Indiana

Thanks for the Memories

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

The worst thing you can have in politics is a good memory.

In late 2004 I remember watching then Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson announce to thousands of screaming football fans that the city and the Colts had reached a deal on a new stadium, even though no funding mechanism had been worked out to pay for it.

I also remember the former Mayor saying the best thing about the deal was that the city had the Colts for the next 30 years, even though they had to give away the store to do it.

I also remember the former Mayor saying the stadium would be paid for with slot machines and the operational expenses would be rolled over into the long-term financing.

I also remember state lawmakers looking at the former Mayor as if he had lost his mind.

I also remember former Capital Improvement Board President Fred Glass saying there was no Plan B.

I remember the State taking over to get the facility built.

I remember the Peterson administration totally agreeing to the deal where the State would see that the city was built and the City/CIB would oversee the operational expenses.  They didn’t like it, but they agreed to it.

I remember back in 2006 when it became public that Stadium would be running $10 million annual shortfalls.

I remember just the other day a citizen was wondering how all this happened.

It sucks to have a good memory.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on February 10, 2009 (boomark / email).