The Marlins "want cruise ship passengers to pay for" a
new ballpark in downtown Miami, according to Bousquet &
Whoriskey of the MIAMI HERALD, who write that the team is
"proposing to create a new cruise ship ticket tax that would
raise enough money to support" a $320M "public contribution"
to the project. The Marlins "would contribute" $80M.
Bousquet & Whoriskey report that the proposal "is now being
drafted for the approval" of the Legislature. The bill
"would authorize" Miami-Dade County "to impose the tax ...
but the exact amount or form of the tax has not been
determined." Carnival Cruise Lines spokesperson Jennifer de
la Cruz, on the proposal: "We haven't seen this proposed
legislation. We're not familiar with its specifics, so
there's really no way we can comment on it" (MIAMI HERALD,
2/25). In Ft. Lauderdale, Sarah Talalay writes that details
of the proposal "will be worked out before" the Legislative
session begins on March 7. Marlins Senior VP/Marketing,
Communications & Sales Julio Rebull: "We will not comment on
a specific-funding source. The voters of Miami-Dade County
will be the ultimate voice" (SUN-SENTINEL, 2/25).
