Uh, because we already have said tax on the books, maybe?
I think such a tax would also require a public vote as well. As many have noted, no tax increases passed this year. Call it "voter sentiment."
I think the final answer here is that the last set of negotiations were done behind closed doors, in another town, and the public had scant opportunity to provide input (whether positive or negative). It seems clear now that voters did not want a tax hike, regardless of how large or small it is. Our own transportation Measure A, which was also 1/4 percent, passed with better than a 2/3 majority, because people perceive transportation as a need.
An arena is a luxury, plain and simple. Some may view it as such a desirable luxury that it's almost a necessity, though.
What they ended up with was some pretty rich fans negotiating for "us," collectively, and that's a very diverse group. And that's the point/problem: We are diverse. "We" are 48 year old men (well, at least one of us is); "We" are retirees; "We" are college-educated; "We" are uneducated... And so on.
That's what I say when I note that I think sometimes kingsfans operates with its blinders on. They just can't imagine a world where moms and dads really never take their kids to Kings games. Personally, I sometimes find myself looking at the TV screen, seeing some 9 year old dancing away on a Tuesday night, and I catch myself thinking, "Man, I hope that family has enough in reserve for that kid's 529."
And right away, I stop myself here: If you're a mom and dad and are taking your 9 year old to 20 games a year, and have no idea what a 529 is, you need to give up your season tickets probably 9 years ago.
To stop meandering here, this really was not done with enough public debate and input. The pols would have better understood why people would vote against this if they had. People keep telling me that it's only a Starbucks a month, but honestly, how do they know? For a lot of people, it was way more than that.
For this to succeed eventually, they need people like me (and not just me): People who can see how railyard development ain't a bad idea at all, and even throwing SOME public money is warranted, but who also thought THIS PARTICULAR deal was bad. We can't have a rehash thrown at us in June 2008. The voters will reject it.
And the Maloofs must budge on a seat surcharge. I can tell you this as my open, active prediction: If the next try has a sales tax and no seat surcharge, you're looking at 81-19 again. It's really important to get this point.
We'll see what's next. If you haven't seen a new plan by November 2007, I think the party's over.
