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Council Approves Bass Pro Deal
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Council Approves Bass Pro Deal
Six Members Vote Yes, Two Vote No
Posted: 9:16 a.m. CDT May 20, 2002
Updated: 5:03 p.m. CDT May 21, 2002
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The city will spend $17.2 million to build a store for Springfield, Mo.-based sports retailer Bass Pro Shops in the Bricktown entertainment district, City Council members decided Tuesday.
Council OKs Bass Pro Proposal
Local sports retailers had objected to the plan, saying it would put them at a business disadvantage and that it was a waste of money. Supporters of the deal say the city will recover the money through lease payments and increased sales tax revenue.
The City Council approved the deal by a 6-2 vote.
Mayor Kirk Humphreys said the store will spur much-needed economic development.
The Oklahoma City Council could agree to spend $18 million to build a store for Bass Pro Shop. Should the council approve the proposal?
Yes, it will be good for economic development.
No, it will give Bass Pro an unfair advantage.
No opinion
"There is a time for governments to act as a catalyst to make things happen," he said.
Councilman Mick Cornett said the elaborate store will attract tourists.
"We have never done an adequate job of getting people to pull off the interstate and spend some money," he said. "Bass Pro address that head-on."
Councilman Jerry Foshee, who voted against the plan, said it was unfair to existing retailers.
"I just don't think it is a level playing field," he said. "As a matter of principle, I cannot support using tax dollars to hurt other retailers."
Citizens Against Taxpayer Abuse, led by sporting goods retailers who would be competitors of Bass Pro, have started a drive to put a measure on the ballot that would require a vote of the public before the city could decide to provide financial incentives to a business.
"This type of subsidy is pretty hard to swallow," said David Gochman of Academy Sports.
The group would seek to make the measure retroactive to include the Bass Pro Shops decision, but city officials say this decision would not be affected because of constitutional protections against laws making past events illegal.
http://www.channeloklahoma.com/okl/news/stories/news-146905420020520-090537.html
Copyright 2002 by ChannelOklahoma.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Six Members Vote Yes, Two Vote No
Posted: 9:16 a.m. CDT May 20, 2002
Updated: 5:03 p.m. CDT May 21, 2002
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The city will spend $17.2 million to build a store for Springfield, Mo.-based sports retailer Bass Pro Shops in the Bricktown entertainment district, City Council members decided Tuesday.
Council OKs Bass Pro Proposal
Local sports retailers had objected to the plan, saying it would put them at a business disadvantage and that it was a waste of money. Supporters of the deal say the city will recover the money through lease payments and increased sales tax revenue.
The City Council approved the deal by a 6-2 vote.
Mayor Kirk Humphreys said the store will spur much-needed economic development.
The Oklahoma City Council could agree to spend $18 million to build a store for Bass Pro Shop. Should the council approve the proposal?
Yes, it will be good for economic development.
No, it will give Bass Pro an unfair advantage.
No opinion
"There is a time for governments to act as a catalyst to make things happen," he said.
Councilman Mick Cornett said the elaborate store will attract tourists.
"We have never done an adequate job of getting people to pull off the interstate and spend some money," he said. "Bass Pro address that head-on."
Councilman Jerry Foshee, who voted against the plan, said it was unfair to existing retailers.
"I just don't think it is a level playing field," he said. "As a matter of principle, I cannot support using tax dollars to hurt other retailers."
Citizens Against Taxpayer Abuse, led by sporting goods retailers who would be competitors of Bass Pro, have started a drive to put a measure on the ballot that would require a vote of the public before the city could decide to provide financial incentives to a business.
"This type of subsidy is pretty hard to swallow," said David Gochman of Academy Sports.
The group would seek to make the measure retroactive to include the Bass Pro Shops decision, but city officials say this decision would not be affected because of constitutional protections against laws making past events illegal.
http://www.channeloklahoma.com/okl/news/stories/news-146905420020520-090537.html
Copyright 2002 by ChannelOklahoma.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878