Press Release: Arena Tax Opponents Respond to Yes on Q&R Press Conference

Sacramentans Against the Arena Tax 

RESPONSE TO TODAY'S YES on Q&R PRESS CONFERENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21, 2006
Contact: Shawnda Westly  (916) 201-8582

YES on Q&R say they are a Grassroots Campaign?
Instead, infusion of $2 million from their handpicked developer shows
it will take big money to sell this bad deal to taxpayers

The YES on Q&R proponents announced today that they will spend their new $2 million dollar contribution from proposed Arena-developer Thomas Enterprises to get nearly $600 million of taxpayer money in return.  They are betting a lot of money up front, but they would be winning a jackpot, right out of taxpayers' pockets. 

Spokesperson for Q&R Doug Elmets was recently quoted in the Sac Bee (9/20/06):  "We have six weeks until the election," Elmets said. "We'll wage an aggressive grass-roots campaign that will reach voters through direct mail, print and electronic media."

Last time we checked, grassroots campaigns include volunteers talking to voters one-on-one and not just paid media and mail - but apparently this is just the billionaires' version of a grassroots effort.

The truth is - the arena tax is nothing more than a $600 million dollar tax giveaway to a billion dollar corporation who recently had enough resources to spend $40 million on a swimming pool.  

This was a bad backroom deal cooked up in Las Vegas by politicians and sports team owners without public
input. It's a bad deal for Sacramento because the public pays for the Arena while the Maloofs keep all the
revenues, including revenue from ticket sales, parking and concessions for all events at the Arena and they
don't have to pay property nor possessory taxes.

Not only that, they get to sell the name of the arena to the highest bidder - with no revenue given back to the
public.  If the public is paying, why aren't we getting some of the profits?  Taxpayers foot the bill for the arena
while the corporate owners keep the revenue.

We can only assume they need all that revenue at taxpayers expense so they can afford their grassroots campaigns.

Also available for comment:
o John Hrabe: Communications Director, 
Young Republican Federation of Sacramento and No on Q&R volunteer: (562) 276-5898
o Bill Magavern: Sierra Club & NO on Q&R volunteer: (916) 214-0065 or 557-1100 x102

Sacramentans Against the Arena Tax is a campaign to oppose Measures Q & R in Sacramento County. The campaign is being led by a strong coalition of community leaders, organizations and individuals that have come together to stop the Arena Tax.  For more information please visit http://www.Stopthearenatax.org or call Shawnda Westly at (916) 201-8582.  ###