06/07/04  We warned you!

In 1997, the It's a Bad Deal!! campaign sent out a mailer titled "It's Corporate Welfare." relating to the January 17, 1998 election about whether we destroy our convention business so two billionaires could have a new facility for their businesses. When it looked like we might win, Laura Miller joined up with us.  That was the last six weeks or so, but this mailer was sent out early on.  In AAC operators threatened by Cowboys' proposal, (by Dave Michaels, Dallas Morning News, 6/7/04), Our Mayor appears not to have known about this part of the C-O-N-T-R-A-C-T.  

Just in case you didn't catch the very top comment:

To make sure voters did not miss this point (which apparently 50.01% did), we repeated it on the next page:

Not much ambiguity here.

So how come Our Mayor is acting like this is news to her?  She poured over the contract and had a tabbed copy with her at every debate.  The veto over future enclosed facilities was a major point in our campaign.  We said it could impact opportunities to encourage locating entertainment facilities in the Trinity Corridor.

The venue veto issue was not Journalist/pre-Councilwoman/pre-Mayor Miller's focus at the time.  She was really hung up on the contract including team player salaries in the "employment numbers" the contract between the Robber Barons and the city.  It was an important point, but in the long term not nearly so important as the venue veto.

You can ask Donna Blumer.  Laura Miller has tunnel vision.  If it's not important to her, it's not important.  If some little person like Sharon Boyd or a rag tag bunch of activists are making a big deal about some trivial issue like venue veto, it's not important.  Sort of like Our Mayor's attitude toward moving her Downtown street bums to Northwest Dallas.

Her comments in Dave Michaels' excellent article are so-o-o Laura Miller:

AAC operators threatened by Cowboys' proposal Arena concerned new stadium would host more than Cowboys Monday, 6/7/04  By DAVE MICHAELS / The Dallas Morning News

There's room in Dallas for three major professional sports teams but only one arena. ...  AAC's operators are concerned that a new Dallas Cowboys stadium, proposed for Fair Park, would aim to host concerts, family events and games that typically take place in the Uptown arena. ...  AAC's operators said that arrangement would violate a 1998 contract the city signed with the basketball and hockey teams. That agreement forbids the city from constructing or participating in the development of another arena for 30 years.    "Our agreement does not allow municipal dollars to be spent to build a facility that competes with American Airlines Center," ... Asked if Center Operating Co. would sue the city over the issue, Mr. Mayne said: "We would take whatever action would be necessary. But we are nowhere near that point." ... Under the Cowboys' proposal, Dallas County would own the stadium, and the land would be donated by the city of Dallas. Dallas Mayor Laura Miller has said the city might invest between $20 million and $25 million in infrastructure to improve the park and nearby transportation network.    Ms. Miller said city attorneys are researching AAC's warning, which she said was delivered two weeks ago to City Hall by Cowboys lobbyists and lawyers. ... The 1998 noncompetition agreement also applies to Reunion Arena, which is owned by the city. That arena can host only events that AAC has turned down.    "I have felt that it was very unfair for them to dictate what we can and cannot have over at the old arena," Ms. Miller said. "Now they are saying that even talking about building a stadium could be a problem because of their contract." ... "You would certainly think the uses of the two would possibly be competition for the same events," said Allen Clemson, the administrator for county commissioners. "These issues will be absolutely resolved before you take a multimillion dollar project to the voters." ... "I would clearly think they [the Cowboys] are looking at a multipurpose building that could host events that typically are in AAC," said Oliver Luck, CEO of the Harris County Houston Sports Authority, which built Houston's sports venues. ... Mr. Luck said football teams – which play only about 10 games a year at home – have to pursue more events to justify the "enormous public investment" in the stadium.    "The economics for a football stadium are the worst in terms of filling up the venue," Mr. Luck said. "All these new football stadiums have been designed to be multipurpose arenas." ...

Well, duh!  Unless Grandpa Jones is able to steal events from the Hicks/Perot Arena, taxpayers will have funded a great big empty facility -- just like the Cotton Bowl most of the time.

But back to Our Mayor's comments I have felt that it was very unfair for them to dictate what we can and cannot have over at the old arena," Ms. Miller said. "Now they are saying that even talking about building a stadium could be a problem because of their contract.

A bunch of us once thought (she still does) she was one of the smartest women in Dallas.  Her husband is a high dollar lawyer.  Maybe her husband will take a few minutes to explain contract law to Our Meddling Mayor.

Why do you think Tom Hicks gave John Ware a $500,000 a year job after the contract was negotiated?  It was absolutely a bonus for a job well done.  Since Perot's attorneys (who just recently fired him) were much better lawyers than anyone we had at City Hall, there is no way that contract is not buttoned up tight.

It's been a few years, but I believe the non-competition restriction only relates to non-covered facilities.  Antiquated open sky football stadiums (like the Cotton Bowl) and non-domed amphitheaters would be exempt. 

Looks like the Jones Gang thought they were only dealing with an arrogant would be Queen and a City Council anxious to do their bidding.

This is going to be great fun watching the war of the Robber Barons.  The same people who called It's a Bad Deal!! a bunch of "aginners" are going to be fighting to preserve their strangle hold on City Hall. 

Since Ron Kirk's Large White Shadow has joined Our Mayor's Gorgeous Guru in promoting the Jones Gang stadium ripoff, the Hicks/Perot/Cuban Gang might have to go back to their super huckster, Con Jerk. 

If it's a contest between Our Mayor Miller vs. Ex-Mayor Con Jerk, my money's on Kirk, even if he's not a player outside Dallas County.  I've seen them in action.  She may be Mayor now, but Ron Kirk still intimidates Laura Miller.

Unlike the Kirk's mailers promoting the Arena and the Trinity Corridor and Laura Miller's mayoral campaign mailers, It's a Bad Deal!! sent out truthful mailers.  Dallas voters need to start reading the stuff they get in the mail. 

We warned you.