City Council chair Jamie Bennett says he'll vote to move the process along on Thursday

Council chair Jamie Bennett just told Ballpark Frankess that he'll vote to move the stadium referendum process along on Thursday, though he also sounded interested in supporting the proposed Nurse/POWW alternative.

"At this point, I could give it a try," Bennett said. "If that’s what people want to vote for, let’s give them the opportunity to vote for that too."

Bennett said he was aware the dueling referendums could produce confusion, and indicated that a single question outlining both positions may be best.

FWIW: Council member Bill Dudley also is on record saying he supports a referendum on the Rays' plan. No other council member has made their position known (though most expect Herb Polson to vote No on the Rays' question tomorrow).

Comments

[Jimbo]

Finally, a voice of reason in this whole debacle of a vote! Let us have the opportunity to vote, and make it one question, not two separate ones. There's no gray area that way, and that will end the debate, one way or another, forever! Hopefully, the stadium passes, but if not, then I'm glad to see Al Lang won't become another condo!

[Dr_Dug]

Our City Council Sucks. With all the Red flags about the deal and the red signs in voters yard, the elected by the people council members aren't doing thier job. Stop the waste of time and money on a deal that the people don't want......
ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL VOTING YES NEEDS TO GET VOTED OUT OF OFFICE. WE THE PEOPLE WILL BE WATCHING!!!!

[Rag Time]

I didn't know that when I voted for the council I'd get a baseball executive instead. I agree with Dr_Dug.... Our City Council should do as the people wish and look out for the interest of the City. The Rays have a stadium,less than 20 years old, that does sell out with other venues and does seat more than the seating of a new waterfront ballpark.
Vote yes and we'll vote you out!!

[atrulyconcernedcitizen]

Voting is fine! Could we at least have an informed vote? If you really care about the TRUTH simply follow the link to this New York Times article to see how a new stadium worked in another community.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE4D9123FF932A15751C1A9659C8B63

[Rick K]

Yes, by all means, go with Dr. Dug and RagTime.

Their scheme is to intimidate City Council into NOT letting the people decide.

Less than 3% of the City's registered voters live in properties that have a red sign on display.

Some would try to use this "impressive" figure (augmented by their threats here and elsewhere) to discourage the City Council from letting the people decide.

I say we should all get to decide each and every issue of this nature, after one year of public consideration, starting after whatever proposal is first announced.

[Makes no difference]

You know what, combine them, fine. The public will overwhelmingly vote against the stadium and at the same time prevent the Rays from ever trying to put a stadium there in the future. Brilliant!

[atrulyconcernedcitizen]

Rick K

I keep waiting for your response to the article detailing Milwaukee's experience with the Brewers new Miller Park.
Remember Rick that this morning Aaron quoted Selig as saying ""Once a stadium's up, there isn't a city anywhere that's disappointed." But if you read the article in the following hyperlink you'll see Wisconsin State Senator Mike Ellis , ''The Seligs just scammed the living dickens out of the people of this state.'' I guess that depends on the steroid king Bud Selig's interpretation of disappointment. LMAO
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE4D9123FF932A15751C1A9659C8B63

[Rick K replying to TrulyConcerned]

I just posted my response here.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/ballpark/2008/06/nurse-limit-al.html#comment-117488294

And I will add that I find it interesting that you are so desperate to find supporting facts that you are now claiming that one state senator is the same as "a city".

[Will Ferrell]

Cowbell, or STFU!

[Thomas]

I put on my pants one leg at a time, just like you.

But once my pants are on - I make gold message boards!

Say it baby!

[T. Wallace]

I grew up in St. Petersburg. I watched the Dome go up, I watched the Lightning play in the dome on multiple occassions and I have seen the Rays play in the dome also on multiple occassions. I heard a rumor that if we do not pay for this new WATERFRONT STADIUM then the Rays will be moving to Orlando, I do not know if this rumor is true, however whether it is or not, I say.......LET THE RAYS MOVE TO ORLANDO!! I mean why not??? The Lightning moved to Tampa and we don't miss them much at all so what is the problem??!! All you Floridians deserve to spend your tax money on more important things than another stadium especially consdiering that the Dome is STILL NOT PAID OFF!!!
My prayers & support go out to all of you...
Issues like this is why I no longer live in Florida!

[Truth Detector]

Steve Lange described here. He lied saying that he resigned in another blog but he was re-writing his own history. He's here for political gain only. It's also very telling about his approach/personality. You should know he is leading this charge.

See the article below for yourself
____________________________
North Shore chief ousted

The new president calls it a "sad day" after breaking a tie and voting to remove the association's chief in the midst of a development controversy.

By ANDREW MEACHAM

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 5, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Acting on the request of its membership, board members of the North Shore Neighborhood Association voted Monday night to remove president Steve Lange after only a month in office.

Greg Burton, the association's vice president who led most of the meeting, broke a 5-5 tie on the motion to remove Lange. Burton will be North Shore's new president. Lange will continue as a board member.

The decision was not automatic.

Several board members in the 90-minute meeting argued for another general meeting so that more of the membership -- particularly Lange's supporters -- could weigh in, but that proposal failed. The motion to remove cited a Florida statute that allows boards of non-profit organizations to remove their leaders with or without cause.

