NEW: Stop The Stadium Deal Drops Voter Initiative
Monday, September 21, 2015
The Steering Committee of Stop the Stadium Deal has filed an anti-stadium voter initiative petition with the Providence City Council. A total of 1,535 signatures from Providence were collected which is 54 percent more than what was needed.
The purpose of the filing is to compel the City Council to bring the stadium issue to a public referendum and allow Providence voters to determine the outcome.
“If the Council doesn’t pass the ordinance unamended by that point, we will be able to force it onto the ballot by gathering signatures from five percent of Providence voters. However, given the strong public pressure, we are confident this won't be necessary," said Samuel Bell, chairman of Stop the Stadium Deal.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe ordinance reads:
No stadium or athletic facility shall be a permissible use of the land designated on
May 1, 2015 as Parcel P4 in the I-195 District. Every new stadium constructed in the city of Providence after May 1, 2015 shall pay property tax at the full commercial rate on the assessed value. No public money from the City of Providence shall be used directly or indirectly to subsidize or otherwise provide any financial benefit to any new stadium.
This petition was filed in response to a proposal that was submitted by the Pawtucket Red Sox ownership drop to build a professional sports stadium on the land owned by the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission and set aside to be a public park.
About Stop the Stadium Deal
Stop the Stadium Deal is a coalition of resident taxpayers throughout the state of Rhode Island who say "no to stadium deals, not on the riverfront park, no public money and no tax subsides.
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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