Louisiana Reps Seek More Details About Proposed Benson Buy
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Louisiana Senators Uneasy About Possibility
Of Benson Becoming State's Landlord |
Louisiana state senators Friday said that they are "uneasy about the possibility of Saints owner Tom Benson becoming the state's landlord" under a deal in which Benson would "buy a downtown New Orleans office building neighboring the Superdome and lease space to the state as part of an agreement" to keep the Saints in Louisiana, according to Michelle Millhollon in a front-page piece for the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. The details of the deal -- "including how definite it is -- are murky, even to many legislators," and Louisiana state Rep. Karen Peterson said that she "does not want to be held hostage to an agreement that is negotiated behind closed doors." Peterson: "I am for the Saints, but I am not for how these negotiations are transpiring right now." Louisiana Dir of Facility Planning & Control Jerry Jones said that the report of the state "leasing space from Benson was premature." Jones: "I can tell you that no final decision has been made." Millhollon noted the Saints and the state are "negotiating on keeping the NFL team in the Superdome past 2018," and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said that it "would be beneficial to have an agreement by May 18, when the NFL owners will begin deciding where to hold the 2013 Super Bowl" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 4/18).
LOOK FOR BEST DEAL: Peterson and Louisiana state Sen. Ed Murray said that the state "should search for the fairest deal to replace office space in downtown New Orleans lost to Hurricane Katrina -- and they said they weren't sure that would be the priority in the Saints negotiations." Murray: "I'm all in favor of doing everything we can within reason to keep the Saints in New Orleans. But I don't know if I want Mr. Benson making a decision on the state office building and what we're going to pay and those things. How did Mr. Benson get involved in deciding in where the state is going to have office space?" Peterson said that lawmakers "would be unable to determine if it was the best leasing arrangement for the state without a competitive bid." Peterson added that it "was inappropriate for" SMG Regional VP Doug Thornton, who "works for a private contractor, to negotiate lease space on behalf of the state" (AP, 4/17).
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