If 0-3 isn’t depressing enough, a Ramsey County Charter Commission could make the Minnesota Vikings 0-Forever. Wednesday night, September 28th the Commission will be taking public testimony to help make a decision as to whether the Commission should vote to put the Ramsey County portion of the proposed Arden Hills stadium on the 2012 ballot via referendum.
Referendum has been discussed frequently recently, including by members of the State of Minnesota Legislature. The irony here is that the Legislature instructed the Vikings to find a local partner in order to get their vote. And now that they have a local partner, Legislative leadership wants to railroad the Vikings efforts by putting it to a vote.
Please attend on Wednesday night and tell the Ramsey County Charter Commission that you support the Vikings efforts to build a stadium in Ramsey County! Please ask them to consider the following:
- The Vikings stadium will create 7,500 construction jobs over 3 years in Ramsey County for the 20% unemployed trades
- The Vikings stadium will create 3,000 long term jobs in Ramsey County that they would not have if not for the stadium
- The Vikings Stadium in Ramsey County means increased hotel stays, car rentals, restaurant visits and other fan related activities that will generate $125M in annual business that translates to an additional $8.7M in sales tax for the County coffers in not for the stadium
- That the Arden Hills super fund site has sat empty for over a decade and will sit empty for another decade if they vote for a referendum
- That it is unfair for Ramsey County citizens to determine the outcome for a statewide asset like the Vikings
- Hennepin County did not have a referendum for the Twins stadium and the Vikings deserve to be treated fairly just like the Twins were
- That Lawmakers are asking for a referendum because they are too cowardly to address the issue themselves
- If a referendum is to be passed on the Vikings, it should be statewide attached to a Racino vote, which would pass
Please take a moment and forward this email to a friend, tweet, post on FB, Google+, LinkedIn and Four Square asking them to attend. Your support and attendance is needed, and greatly appreciated.
Founder and author of SavetheVikes.org. Born and raised in MN, Cory has been a lifelong Vikings fan. Season ticket holder, stop by and see him in section 218! cory.merrifield@savethevikes.org
If I lived in Minnesota, I would definitely show up to the Ramsey County Charter Commission tomorrow night. I’m very sorry that I cannot make it.
I oppose a referendum 100%. Now, here’s hoping that lots of Vikings fans show up to the hearing tomorrow night to say that they support a new Vikings Stadium in Ramsey County. I am sick and tired of hearing about talks for a referendum. Amy Koch & Kurt Zellers, are both of you satisfied? We as Vikings fans are not impressed and we will be very angry at both of you should the Vikings leave the state of Minnesota.
If I’m from Minneapolis (Hennepin County) can I still show up and voice my opinion?
Absolutely! Please do!!
From what I read in the Pioneer Press, each citizen is given two minutes to speak. Ramsey county residents first, then the rest. No booing or cheering is allowed to anyone’s comments. I encourage everyone involved to voice their opinion.
I just posted these tips over at the Daily Norseman; I figured I could copy them here.
If these are inaccurate or wrong, please correct them. If you have anything to add, please do!
Key things:
1. Come prepared. A polished presentation and a short speech (think about 2 minutes) is more effective than an inarticulate but impassioned plea. I recommend only having one or possibly two reasons you support the stadium or oppose a referendum. More than that and you will not have the time, coherence, or depth to make your speech effective. If enough people show up, people will give enough reasons. Do not worry if someone ahead of you gave the same reason as you plan to; it is always effective to reiterate your point in your own words.
2. Do not boo or cheer anyone. You will be removed. And it makes all of us look bad. Be polite. When in doubt, do what others do. Chances are, there are people there who show up to every city council or county commission meeting.
3. Do not be discouraged if it looks like you are not making an impact. Politicians are great at poker faces. Be assured, it has an impact.
4. If you have something complicated, avoid it. Lengthy presentations are better left to individual meetings with those decisionmakers. And please, schedule those meetings. It is easier than you think. Just call their local office and tell them that you want to talk to them.
5. If you have a petition or other record of support, mention it. If you have it with you, point to it. Don’t gesture erratically or accuse them of wanting what’s worst for Minnesota or anything, just mention it. Be prepared with copies, in case they want to look over it. Bring those copies to the individual meetings I just mentioned.
Above all, stay committed and passionate.
Like Ice Cube said,
“You don’t have to lie to kick it”
The law currently says that capital projects with tax levies must be voted on (schools, sewer systems) so what makes the Vikings stadium so special?
Oh yeah, it a complete ripoff to the state and Ramsey County. I do not mind tax dollars being spent on stadiums, but this deal is so lopsided its crazy.
I am hoping the Vikings come up with something more equitable than this garbage they are peddling. Although I live in Hennepin county I am going to go to the next meeting and voice my disapproval with this project as a Minnesota tax payer, who will be paying $300 million of this stinker deal.