Council chairman meeting with Rays right now

This tidbit from colleague Cristina Silva: City Council chairman Jamie Bennett is right now meeting with Rays senior vice president Michael Kalt. Presumably, the two are talking about a potential financing package for the $450-million ballpark.

Bennett (pictured) has been an interesting character in all of this. When news of the stadium first spread, Bennett sounded like a supporter. Here he is quoted in a November story about the project.

• "They've done their homework," Bennett said. "And from first blush, it seems like it could work."
• And on the stadium design: "If you look at it from the side, you can see through it," said Bennett. "It's not an obtrusive, big object."

Now, his tone is much different. Though the details of the proposal haven't changed much, Bennett now seems quite skeptical of the plan. The prospective 2009 mayoral candidate last month had this to say:

• "We need to ask, 'Is this in the best interest of the city?' " Bennett said. "We need to start asking these questions today. Right now, I am not so sure. This is a horrible time to be talking about selling real estate. It is a rough time to be talking about taxes."

What will he say today? Hopefully, we'll find out soon.

Comments

[Jon McPhee]

Aaron, I'm working in health care now and have not had time to study government-in-the-sunshine and open-meeting law in Florida. Just curious: Other than the appearance of impropriety of a little sidebar between the Council chair and the slick Mr. Kalt, is there nothing legally wrong about such a meeting? In the states where I did legal work, this kind of thing was actionable. Maybe Florida is different in that way too, but I would like to know. I'll pose the same to Mr. Troxler.

[Chris Jenkins]

Can someone tell me where all my posts went? More than half of them are gone. Mr. Sharockman, has their been some sort of database issue in your system? I understand doing some clean up of the impostors, and those who were simply flinging ad hominems, but my posts were on point, fairly neutral in tone regarding the opposition as people, and always came from the same email address and IP address. However, I've noted about ten so far that are simply missing. Can you advise?

[Thor]

Poor poor little Chris Jenkins. Wa wa wa, "My posts are gone Uncle aaron, where did they go?" Chris, Thor believes you have lost your mind. No one but you is keeping track of your posts. Did you ever think if your posts were good, funny and had a point, they would still be on this puny little blog site. Your stuff has been trite and un impressive, Thor knows this as does your Uncle Aaron. So please Chris, Thor asks either get creative, or stop blogging and please stop running to your uncle Aaron. Its un becoming of you. Now as for that nice little stadium, thor says Let's Build it! What a cute little sign in Thor's window. Chris if you want one, just visit www.majorleaguedowntown.com
Thor has spoken, Thor is wise, Thor is brave, Thor is so very cute.

[Paul]

You need your mouth washed out with a bar of soap Thor. Get some manners.

[flipflop bennett]

this guys gonna do what ever is in the best interest of...himself...period

he's a friggin politician, bottom line.

[David B.]

I have lived in St. Petersburg most of my life. I was here when they built the White Elephant (Tropicana Field). I believe it is the MOST COSTLY DOME ever built before hosting its primary tenant (Rays – baseball).

I know many of the back door dealings from the past, including the fact that then councilman Bond voting for the proposal while actually being a part of buying the old Plant that is the site of the stadium. St. Petersburg is becoming as corrupt as Washington D.C. and it is a shame. A city that wants baseball more than bringing better jobs to the area is not what we need here. I am tired of corrupt politicians (Current Mayor Baker – A horrible driver by the way) who look out for themselves and NOT the constituents they serve.

Look at what jobs the area has to offer, and then look at other (REAL) major league cities. You will see exactly what we lack. We have a divided city both economically and ethnically.