But with a $290 million multi-use building that also will be home to concerts and circuses and various stage shows, and aimed at reuniting the Lower Hill District neighborhood with Downtown, the franchise and the city have made a lasting commitment. (P-G, Robert Dvorchak)Is it aimed there. How's that?
"There are no right wingers. We're all Democrats," Mr. Steigerwald said, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
(Are we. How's that?)
The public, of course, will kick in $7.5 million a year for 30 years in state development funds to help pay off bonds for the $290 million project, while Pittsburgh's forthcoming casino will contribute an equal amount. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who will get a state-of-the-art venue after playing in the oldest arena in the NHL, will also put millions into the deal. (P-G, Edit Board)
$4.2 million.
Our Editorial Board specified the state and casino contributions down to the first decimal, so it's hard to fathom why we need only be aware that the Penguins will contribute ethereal "millions".
It's $4.2 million per annum, or just under 22% of the total. Unless you count fees waived, externals comped, and cost overruns guaranteed. And there's certainly no need to mention the exclusive development rights to 28 acres of prime Downtown real estate. Totally insignificant.
Enjoy your ad revenue.
The coming of a new arena is one more achievement, and it deserves to be celebrated by the entire community.
Oh well excuse us for breathing. Or thinking.
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None of this would have happened if Rendell had not pushed a Plan B, which was his alternative in case the Isle of Capri did not get the Pittsburgh slots license. If IOC was awarded the license, it was going to build an arena at no cost to the Penguins or the public. In presenting a Plan B, Rendell was only doing his job. He was a leader leading. He was in no way attempting to undermine the IOC's chances.
For his good work, he was attacked viciously. People on the radio told lies about him. And for what? For presenting a proposal that made perfect sense. As it turned out, the backup plan was necessary when IOC did not get the slots license.
Rendell looked like a genius, and the people who trashed his plan looked too stupid to comprehend. Some of these media members were at the groundbreaking yesterday. Wonder what they think of Plan B -- which became Plan A and the only plan -- now? That was a mean-spirited time when emotions overruled logic. It's in the past. (P-G, Bob Smizik)
Are you insane, Mr. Smizik.
We do realize that it's not your job per se to fret over government and politics, and that you more than anyone else at your newspaper should be cleared for celebration. So far, so good.
Yet you seem genuinely and completely unaware that tax dollars come from -- well, somewhere! Not trees, not magic beans, not wind turbines! And that this money could have and surely would have otherwise been spent on -- well, other goods and services!
We won't bore you with the nuance of how the ingenious Plan B was crafted allegedly to ensure $350 million in private investment for the surrounding community, to offset Isle of Capri's more expansive project -- only to be lost down the memory-hole of all interested parties, never to be mentioned again in the respectable media. Let's stick to the basics.
Your preference to spend the money on a shiny circus tent rather than safe roads and bridges, health care, education or tax relief is the "emotional" one. "Logic", by most classical Western definitions, would have dictated a hockey arena built with a significantly higher (more equitable?) share of private financing, or maybe no arena at all. OH NO WAIT, WE DIDN'T MEAN IT! PUT DOWN THOSE TORCHES! EYE HEART PITTSBURGH! ALLEEEEEYAAAAAHHHH!!!
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Mario Lemieux says the Penguins never were serious about leaving Pittsburgh.
"It wasn't a possibility," Lemieux said during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for Pittsburgh's $290 million hockey arena.
"We had to do a few things to put pressure on the city and the state, but our goal was to remain here in Pittsburgh all the way. Those trips to Kansas City and Vegas and other cities was just to go and have a nice dinner, and come back." (Trib, Boren & Rossi)
Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you for the journalism.
For commentary that's as good as anything we'd write, see the Slag Heap.
"What's happened is that the Democrats are in a veto-proof majority on council and they're using that veto-proof majority as a weapon, including meeting in secret," Roddey said. "We know that they met. We know that they took a straw poll. It's an abuse of power.
"They went into the public meeting already agreeing to pass the [drink tax referendum] ordinance. It's important because the debate and discussion never sees the public light. They've already decided what they're going to do." (Trib, Bobby Kerlik)
If there has ever been a better day for cold compresses, dry martinis and deep thoughts, the Comet has never known it.
See you in the various comments sections. Do not expect intelligibility.
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