This is what we had in mind?

Reference is to the upcoming Super Bowl.  A quick review.  The city is committed to a debt of more than a billion dollars to build a football field for the benefit of the National Football League (NFL).  At the insistence of the local franchise, something more than $50 million was included in the cost to have a roof capable of being opened.  This has apparently turned out to be a very expensive bragging point with little or no utility.  Memory tells us it has been used no more than half a dozen times since the building opened three years ago.

As a reward (?) for this billion dollar boondoggle, the NFL has graciously allowed our city to host an event which seemingly will benefit almost everybody but the average citizen of the city.  Special ordinances - prepared by the NFL? - are being presented to the City-County Council to meet the demands of the NFL as to how our city shall be run while their eminences, the team owners and their minions, grace us with their presence.

As is the customary practice, about anything these folks want, they will get.  And most likely it will be at little or no cost to them.  Meanwhile, every possible test will be used to demonstrate that dollars which are spent will go to the NFL rather than the city or its residents,

A few days ago we were told of the intention of licensing private property owners who might wish to offer their private property to fans for parking.  Today’s paper pretty well explains that move.  Over 6,000 parking spots will be handed to the NFL, including the revenues therefrom, many of which are on publicly owned property.

We’re told fees for these parking places have not yet been set, but that at Dallas for the game last year, they were $71 each.  God forbid a handful of individuals should cut into the NFL revenues by renting ten or twelve spots at a somewhat less gouging price.

The whole scene brings to mind a medieval castle where a banquet is being held.  The "nobles" are feasting on game having been run down by their dogs.  The dogs are now lying on the floor begging for scraps and hoping some kind soul will maybe rub their bellies.

This represents the "leadership" of a world class city?

Comments

[Leslie Baker]

I was disgusted, too, when I saw all of this nonsense was going to go as far as the NFL people getting preferred parking spaces. They really do think of themselves as royalty, don't they? And as long as the peasants keep allowing it -- and begging to give more -- they're going to keep lapping it up. Pathetic.

[Purple rain]

It is borderline criminal - I call it legalized theft - the transfer of wealth from the many to the few. We should en masse storm the gates!