Minneapolis city officials certified a referendum
question yesterday for the November 4 ballot that if passed,
would require future referendums on any city plan to spend
more than $10M on pro sports facilities, including a new
Twins ballpark, according to Jay Weiner of the Minneapolis
STAR TRIBUNE. While the proposed city charter amendment
"wouldn't forbid public spending on such facilities, ...
many stadium proponents said it would make it very
difficult, if not impossible, to build them in Minneapolis."
City Council member Jim Niland said the "mere presence" of
the question on the ballot will make it "extraordinarily
difficult" for any financing bill to come out of a special
legislative task force now examining stadium options. MN
Gov. Arne Carlson: "Let them vote; that's fine. I don't
think it's a good policy (STAR TRIBUNE, 8/28). Also in
Minneapolis, Robert Whereatt writes that after hearing
presentations yesterday regarding ballpark financing, it
"became increasingly clear" that the legislative task force
examining the issue is "focusing on gambling as the major
means of paying for it" (STAR TRIBUNE, 8/28).