tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post9054422697793527798..comments2023-10-16T03:27:54.609-07:00Comments on new A's ballpark: Lew better have a thick skinMarine Layerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-54589892450300213782009-03-30T18:03:00.000-07:002009-03-30T18:03:00.000-07:00Anon 1:09PPut down the crack pipe - this spells GA...Anon 1:09P<BR/><BR/>Put down the crack pipe - this spells GAME OVER in OAKLAND and GAME OVER for Giants T-RIGHTS. The GIANTS are right now hovered over the fireplace, wringing their hands, trying to put a number on their last ditch effort to get some money out of this.<BR/><BR/>Here comes the Wool over your eyes Oakland beeeatches.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-43978993179312717142009-03-30T13:09:00.000-07:002009-03-30T13:09:00.000-07:00It sounds like it's not over for Oakland after...It sounds like it's not over for Oakland after all...<BR/><BR/>Commissioner appoints committee to study Oakland situation<BR/><BR/>http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090330&content_id=4090416&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-26807122994234352172009-03-30T13:03:00.000-07:002009-03-30T13:03:00.000-07:00anyone talking about the new poson the chron?http:...anyone talking about the new poson the chron?<BR/><BR/>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/athletics/detail?blogid=21&entry_id=37702<BR/><BR/>about MLB making a committee to look into a new stadium for the AsUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479778667366453088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-46484867850197631832009-03-30T12:01:00.000-07:002009-03-30T12:01:00.000-07:00Bravo!!Bravo!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-65700635144431291932009-03-30T09:24:00.000-07:002009-03-30T09:24:00.000-07:00On the flip side-http://www.mercurynews.com/topsto...On the flip side-<BR/><BR/>http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_12014554<BR/><BR/>Now might be the BEST time to build anything.<BR/><BR/>From the article I linked above:<BR/><BR/>On the carpool lane project on Interstate 680 from Fremont to Milpitas, the three contracts awarded last month totaled about $88 million — compared with the $136 million Caltrans anticipated. <BR/><BR/>Fremont BART extension is estimated at $200m. What do you think it will really cost?Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14086938574207856042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-62280730465064210422009-03-30T08:59:00.000-07:002009-03-30T08:59:00.000-07:00Ray's strongest point is this:"It seems to me that...Ray's strongest point is this:<BR/><BR/>"It seems to me that even when the economy rebounds in however many years it takes, the debts run up over past years, not to mention whatever money the state tries to take from local development funds, must first be dealt with."<BR/><BR/>The time it takes for monetary workout after the recovery could throw a monkey wrench into Lew's plans (or at least a delay). I largely agree with ML's post about the current economy being overplayed. But let's keep in mind that the money spigot (ie: construction bonds and lending) isn't going to be turned on full blast right away. Will Lew be in position to wait it out? I certainly hope so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-85006286347653027232009-03-29T21:29:00.000-07:002009-03-29T21:29:00.000-07:00Ray 9:31AApology accepted. Mix in a salad and a r...Ray 9:31A<BR/><BR/>Apology accepted. Mix in a salad and a real story with facts next time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-16968693532491186592009-03-29T20:39:00.000-07:002009-03-29T20:39:00.000-07:00Hey, Rabbit Ears Ratto reads this blog. Wow!Hey Ra...Hey, Rabbit Ears Ratto reads this blog. Wow!<BR/><BR/>Hey Ray let's hear your take on the Fisher wants to screw Macgowan story. Now that's a story. Come on, let's hear it.<BR/><BR/>Also, your analysis of the current SJ City Council and County of Santa Clara Sups is completely outdated. Don't be surprised if you start hearing some very aggressive politiking coming from all the politicos in Santa Clara County, including but not limited to those mentioned above and the remaining mayors and council within SC County limits. Talk about bad PR....I can hardly wait for the Neukom/Baer's idiotic response.