He's funny, but he's also telling the truth. He just delivers it in a funny way so that it doesn't hurt so much. This clip is about how sport teams hold towns hostage until the taxpayers cough up enough money to build a new stadium. As any Buffalo Bills fan can remember, there has been a long-standing struggle to keep the Bills in Buffalo amid numerous threats that the team owner, the late Ralph Wilson, dropped until he got what he wanted. Now, the new Bills owners are talking about a new waterfront stadium which brings many of us back over forty years ago when such a stadium idea was mired in corruption and politics.
It also brings to mind the Canadian Motor Speedway which has threatened to pull up stakes unless some level of government (the taxpayers) provides it with infrastructure and roads to the race track. Considering what other sports teams have been able to coerce local taxpayers to fund, the CMA is not far off the mark in its demands.
Please pay close attention to the myth that such a new facility automatically breathes new economic life into a community. That is totally false. Here in Fort Erie we have heard that refrain sung many times by developers and entrepreneurs. It has been sung to a fare-thee-well by the people behind the CMA. In the John Oliver video, someone said that the towns would be better off if the millions invested in sports arenas was simply dropped from a plane on the populace. The people would benefit more from that than they would from a new stadium.
Think about it. And ask yourself this: why the delay in the building of the race track? Are the Middle Eastern owners waiting for cash-strapped Ontarians to make the first move and supply the massive infrastructure improvements before the Middle Eastern owners actually start to build? Were the millions in tax breaks not enough?
Unfortunately, these big businesses and corporations that promise the world to the simple minded have just about drained the taxpayer and the governments that supposedly represent them, almost dry. You can't get blood from a stone.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Puff, and the race track people are too late.......John Oliver expresses my fury, ..and damn he's funny.
DeleteIt was mentioned by George W. Bush, once upon a time how many millions that he and a bunch of his buddies made, by touting to the Texas people the benefits not of only getting a new baseball team but getting something like 500 million of tax-payers money to build a stadium , they all walked off with millions of dollars of our (tax payers) money gratis. He thought that was great after drilling a bunch of dry holes, looking for oil in Texas, that was money supplied by the" Bin Laden family" of Saudi Arabia .If anybody has seen the movie Fahrenheit 9/11 by
ReplyDeleteMichael Moore, it was mentioned in that documentary, This stuff should sound familiar to people living in the Town of Fort Erie.
With the price of oil half of what it used to be (although you would never know it when purchasing gasoline) money from the mid east isnt as plentifull as it used to be. Its no wonder investors from that area are not as apt to supply great amounts of funding to projects here as they would have been a few years ago. Most see the car race track, the CMS as a "border"line profitable enterprise. (pun intended). Too bad this asnt some hillbilly heaven where we chase the cows out of the field, set up some bright lights, and invite Billybob and the boys to motor over with their stock cars and drive in fast circles while we drink soda, eat junk food and watch. ("Gasport" in "Gasline" has that one covered, yes those are real names). As for corporate sponsorship for the CMS, thats just too many millions theyre asking for to attract naming rights. Could we run cars on the existing track for the many months the racehorses are on U.I.? Dirt track, stadium seating, central location. What could go wrong?
ReplyDeleteWhaen it comes to the CMS "project" its the same old approach. If you cant sway them with logic, baffle them with bullshit. Well, it didnt work when asking for millions from the provincial government, and it hasent worked so far with investors from the middle east. Who is left to fool? Anybodys guess, but if this system remains in play, somebody, somewhere is working on it as we speak. And so, expect a few more bits of news about this from time to time. Same old, think so big it wont float. Think so small its hardly worth the paper its printed on. Meanwhile taxes just keep going up, the last increase a shamefull tribute to the new council. And for this what do we get? "Happy News" from the likes of the Post and Times.
DeleteWe have another version here. Jimmie Dirt bag constantly asking for more millions so his pal Carl can "get by" and keep the ponies running. Would hate to see it close up but our "Pal Carl" is almost the last person on the planet that needs our tax dollars. Word at the track is when the public funds dry up, Pal Carl will evict.
