa Polansky

Proponents pitched constructing a new, retractable-roof Marlins ballpark as a local jobs generator. As the largely publicly funded stadium rises on the site of the old Orange Bowl in Little Havana, Miami's new mayor says he's not seeing it in practice. (Read more...)

Black Business Compact with Marlins is Dead [POLL]

OK, what really happened?  I was in a meeting earlier this evening and received a text message that the compact between the Marlins, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce and Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP is dead.

Miami-Dade County Attorney Robert Cuevas indicated he would not sign-off on the agreement because it was in violation of the law regarding set aside agreements. Commissioner Carlos Gimenez commented that he would not support the agreement because although the Marlins organization is financing a portion of the construction, it is their (the County's) project and the agreement is illegal.