<BR/><BR/>Come on Ray, let's hear it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-76209548457136757532009-03-29T20:19:00.000-07:002009-03-29T20:19:00.000-07:005:03, why don't you stop teasing us and just call ...5:03, why don't you stop teasing us and just call Wolff an outright racist? That's where your ridiculous extrapolations are headed, right? Now he's not simply leaving Oakland, he's forsaking "inner cities?" We all know that code...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-4921025883891218562009-03-29T18:06:00.000-07:002009-03-29T18:06:00.000-07:00Hey Anon 5:03---putting people to work with the $5...Hey Anon 5:03---putting people to work with the $500M benefits the Bay Area--not just SJ or Oakland---I don't think that construction workers live only in SJ-<BR/><BR/>Grow up man---your like a little kid throwing a tantrum--the victim mentality gets old---Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-32798665024707087762009-03-29T17:03:00.000-07:002009-03-29T17:03:00.000-07:00Yes, 500 million would go along way in helping Oak...Yes, 500 million would go along way in helping Oakland's economy. That's another thing that gets me. Oakland gives labor for 40 years and when it's time to make a 500 million dollar investment, the neighbor down the street gets to profit. Don't you think Oakland's economy needs that 500 million dollar investment more than San Jose? And what about the lie that MLB is interested in inner city communities? Lies, all lies. MLB is interested in the fat cats from Los Gatos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-56840574012304774302009-03-29T16:22:00.000-07:002009-03-29T16:22:00.000-07:00"The average person in the Bay Area doesn't give a..."The average person in the Bay Area doesn't give a fig about Lew Wolff, or, his little pursuit of his little boutique ballpark just so that he can have a parade go by his empty hotel in San Jose."<BR/><BR/>What makes you think his hotel is empty, other than your childish urge to take a potshot at San Jose? Wolff is not from the South Bay so there is no inherent bias in his actions. He merely wants to do business there. If SJ was not viable, he would not be making a push for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-7225509561015386572009-03-29T15:19:00.000-07:002009-03-29T15:19:00.000-07:00Anon 1:17- the average person in the Bay Area coul...Anon 1:17- the average person in the Bay Area could care less about a ballpark in the bay area.....tell that to the 25% of union construction workers who are out of work right now---and see if they agree with you---from an economic development perspective pumping $500M into a construction project and putting people back at work to help restore the economy is a priority!<BR/><BR/>Think its time that you woke up--not LW--Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-48061746936509933982009-03-29T14:57:00.000-07:002009-03-29T14:57:00.000-07:00Anon 2:21- ever heard of Clay Bennett and the Seat...Anon 2:21- ever heard of Clay Bennett and the Seattle...I mean OKC Thunder? Good luck finding an ownership group that will buy the A's and keep them in Oakland---unless you find a deep pockets philantropist willing to take it in the shorts by staying in Oakland..other than that no one else is going to make the business decision you hope for.<BR/><BR/>Funny how you refer to "his cagey" talk about SJ while others are trying to nail him for being too forthright about wanting to move to SJ---if your an A's fan that wants them to stay in the Bay Area your hoping that Wolff is successful---otherwise the Giants will prevail and make us a single team---which would be a real crime from my perspective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-32490447743287228112009-03-29T14:21:00.000-07:002009-03-29T14:21:00.000-07:00I was a fan of Lew Wolff from the beginning but am...I was a fan of Lew Wolff from the beginning but am now growing very weary of his bluster about Oakland having zero options available and now all his cagey talk about San Jose etc... <BR/><BR/>At this point I wish Wolff would sell the team to someone who has Oakland and the East Bay as a priority. Are their options available right now? No, not with the economic situation as it is. But the future is not the present and I think Wolff would do well to STFU, wait and see exactly what the Raiders are doing in the next 2-3 years and then make a plan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-24462661509842623812009-03-29T14:08:00.000-07:002009-03-29T14:08:00.000-07:00anon 1:17,leaving a deformed Football stadium for ...anon 1:17,<BR/>leaving a deformed Football stadium for a baseball only stadium IS a priority. comparing MT. Davis to Fenway is apples to oranges...cmon now!