Comments on Advance Indiana™: More On Free Tickets To Politicians Means More Give-aways To Billionaire Sports Team Owners

Of course the whole reason for this bogus renegoti...

2010-07-15T21:44:17.499-05:00

Of course the whole reason for this bogus renegotiation arising could be as a 'favor,' to shield the Pacers from their obligation in the (likely) event of the season being aborted.

I saw that. Isn't it funny that Ballard brough...

2010-07-15T21:19:11.011-05:00

I saw that. Isn't it funny that Ballard brought up the collective bargaining agreement during the press conference announcing the three-year deal and said a short-term deal was better because we could evaluate the situation post-labor agreement? The agreement does not provide an escape clause for the CIB, and I think that was intentional. Ann Lathrop knew the answer to Norm's question and simply lied. She's become very good at that lately.

ANd today, Norm Cox dares to question the contract...

2010-07-15T20:53:50.553-05:00

ANd today, Norm Cox dares to question the contractual arrangement for these $10 million payments should the NBA go into a lockout. The lockout, mind you, was the urgent catalyst to getting this deal nailed down right now for 3 years 'just in case.'

Now Norm discovers we might be on the hook to pay the Pacers EVEN IF THEY AREN"T EVEN PLAYING due to the lockout.

What do people do if they are flunking out of contract law - Go to work for the City of Indianapolis?

Can someone explain why fans riot when a team wins...

2010-07-15T15:30:18.204-05:00

Can someone explain why fans riot when a team wins?

I always want to loot when my team loses, but everyone else wants to do it when the team wins, and it is causing personal conflict.

Good point. There we were- waving signs in front ...

2010-07-15T11:26:58.639-05:00

Good point. There we were- waving signs in front of three TV stations and the Star- screaming about media bias, overspending, and health "reform"- when all we had to do to get equitable media coverage was buy them all trips to Cancun.

What were we thinking?

Thank goodness our Constitutional protection of the press isn't going to waste....

Man Gary, you don't forget anything! I forgot...

2010-07-15T09:38:59.987-05:00

Man Gary, you don't forget anything! I forgot about those Cancun trips.

The free suites for the City and the ICVA are part...

2010-07-15T08:21:11.108-05:00

The free suites for the City and the ICVA are part of the lease agreement. Nonetheless, Pat, there should be a value placed on them because they are still a gift to these officials thanks to the taxpayers' generosity. It's bullshit if the billionaire sports team owners can give free tickets and suites to the CIB and ICVA and then they can turn around and give them to officials and claim they are exempt from the reporting requirement. Ballard promised transparency and we've gotten anything but that. These politicians should be issued 1099s each year just like the rest of us when we receive things of value instead of money. Hell, I had to pay tax on a bicycle I received from an IT company several years ago as a sales credit. Ballard got two new bikes given to him last year. I'm betting he didn't report those on his tax returns. I don't know what the hell the problem with the media is in this town. They should be digging into this and reporting on it. Then again, didn't we learn the Simons take a bunch of the media folks down to resorts in places like Cancun for a week-long free vacation every year?

The Mayor controls who gets into the City's su...

2010-07-15T07:56:45.250-05:00

The Mayor controls who gets into the City's suites in LOS and at Victory Field. I'm not sure if the City has a suite in Conseco Fieldhouse. The ICVA had a suite at the 500 at least two years ago - I just didn't happen to hear if that is still the case.

I do not know if the City has to kick in more fees for these suites or not.

So, long way around the barn, but, perhaps the Mayor 'gives himself' tickets to some of these games.

Matt, I think it is fair to assume that Ballard ha...

2010-07-15T07:24:54.958-05:00

Matt, I think it is fair to assume that Ballard has accepted about $40,000 to $50,000 in freebies since becoming mayor if you properly value every free ticket, free membership and gifts he has received since becoming mayor. He's totally on the take. His staff laughs about it.

I am not surprised by Mayor Ballard's venality...

2010-07-15T01:57:45.699-05:00

I am not surprised by Mayor Ballard's venality, but only wonder whether his successor will be as venal as he is. What a deplorable state of affairs has this sinfulness brought to Indianapolis!

It's amazing what you can get for under $100 t...

2010-07-14T23:18:06.656-05:00

It's amazing what you can get for under $100 to avoid having to report it. You can easily get some of the best seats at a concert or play (or two if you want to site a few dozen isles back), or eat at the best restaurants.

No way those club memberships are under $100 though. The Columbia Club charges an annual fee in the thousands plus a monthly hundred or two on top of that, right?