Charlotte area legislators "slapped down" the city's
request yesterday for a November referendum on public
financing for the Hornets' proposed downtown arena,
according to Johnson & Markoe of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.
Almost half of the delegation from the city and surrounding
counties "refused" the request, which needed unanimous
approval from the group. Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory "had
asked the delegation to fast-track a bill that would allow"
the city to hold a referendum on public funding for the
$224M facility in November. State Sen. Fountain Odom,
leader of the area's delegation, said that Charlotte leaders
"should instead try to extend the Hornets' lease" at the
Charlotte Coliseum past December 31 so they would "have more
time to negotiate with the team." Odom: "If you folks want
to see the Hornets leave, put it on the ballot (now).
Because I think it will be defeated 10-to-1." The
delegation's vote yesterday "makes it impossible" for the
city to hold a referendum this year. If the Hornets "refuse
to extend their lease," City Council members, in order to
reach a deal with the team by December 31, "would have to
renege on their referendum promises." But several council
members "said they'll keep their referendum promises --
unless a deal arises that's so good it would be wrong to
turn it down" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/21). Meanwhile, a
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER editorial states a referendum is not
critical "if a deal that is clearly a good thing for
Charlotte emerges in the nearer term. ... If [City Council]
can make an outstanding deal, they should take it when it's
available" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/21). WBTV-CBS' Paul
Cameron, on the referendum: "Senators and Representatives
fear an arena referendum might influence the outcome of a $3
billion state bond issue for college and universities."
State Sen. Charles Dannelly: "If Charlotte comes out mad
about the Coliseum and votes against the universities bond
issue, it will probably lose. ... The public is about 75% to
80% against this facility" (WBTV, 6/20).