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-83417966863967199102009-03-29T13:28:00.000-07:002009-03-29T13:28:00.000-07:00Anon 1:17-Fenway's a dump? WTF are you smoking? ...Anon 1:17-<BR/><BR/>Fenway's a dump? WTF are you smoking? Oakland by any reasonable standard is an outdated relic that doesn't serve baseball nor football well.<BR/><BR/>And of course you bring up the economy again---why should you care what LW wants to do with his money or anyone else's money---bottom line--open up SJ and let LW decide how he wants to invest his money---but quit hiding behind that it is a horrible economy---and therefore nothing should happen---for some people a horrible economy is an ideal time to invest--Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-25083409235790057972009-03-29T13:17:00.000-07:002009-03-29T13:17:00.000-07:00Anyone who thinks that a ballpark in San Jose in t...Anyone who thinks that a ballpark in San Jose in this economy will be viewed as a "priority" is smoking some good stuff. The problem here is that Lew Wolff has an unrealistic and exaggerated view of his importance to society at this point in time.<BR/><BR/>The average person in the Bay Area doesn't give a fig about Lew Wolff, or, his little pursuit of his little boutique ballpark just so that he can have a parade go by his empty hotel in San Jose.<BR/><BR/>Wake up Lew, this is not a high priority issue at this time. Shut TFU, put a decent team on the field in Oakland, and play baseball. You exaggerate the denigration of your ballpark in Oakland. You want to see a real dump, go to Boston.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-14882487891854619412009-03-29T12:35:00.000-07:002009-03-29T12:35:00.000-07:00Couldn't disagree with Ray more---LW has shown lon...Couldn't disagree with Ray more---LW has shown long term committment to making it happen for the A's in the Bay Area--and like Zonis said San Jose has done a significant amount to be ready in case the call was made. To use what happened in SJ back in 1992 and say that this reflects upon SJ today is a joke--how many times did SF defeat ballpark measures and low and behold they were able to build one-<BR/><BR/>What would be refreshing from someone like Ray who has trashed everything that LW has tried to do-whether it be Fremont or SJ--is to promote the SJ solution---which is very similar to what the Giants did in SF---or is Ray one of the ones that would love to undermine the A's to get them out of the Bay Area leaving only the Giants---humm--I am pretty sure I know which way he leans--Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-33764591918844284322009-03-29T10:41:00.000-07:002009-03-29T10:41:00.000-07:00Ray, you can not say that San Jose has done nothin...Ray, you can not say that San Jose has done nothing to facilitate a team eventually moving to the city-they have done a lot, the chief of which is to acquire the land needed for a stadium as well as complete the EIR, the two biggest obstacles to a team moving to San Jose, baseball or otherwise.<BR/><BR/>Also, I doubt that Public Financing will be brought into the discussion. I think the most likely form of that we'll see will be something in the form of a tax break, or the City being given control of the stadium with the A's receiving a very cheap 30 year lease.Zonisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-7829106494945756102009-03-29T10:21:00.000-07:002009-03-29T10:21:00.000-07:00Appreciate the nod. My quip about gameday spreads ...Appreciate the nod. My quip about gameday spreads was not intended to focus on anyone's weight - I'm not one to talk as I have a few extra el-bees - it was to take a jab at <I>freeloading</I>. That's neither here nor there.<BR/><BR/>The argument comes down to looking at a political reality from two different angles. Some look at San Jose and think the uphill battle will come with selling the idea of a ballpark with some amount of public money baked in. I look at that idea as a complete nonstarter thanks to the city's charter and now the economic situation. If the City and the A's are foolhardy enough to pitch such an idea, they do so at their own peril and it will be roundly defeated. The principals have to be aware of this since they were here when the charter was changed and were present through the Arena's construction and the defeat of the Giants stadium proposal. