No easy wins for stadium panel

ST. PETERSBURG — So far, Jeff Lyash's only decision as head of a coalition seeking a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays is that the group should have nine members.

That launched an immediate round of criticism from those who thought the coalition should be bigger, more inclusive. Imagine the reaction later this year when the group actually talks about the stadium.

The coalition may well yield a more direct and simpler path to a new ballpark than the route taken by the Rays, who desperately wanted a waterfront stadium at Al Lang Field by 2012.

But political observers, civic activists and local elected leaders also caution that the group, either by its organization or actions, could further taint or derail a stadium search already replete with problems. Personal interests could take precedence over the common good. Talks could turn secretive and deals could be cut behind closed doors.

Which path the group takes is very much in the hands of Lyash, the plain-spoken Progress Energy executive selected by Mayor Rick Baker to lead the stadium discussion in place of the baseball club.

Lyash said he understands the armchair quarterbacking he already faces.

"I'm getting input at the checkout line at the grocery store, I'm getting input at the gas pump when I'm filling up my vehicle. I need input," Lyash said. "I'm using that in consideration of how to proceed."

Why nine?

Lyash, who announced Monday the coalition will be called A Baseball Community Inc., believes that a nine-member board straddles the line between having enough members to represent the community and not having so many that it can't remain effective.

He used the baseball team to help make his point.

"The Rays have got a heck of a winning record and they put nine players on the field, and I think with nine board members we ought to be able to do a good job on behalf of that organization and the community," he said.

But with a wide variety of interests to accommodate, creating a board that will be widely recognized as impartial and balanced will be challenging.

A bigger group would have at least made the selection a little easier, said City Council member Herb Polson.

"I'm somewhat surprised by the size," Polson said. "I didn't know what the magic number was, but I thought it would be larger than (nine)."

Lyash has not detailed how he would fill the board, though it's largely assumed that he will seek a geographic balance among members. Balancing viewpoints will be more difficult, said former City Council member and 2009 mayoral candidate Bill Foster.

"People will be wearing numerous hats," Foster said. "You might have someone with a construction and tourism background. The only way to make this happen is that there will have to be utility players."

Other people and viewpoints will be involved, Lyash said. Subcommittees or working groups likely will pool dozens of other people into the coalition's work.

Will Michaels, vice president of St. Petersburg's Council of Neighborhood Associations and president of St. Pete Preservation — two groups that opposed the Rays waterfront stadium proposal — said the subcommittee structure will create the opportunity for more voices to be heard.

"A lot of other people will be involved in the coalition," Michaels said.

Who is in charge?

After the coalition is seated next month, the group faces an even more critical question: Can they persuade the public to accept their recommendation?

Progress Energy, Lyash's company, is one of the Rays' largest corporate sponsors. And Lyash already has said that board members must be open to the idea that the Rays will need a new stadium.

Moreover, since the group will neither be led by a government body nor have government oversight, it will not be subject to open records laws.

Lyash said he intends to make meetings of the group and documents public.

"Everything has to be open to the public," said Darryl Paulson, a political science professor at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg. "The problem before was the Rays in essence knew what they wanted to do and where they wanted to do it, and sort of sprung it on both the city and the county without their input."

The Rays say they will not be formally involved in the coalition's work but will provide guidance and assistance when asked. The city and county expect to play a similar role.

"This coalition means nothing to me. I will minimize it and marginalize it every chance I get," said St. Petersburg community activist Lorraine Margeson. "No one voted to assign a committee led by the second biggest corporate sponsor of the Rays."

Lyash said he hopes to have the coalition seated by Labor Day and that its work will take 12 to 18 months to complete. The group will make recommendations to the city and county on a possible stadium location and a way to pay for it.

But the city and county will retain the final decision, since public tax dollars likely will be involved.

"This is not supplanting the role of government," said CONA's Michaels. "The city and the mayor and the county need to be involved. This is hopefully an assist to the city and county, not replacing the city and county."

