Vote "no" on city sports initiative

Seattle voters should vote no on Initiative 91 and focus on more important things.

A city should have the right to enter into a partnership with a business without having to worry about a guaranteed financial return, even if that business is a professional sports team. I-91 would essentially strip Seattle of its ability to host professional sports teams by requiring a return for taxpayer investment in stadiums. The initiative, sponsored by the come-again stadium fighters Citizens For More Important Things, defines the rate of return as nothing less than that of a 30-year U.S. Treasury bond.

The initiative would create a restraint to business made worse by allowing individual residents to legally challenge any stadium deal.

Seattle was tough with the previous, local SuperSonics ownership group. There is no reason to believe city leaders are going to enter into a stinker deal with the new owners from Oklahoma.

The new ownership says it wants to find a way to improve KeyArena or build somewhere else in the region, such as Renton or Bellevue. I-91 would ensure that the SuperSonics leave their home of 40 years for the Eastside or Oklahoma City. That would be a real loss for Seattle Center.

Seattleites should also consider the Seahawks and Mariners. What happens to those organizations in the future? Seattle should not shut its door to professional sports.

The SuperSonics might not be delivering like a 30-year bond, but the team still has a positive impact on businesses and on the intangible nature of four decades in Seattle.