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, if they want to come up with a creative means to get this done without public money, then it should be reviewed without prejudice. Mayor Reed has even shown his preference for a public vote even though it may not be required just so that the result has the will of the people behind it. Do Wolff/Fisher have the will to tough it out through that political battle? Only they know that for sure.<BR/><BR/>IMHO, Wolff's had a championship parade route running by the Fairmont San Jose in mind since he was hired by Schott/Hofmann, and he wants to see it through.Marine Layerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-55708148177100063602009-03-29T09:31:00.000-07:002009-03-29T09:31:00.000-07:00Enjoy the blog very much; very thoughtful and reas...Enjoy the blog very much; very thoughtful and reasoned analysis in mmany ways. But my weight and current employer notwithstanding, I think there is a larger point here, and that is that San Jose's electorate and political hierarchy have never shown much fascination beyond lip service with the idea of any baseball stadium in the town or even the county. It seems to me that even when the economy rebounds in however many years it takes, the debts run up over past years, not to mention whatever money the state tries to take from local development funds, must first be dealt with. In addition, the notion that even partially public financing of stadiums typically benefits the team more than the city (a lesson learned hard in Oakland with the Raiders) remains a huge stumbling block in many voters' minds, which is why Sacramento is resisting the Kings, their onmly pro team, so much.<BR/><BR/>Whatever motives you wish to ascribe to Fisher and Wolff (and I agree the stick-it-to-Magowan-angle is underplayed here), I still think San Jose is a harder nut to make than merely the immediate economic problem, and that there is a greater likelihood of Fisher and Wolff, unwilling to wait as long as it is going to take for such a project to win hearts, minds and wallets, looking to sell when times get better than trying to sort out the thicket of San Jose electoral politics.<BR/><BR/>And I certainly wish to apologize to anyone for not being in better shape.Ray Rattonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-83567606055338037512009-03-29T00:13:00.000-07:002009-03-29T00:13:00.000-07:00The Fremont plan was long term. 10 years of develo...The Fremont plan was long term. 10 years of development. They were trying a new form of stadium financing. The bubble burst and undercut the plan. Not many economists truly saw this coming, let alone developers. There are plenty of things to blame on Lew, most of them PR related. The bubble isn't one of them - most of his development projects are hotel and commercial, not residential.<BR/><BR/>As an aside, while I know Lew reads the blog from time to time, I have no idea if he reads comments.Marine Layerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-72702557388426151482009-03-28T23:50:00.000-07:002009-03-28T23:50:00.000-07:00Watching a little to much Flip This House Lew? Hey...Watching a little to much Flip This House Lew? Hey Wolff, if youre so damn good at longterm thinking, why couldnt you see the bubble bursting. Whyd you try to play Flip That Commercial Property? Long range my BUTT, he had the foresight of an over zealous first time home buyer 3 years ago. He was even asked during the Nov 2006 press conference about the possibility of the deal not working and his answer was snarky as hell. He said something like "what if prime goes to 9.5, I dont deal in what ifs, the reason its going happen is because its good for the community" Probably shouldve dealt in some what ifs, and he probably shouldve taken a damn vote. <BR/><BR/>Hey Lew, check this out dawg. You watched strike one on Oakland, you swung hard and missed on Fremont. Your next move better be a hit, or you're OUT. Back to the minors.Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08644489741342993402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-5469225823198744502009-03-28T23:16:00.000-07:002009-03-28T23:16:00.000-07:00ML---agree about the overuse of the economy card b...ML---agree about the overuse of the economy card but disagree with you that nothing is gonna happen for several years---lots of shovel's in the ground are required to get a site in order--roads moved, utilities relocated, infrastructure in place, etc---may not be the actual footings for a ballpark but none the less will be the inital phases of the ballpark development and it will definetely happen sooner than later---provided that the T-rights issue is resolved in a timely fashion-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com