EDITORIAL: Not One Penny of Public Money for the Billionaire PawSox Owners
Monday, June 06, 2016
The ten partners who own the Pawtucket Red Sox have a collective worth in the billions. That’s right, billions.
They bought the minor league baseball team for reportedly less than $30 million from the family of Ben Mondor.
Since buying the team they have done nothing but stick their hands out asking Rhode Islanders for a handout. Only one of the owners actually lives in the Rhode Island full-time. The others who were Rhode Islanders shifted their residency to Florida to limit their tax exposure. We get it — Rhode Island’s tax structure make the tax burden high for those with significant wealth.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe team's attendance has fallen because the longtime love affair between the team and Rhode Islanders has soured.
Let's Not Have Deja-Vu
On Sunday, the team, along with the City of Pawtucket, and State of Rhode Island, said they were putting forth a "request-for-proposals" for a feasibility study for stadium upgrades.
If the PawSox don’t want to own the team — sell it. If they don’t want to invest in it, bankrupt it and take the tax write off. Or, move the team.
But stop your pathetic requests for public subsidies. It is embarrassing to your successful legacies and it is insulting to taxpayers in Rhode Island.
Related Slideshow: PawSox Stadium Aftermath: Winners and Losers
The Providence baseball stadium looked like a sure thing. Powerful owners pushing the project. Top politicians coupled with influential lobbyists and PR consultants all on board. Then, everything changed.
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