Comments

[get-smart]

*** CENSOR ALERT ***
Possible Comment Policy Violation #3,#6,#7
Vulgar/False Attributes/Copyrights/
-------------------------------------

Theme from "You're Gonna Get the 'Shaft'"
As sung by: Mikey & Matt (aka m&m)
Featuring: B.Foster (funk guitar)
--------------------------------

Who's the white private dick
That's a double 'D' battery to all the chicks?
LIASH!
Ya damn right!

Who is the man that would risk his genes
For his nuclear pumping machine?
LIASH!
Can you dig it?

Who's the cat that won't take no crap
Put his hand in your pocket and pull out your jack
LIASH!
Right On!

They say this cat Lyash is one electrifying bad mother...
SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
I'm talkin' 'bout Liash.
THEN WE CAN DIG IT!

He's a corporate man
And no one understands him but his 'Coalition of Nine'
Geff Liash!

[Getting-Dumber-By-The-Minute]

hey all, did you like my song?
anyone that knows show biz thinks I'm half quincy jones & half eddie murphy ... either that or 100% grade a idiot @sshole

but definitely one of the two

[Strength in Numbers]

HEY, how about a better idea --- LET'S PUT TOGETHER A COALITION ON 101 PEOPLE FROM THE AREA!
WE'D SURELY GET A LOT DONE!

[Rick K]

Another terrific article, Aaron. The hits just keep on coming! (for real.)

Two things most interesting to me:

#1. "This coalition means nothing to me. I will minimize it and marginalize it every chance I get," said St. Petersburg community activist Lorraine Margeson.

While Lorraine has not identified herself as a POWW board member, her clearly-enunciated position is what we can expect from POWW, also.

One wonders what would happen if we were trying to build Bayfront Hospital today, where it sits. You just know that Lorraine and POWW folks would be against it.

The second thing that interested me about Aaraon's article (in the print version) was his list of "possible" members of the Coalition. Dicky V. Gotta love that. Thanks for runnin' with my idea, Aaron!

Ha!

[Clear Direction]

Dear Rick K,

Again you seem to woefully misinformed.

I happen to have it on very good authority that the P.O.W.W. position is not, nor has it ever been, one which was anti-baseball or Ray's.

The P.O.W.W. position is and always has been one of waterfront protection and fiscal responsibility concerning the expenditure of public funds.

Mrs. Margeson is certainly free to have her own opinion and to state it freely, however her view is not that of P.O.W.W.

Regarding your remarks about Bayfront Hospital, I and members of my family have supported (through fund raising and service on the foundation board) Bayfront Medical Center for many years! You see Rick, Some of us have been involved in and supported important institutions like Bayfront since the their beginning! It Started as Mound Park Hospital and many of us anti-progress old folks were born there and are still glad to support it.

Clear

[Don Mott]

Dear Rick K. Maybe you should study the history of Bayfront Medical Center. There was already a hospital there. http://tampabay.medicalnewsinc.com/news.php?viewStory=104

[atrulyconcernedcitizen]

Rick K.,

Wow man you need to take a chill pill. Your obsession with POWW has long passed the definition of a delusional paranoid.

It's fine to disagree with someone else's position. Nobody is demanding you support POWW. However the St. Pete Times
poll showed 69% were against your silly "paired proposals."

You can attempt to intimidate, with your incredibly overbearing, arrogant, obnoxious posts...but we all still hear you going wahhhh..waahhh.

[Don in St. Pete]

Rick K., You seem sadly demented by the recent shelving of your paired redevelopment proposals. I happen to know Lorraine is a fine person and has won many awards for service to the City of St. Petersburg. What reason do I have to trust your unfounded raves? Do you really even live in St. Petersburg? Many of us have a problem with assembling a good old boys club to make recommendations to our City Council and BOCC. You see, we've lived this type of garbage before and it always stinks. Myself and many others I've spoken with are not against a centrally located Multi-use facility that would serve more of the citizens of Pinellas County and require minimal public financing. We just object to the master of picking the citizens pockets leading a consortium of like minded individuals, to relieve the taxpayers of their hard earned money with no input or oversight.