ReplyDeleteThe writing is on the wall with the province pushing Woodbine as the 1 stop gambling venue and even NF knows they're going to hurt. So why would the much smaller political base of FE be exempt, specially with ol orange shirted Jimmy's great relationship(not even close!!) with the OLG. And we pay this guy huge for this.
Toronto is laughing their @ss off at us and rightfully so.
You know, they talk and talk about Crystal Beach "day trippers" who do not spend money in the community on the same breath that they extol the local financial boon from the Not-NASCAR track. All one really needs to do is take a look at what happens in other communities. I know someone who lives in Brooklyn, Michigan, a NASCAR site and she tells me that the traffic gridlock and noise keep most local residents at home during races. People come in for race days with their own food; they park overnight at the local Wal-mart or they bring campers and park at trailer parks for the duration. They do not spend money locally; they bring their own stuff or buy it at the race track. They are there for one purpose only: to watch the races.
ReplyDeleteThen they leave. If the CMS is built, people will come in through Niagara Falls (Peace Bridge will be a nightmare) and they will do the same as the visitors to Brooklyn, Michigan. Wal-Mart will probably be the only business that will make money off the race track. Maybe the Beer Store. Word will trickle out that guns and booze are not welcome at Canada Customs and that a passport is required to come view Not NASCAR events. Say goodbye to a large potential crowd for the races.
I still say that it is a bad idea and it will never live up to its hype. It will become a massive drain on the town's finances with little economic benefit to the town. Without a larger multi-lane international bridge at the Fort Erie - Buffalo crossing, there is little hope that the projected crowds will even be able to get to the site. Thus, Niagara Falls will benefit if there is any to be gained.
When it comes to the fabled CMS, as you say it's talk, talk, talk.
DeleteWe've heard so much over so long yet nothing of substance has been constructed.
Perhaps THAT'S exactly the point?
Even The JT needs "props" to continue his never ending smoke and mirrors charade.
Thus he conjures up an Arabian Prince riding into town on a mythical charger with promise of universal salvation.
Hell..
If that don't work he's always got Carl Paladino !
Daytrippers not spending much money when they visit Crystal Beach? We are not the first to notice this but what besides some rstaurant food is there to spend money on when they reach Erie road. Rent a sailboat, a kayak or even a pddleboard? Nope. A bus tour of the area, big homes, lighthouse, historic old Queens circle? Nope. How about just a beach chair and an umbrulla? Maybe? Food trucks at the beach entrance? Maybe? One overpriced gas station and one overpriced grocery store. Not exactly beach resort stuff. If its all about money from visitors it, that ship has sailed, back in the late 80's. Yes the amusement park. The land sold and built on. With whats left of the waterfront lets hope the present council doesent see things the same way. Dont forget, the rest of the year this is just a regular community, or whats left of it, for regular people.
DeleteWhat ever happened to the new and improved "signature bridge" to connect FE and Buff across the great devide. That was also a lot of talk, studys and even a walking tour of a potential site where the Warren station/ railway museum is, as a starting point. Saw a few "just build the dam bridge" bumper stickers too. How soon we forget egh? Maybe the CMS can follow the same "path of forget" too, if it hasent already. Besides if you enjoy "speedway" check out the QEW to the 427 to the 401 interchanges in Toronto. LA has nothing on us here. Hairaising experience and no one gets a trophy.
ReplyDeleteHairaising except for people like JT. Although perhaps hair is raised in other areas by the experience. not to be outdone by others who are not as folicle challenged. We think if he had been nicer to his hair it wouldnt have left him. But nice isnt in that guys vocabulary unless theres a dollar figure attached, and its hard to put a value on a shaggy melontop, unless of course we are speaking of man wig, a rug, a cranial carpet and so on. Maybe thats what makes that character so crass.
Delete