We Vote in May (Officially)
I guess it’s now officially official that Lincolnites will go to the polls in May to vote on the Haymarket arena project. It has been sorta-kinda official for a while now, but yesterday Mayor Beutler gave the official word. We still don’t know exactly what the vote will entail, however, so this news is still incomplete.
Are you starting to feel like this arena stuff has been going on forever? If you recall, it all began back in 2004. In those five years we’ve managed to do ... well, not much. Or so it seems, anyway. We have a couple project renderings and the location has pretty much been chosen. It sounds like negotiations with the railroads are going well; I think word is that we’re supposed to hear more about that within the next couple months.
Given what we know or pretty much know today, would you vote for or against the arena?
The Comments
Fletch says I will vote for, and September 17, 2009 at 8:57am
I will vote for, and encourage everyone else to vote FOR the arena.
jake rhymes with cake says well, my vote FOR the September 17, 2009 at 9:53am
well, my vote FOR the arena won’t be counted as i won’t be in Nebraska in May; I hope to be moved before then. Does somebody want to enact the Obama voting practices: Vote Early, Vote Often? Who wants to cast my vote?
D. L. Whitehead says I will vote for the September 17, 2009 at 10:16am
I will vote for the Haymarket arena project when Hell freezes over or when Lincoln fixes its shameful streets--whichever comes first…
meatball says I'm with Fletch. September 17, 2009 at 10:25am
I’m with Fletch.
Moses says Me Too September 17, 2009 at 11:19am
Fletch is my leader.
This will be an important next step for the community.
Fletch says RE: Me Too September 17, 2009 at 12:08pm
I’m honored - I wish more people thought like you. LOL
Gene says RE: Me Too September 18, 2009 at 8:55am
I will follow Fletch’s leadership as well.
Dave K says I will vote against it. September 17, 2009 at 1:03pm
I will vote against it. In recent weeks, city leadership has proven itself to be completely incompetent, so handing them a couple hundred million dollars to build an arena is the last thing we need to do.
But even if city leadership wasn’t a disaster, the arena shouldn’t be built with taxpayer funds. If we really ‘needed’ it, developers would come here and fund it themselves. Otherwise it becomes a taxpayer-funded money pit, something that is catastrophic under any economic circumstances.
Fletch says RE: I will vote against it. September 17, 2009 at 3:21pm
I still think we need an arena. If this mindset had been in place a hundred years ago (I kid), we may not even have Pershing.
I think an arena would help downtown, help the city, help attract tax dollars, and help the Husker hoops programs. Other businesses are likely to follow into that area as well - food, bars, hotels. All things which will make Lincoln more attractive to visitors.
I don’t trust my city government a lot, but I can’t let that get in my way of thinking we need the arena. I totally distrust LPS, and think they went way overboard with what was spent to build North Star and Southwest, and it was a crime that the last bond issue didn’t include another elementary in SE Lincoln - however, on balance, I am glad we have all the new schools.
Moses says I knew I could count on Dave September 17, 2009 at 1:13pm
To give us the straight story.
macappleteacher says For For For September 17, 2009 at 6:01pm
For For For
Steve says "If this mindset had been September 17, 2009 at 7:08pm
“If this mindset had been in place a hundred years ago (I kid), we may not even have Pershing.”
Actually, I believe I read somewhere that stated during the 40s it WAS that mindset. It took years of planning to convince citizens (and I’m sure it failed for a lot of people) to replace the Lincoln Auditorium.
Lincoln is becoming more and more stagnant and this may be a boost...maybe not. But doing nothing while hiding behind the “in this economy” curtain certainly won’t help either.
I’m in for a “for” vote.