[Rick K]

I can't decide when You one-note POWW people are funniest, when you are reading from the script, as Don does at 9:10 pm, or when you are dodging, ducking, dipping, diving and dodging, as Clear Direction does at 3:45 pm.

I mean it's ALL funny. It's so hard to pick a top post.

[Don in St. Pete]

Rick K., I'm guessing that you have zero worth to the community at large then as you failed to respond in a responsible manner. The "script" you are referring to must be the gem tossed by Matt Garza and the timely hits by Hinske and Longoria. Just because you feel the need to spout the paired redevelopment garbage, doesn't mean the rest of us free thinkers can't voice our opposition to your canned histerics.

[You have got to be kidding me]

Clear Direction,

Lorraine Margeson is a steering committee of POWW and she says ""This coalition means nothing to me. I will minimize it and marginalize it every chance I get,". Hal Freedman says "We will do anything to derail this." Does Hal not speak for POWW too?

To say she doesn't speak for POWW just adds to the incredible lack of credibility your group of activists represent. Does Hal "We will do anything to derail this" Freedman not speak for POWW as well?

[Don Mott]

Go Longo, AL rookie of the year! He is the real deal!

[Matthew]

I think if you go back and read the article about POWW that Aaron wrote (in April) you will note that Lorraine is NOT on the steering committe. I think she serves "as counsel." She told me that she specifically wants to be an independent and spend her valuable time supporting environmental concerns. Yes, Hal Freedman is with POWW but not, I believe, Lorraine.

[Little Red Signs]

Matthew at 11:35 PM:

You are 100% correct about Lorraine and Hal.

Additionally, anybody see the Ray's pitcher Garza tonight. All the camera showed was Garza pitching and spitting. Spitting and pitching. Then when Toronto was at bat the camera man focused on Garza, sitting on the bench, spitting and spitting and spitting. It was enough to make me sick. His spit was gross. Ruined watching the game for me.

Makes you wonder just why basketball players don't spit!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Clear Direction]

Dear You Have to be kidding Me,

You are as miss informed as Rick K.

Lorraine Margeson, is NOT nor has she ever been a member of the P.O.W.W. steering committee.

Hal Freedman is a member of the P.O.W.W. steering committee who passionately beleives that the St. Petersburg waterfront should remain open and accessable.

I should also point out that aparrently City Council agrees because they have asked City staff to look into changing the zoning of the Al Lang site from it's current DC-3 to
DC-P. Which is a Downtown Core Park designation.

I hope this helps to clarify things for you.

Clear

[since1962]

Don't give city council too much credit Clear...

They're just trying to save their political hides!

Joe kibickis and the citys 'master parking/traffic plan' is unraveling before our very eyes Downtown, In the Times and on other thread. They all promoted this scheme. And will AGAIN

[Clear Direction]

Dear Since 1962,

I agree that City Council is taking the first steps to rezoning the Al Lang site only because the have received Clear Direction from the citizens regarding their desire to have it Zoned DCP.

And Council finally realizes that they should have done it with the new LDR's.

And that ingnoring the public's input over the wishes of the Mayor and Ray's was a political mistake which may affect the 2009 municipal races.

So yes I do believe the action to be curative.

Clear

[Pella]

Remember everyone, the downtown waterfront stadium proposal has been shelved. At least for the time being.

No time to relax. There is still much to talk about and much to do.

Large crowds are causing major parking problems in an area that was championed as the best parking zone in the City. God help us if this parking dilema evers comes to downtown. It will be real kaos.

As for the Coalition this is a situation which has yet to fully unfold. I suspect many difficulties in its mission and makeup. Too early to comment further.

The community voice was heard over the last few months and that was good. The red signs were seen and that too was good.

Lest anyone think that with the passage of a little time and a new spin placed on the stadium, that significant change will occur in the electorate, well we shall see.