Saturday, January 14, 2017

Atlanta Braves are still lurking around Palm Beach County

Dave Kerner, our county commissioner representative in this area, received money for his Board of County Commissioners' campaign from every special interest and fat cat and was even endorsed by Shelly Vana, someone Palm Beach County rejected at the polls by a 3 to 1 margin.

David Kerner admits to meeting with the Atlanta Braves (a losing team with 68 wins and 93 loses in 2016) in early November. If we had known that meetings were planned, he might not have won his election.

Kerner said, “While I recognize the excitement that surrounds this opportunity, I have to be a good steward of public funds and balance the competing interests of my district,” he said Friday in an email to The Palm Beach Post.

”At this time, I have not been presented with a financing plan that gives me confidence. I recognize the extreme need this area of the county has, and the synergy this project may have with the surrounding cities and the state college. As the district commissioner for where this project is targeted, I am open to continuing the conversation with all the interested parties, but am categorically unwilling to commit a disproportionate share of county public funds.”

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The west coast of Florida has rejected them. Their only hope is Palm Beach County where this lame county commission was pushing for them to destroy our John Prince Park, the environment, the surrounding neighborhoods and our quality of life. The county even wanted to give them $100 million plus the land for free. The stadium at Disney is just not good enough for them--they want our county land.

We told you, the public, that the idea of corporate welfare to the Atlanta Braves would be resurrected once the County got hold of the 7% sales tax. The sales tax hike — from 6 percent to 7 percent — will last a decade and is expected to generate an extra $2.7 billion for fixing schools, roads and bridges and covering new construction projects and technology purchases. The county denies that any sales tax money will be used for the Braves.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The county administrator suggested that the surrounding cities might be asked to contribute. Hysterical. Scott Maxwell, Pam Triolo and Andy Amoroso will just take it from the bond money. They should take it from all those businesses supporting it since they are into themselves. Let's tax Callaros and Paws on the Avenue first. Then get Dave's and Brogues.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how the geniuses who voted for the sales tax increase feel as they watch the price at the gas pump increase by the day??

Drew Martin said...

Dave is the district commissioner. The commission is highly unlikely to force through a stadium against the wishes of the district commissioner. Second, this is the oldest park in Palm Beach County and to sacrifice this park would set a dangerous precedent. Further, the Atlanta Braves abandoned their stadium in West Palm Beach which means that they would ultimately abandon this stadium leaving a vacant stadium to be either demolished at the expense of tax payers or sold to the highest bidder.