Mad props to the homie AB from the proof on this one.
When you call, you'll speak to a representative and they'll take your message down and deliver it to your elected officials. I'm a shy dude, but to see Chris Paul up in this bitch, it's worth it. Call, voice your support.
Finally a few of our elected officials got off their asses and proposed a bill to fund Seattle Center improvements, which would give us a really good shot at getting Chris Paul/OJ Mayo in a Sonics uniform in the next couple years.
CALL THE STATE LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE AND VOICE YOUR SUPPORT NOW!
Leg. Hotline # = 800-562-6000
But when you call, don't mention anything about basketball. The key to getting this passed is focusing on the other areas of need addressed by this bill. Including:
- JOB CREATION! – Construction, Service, Tourism, Restaurant, etc.
- A dedicated funding source for sorely needed infrastructure improvements at Seattle Center.
- Funding for cultural centers, performing arts, youth recreation and low-income housing.
- The opportunity to remodel a public building (KeyArena) with 50% private money.
- And last but not least… the evil bastard Clay Bennett will officially be on the hook for $30 million to Seattle!
IF YOU WANT A TEAM BACK, CALL 800-562-6000 IN SUPPORT OF SB #6116 NOW!
Some excerpts from the bill:
In a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more … authorized to levy and collect a special excise tax of not to exceed two percent on the sale of or charge made for the furnishing of lodging…
… “capital improvement projects” may include, but not be limited to a stadium restaurant facility, restroom facilities, artificial turf system, seating facilities, parking facilities and scoreboard and information system adjacent to or 15 within a county owned stadium, together with equipment, utilities, accessories and appurtenances necessary thereto.
… for art museums, cultural museums, heritage museums, heritage and preservation programs, the arts, and the performing arts.
… Stadium purposes as authorized under subsection (2)(b) of this section; acquisition of open space lands; youth sports activities; and tourism promotion.
… for the purchase, design, construction, and remodeling of performing arts, visual arts, heritage, and cultural facilities, and for the purchase of fixed assets that will benefit art, heritage, and cultural organizations…
As used in this section, “tourism promotion” includes activities intended to attract visitors for overnight stays, arts, heritage, and cultural events, and recreational, professional, and amateur sports events…
The county shall not lease a public stadium that is financed directly or indirectly by bonds to which the tax is pledged to, or authorize the use of the public stadium by, a professional major league sports franchise unless the sports franchise gives the right of first refusal to purchase the sports franchise, upon its sale, to local government…
The legislative authority of a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more may impose a special stadium sales and use tax upon retail car rentals within the county that are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW…
(Section 6)
Money deposited in a special purposes account under this section may be used only for the following purposes within the county:
(1) Funding tourism promotion as defined in RCW 67.28.080;
(2) Funding youth or amateur sports activities or facilities;
(3) Funding regional centers or performing arts centers, but excluding regional centers or performing arts centers within: (a) Cities with a population of one hundred thousand or more; and (b) Cities described in RCW 35.57.010;
(4) Maintaining or improving publicly owned stadiums or arenas;
(5) Funding community development; and/or
(6) Funding low-income housing.
