Summary

“From the original Kingdome bonds, to Safeco Field’s construction and the financing of CenturyLink Field, the public has always been asked to weigh-in before significant public funding was approved.”

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski today introduced legislation proposing a public advisory vote on whether taxpayer resources should be spent on Safeco Field.  The legislation calls for a public vote on the February 12, 2019 special election ballot.

“Before any significant public investment in Safeco is made, I believe the public should have the opportunity to vote,” said Dembowski. “From the original Kingdome bonds, to Safeco Field’s construction and the financing of CenturyLink Field, the public has always been asked to weigh-in before significant public funding was approved.”

Dembowski also announced he is against any significant stadium subsidy.

“While reviewing the Executive’s proposal, I set forth a three part test, being ‘Do the Mariners need the money? Is it the right amount? Are there higher priorities?,’” said Dembowski. “It’s clear to me that this profitable private organization does not need any additional public funding. Other allowed uses for this funding include services for homeless youth, a major priority of mine during my time on the Council, and which to date has received no allocation of lodging tax in any proposal.  The public deserves to weigh in on how we prioritize this funding.”

Services for homeless youth are one of four allowed uses of the lodging tax, along with arts and heritage, workforce housing and tourism promotion.

Dembowski plans to offer the public advisory vote legislation at the September 5th Committee of the Whole meeting which will take place at 9:30AM.

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