"I'm disappointed," Lange said after the vote that ended the meeting. "I think it's an embarrassment for North Shore."

Lange, an architect, had served as president in 1991 and led numerous neighborhood projects since then, including landscaping along Fourth Street and founding North Shore's Historic District Committee in 1997. But within two weeks after assuming leadership because Joyce Frey resigned at the end of May, Lange was coming under fire from residents who accused the new president of having divided loyalties.

Lange supported the controversial development of a new CVS drugstore at 845 Fourth St. N, the current site of Watson's Foodtown. At an emotional membership meeting June 19, residents produced a postcard from Lange to City Council members, one of many such cards distributed throughout the neighborhood by CVS proponents. Lange had also spoken as a citizen on behalf of the development before the City Council, which voted 5-0 to approve rezoning the project needed. That meeting ended with a 31-9 vote to ask the board to seek Lange's resignation.

The board meeting focused more on Lange's personality and pugnacious leadership style. In a brief statement to open the meeting, Lange said he was being punished for backing CVS, a development North Shore residents had packed the City Council meeting to oppose.

But even he acknowledged some "loss of control" in the membership meeting he chaired, which he attributed to the antagonistic mood of the meeting.

Donna Fudge, Lange's attorney -- and wife of real estate broker Felix Fudge, who engineered the CVS sale -- told the board that ousting Lange would not end the controversy. More than 50 North Shore members, including six past presidents and several former board members, had signed a petition calling for another membership meeting in the event the board removed Lange, she said.

"What happened tonight is like firing your star quarterback after he's led you to the Super Bowl, just because he threw an interception in the third quarter," Fudge said.

In breaking the tie vote, Burton called the petition by Lange supporters a tactic to intimidate the board. Such a move, he said, was evidence that "we need someone else at the helm, and I wish it weren't me."

"It's an extremely sad day," he added.

[So what?]

You know, truth detector, you may have a point but the real point is, POWW or no POWW, Steve or no Steve, 68% of people in this city think the stadium plan sucks.

Not much you can dredge up to dispute that.

[Ray F]

So What,

68%???

Was there a vote already??? How can you say 68% of the people in the city when the city never voted???

...or maybe I slept through it.

[Ray F]

ya know 94.37% of statistics that come off the cuff are made up on the spot

[Read the paper]

Here you go, Ray:

"But 68 percent oppose the Rays' complex stadium and redevelopment plan..."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article562778.ece

[Thomas]

100% of Blue Oyster Cult hit songs featured 33% cowbell.

[Taylor]

Read the paper... a poll is NOT a vote. The city has NOT spoken. So now we're back to not wanting people to have a vote? Earlier in the day it was "yes, let's vote... but on two ballot initiatives so we can confuse people" but now it's back to just no vote.

And I keep on seeing people say that the Trop has a higher seating capacity than the proposed new stadium. The trend in stadium development is to build stadiums with less seats to artifically create demand... so of course that's what the Rays are going to do.

[Ray F]

thank you Taylor... i thought I was going crazy because I could've sworn that he said 68% of the people in the city... oh wait he did...

"You know, truth detector, you may have a point but the real point is, POWW or no POWW, Steve or no Steve, 68% of people in this city think the stadium plan sucks."

That's what he said... he didn't say 68% of the 601 people surveyed said it.

whew

[Hard to swallow]

It's called a scientific poll and it is given credibility for a reason a-holes. I have no doubt if the numbers were reversed you'd be talking about the poll non-stop.

Must have been like a punch in the stomach when you saw those numbers. Can't wait until the actual vote, wish I could line you all up and see the looks on your faces when the results are read and there's no more twisting and slithering for you slimy spinsters to do.

Spin, spin, spin, we're still gonna win!

[Taylor]

Polls said Hillary was going to lose New Hampshire, too...

[Ray F]

...so you want to line up people who supported a cause that was voted down and basicly laugh in their faces???

that sounds real mature...

are you going to put your thumbs on your forehead while taunting with the always popular NAH-NAH-NEE-BOO-BOO???

I think that would follow suit with your muturity level. I hope the results don't come during recess or nap time because you might have to get your mommy or daddy to let you know what happened after you get off the school bus.

[Ha!]

Taylor, scientific polls showed Hillary trailing 68%-19%?

Ray, sounds like you're sweating a bit. Guess you're readying yourself for what you're gonna say after this thing bombs at the polls.

[Ray F]

I'm not readying myself for anything. I look at it as a good thing for the city. I will vote based on that. I have a neighbor who has completely different views on it than me. She will vote based on that.

Do you think I will run across the street and rub it in her face if the stadium is approved? NO. Do I think she will run over to me and rub it in my face? NO. Because civil people don't act that way.

3rd graders act that way. I am 1 vote. I have nothing to sweat over. I have a sign in front of my house. I don't go to meetings. I don't go door to door spreading the word. I will show up at my designated polling site to voice my opinion like thousands of others and accept that as doing all I could do.

I didn't vote for Bush either time, but I'm still here.

[Hard to swallow]

Ray, you have a valid point.

I'm not a mean-spirited, uncivil person. My point was that there is a lot of trash talking done in these blogs (maybe not so much by you) and I for one would like to see the looks on all the pro-stadium trash talkers faces when they learn that this deal was voted down.

That's all.