After voters in NC's Triad area defeated an MLB stadium
tax referendum, critics of the plan said a "constellation of
issues" -- not just "no-more-taxes" -- were factors in its
loss, according to Taft Wireback of the Greensboro NEWS &
RECORD. Some of the factors: An unwillingness to use taxes
for pro sports; "skepticism" of some local business leaders
and groups backing the plan; "disbelief" of the projections
of the ballpark's economic impact; a "perceived arrogance"
of ballpark proponents "in its refusal to actively engage
the majority of voters in the discussion" of MLB; "anger" at
the "slick" campaign promoting the proposal; and "animosity
toward" wealthy professional athletes and team owners. But
Walt Klein, campaign manager for "Vote Yes For MLB," said
that the campaign failed because the "economy is good right
now, so people are more satisfied with the Triad's status
quo." He added that "the average person couldn't latch onto
the abstract" of what an MLB team would do for the
community. Klein: "I believe it's difficult for people to
think five or 10 years down he road" (NEWS & RECORD, 5/10).
