The Arlington City Council yesterday "unanimously approved an ordinance" calling for a special election Nov. 8 on a new MLB Rangers ballpark, according to Loyd Brumfield of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The 9-0 council vote "followed another contentious debate between pro- and anti-stadium forces in a crowded council boardroom." Now that the election is officially on the calendar, ballpark opponents "vowed to turn their focus toward defeating the measure." The anti-ballpark group, Citizens for a Better Arlington, "filed suit against the city and a pro-stadium political action committee, alleging false advertising and a failure to provide the total amount of bonds to be authorized by the city." Opponents said that threats of the Rangers leaving "amounted to false advertising by the city." If voters approve a new $1B retractable-roof ballpark to replace 22-year-old Globe Life Park, it will be "partially funded from taxes on tickets at Rangers stadium events and parking." Ballpark opponents said that this "amounts to new taxes, which the city disputes." An existing half-cent sales tax, 2% hotel occupancy tax and 5% car rental tax "also would be used to finance" the ballpark. Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said that now that the election will happen, the city "can start work" on developing Texas Live!, a $200M mixed-use entertainment complex to be built near the new ballpark. Williams said that groundbreaking on Texas Live! "could begin as early as the end of September" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/10).
GAINING SUPPORT: In Ft. Worth, Robert Cadwallader notes more than 100 spectators "crowded the council briefing room" last night. But unlike the Aug. 2 meeting, in which opponents outnumbered supporters 2 to 1, supporters yesterday "regained the upper hand," with five speakers and 88 non-speakers "in favor of the election." Only 13 opponents "signed up, including nine who spoke." Several opposing speakers complained that there "hasn’t been a public forum to ask questions about the project." Several said that the council "was rushing the project and asked that the election be postponed to allow more time to learn more about it" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/10).
