Feb 14 2007
On a Postive Note
The man from Oklahoma wants to keep the Sonics in the Seattle area. Renton’s not too far away, at least it’s not Oklahoma City. But there are obstacles, according to the Seattle PI:
It would be nearly impossible to pass the tax package without support from Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, who has said his caucus isn’t interested and that the money should go to education and health care. If the Legislature authorizes a tax package that does not include a public vote, opponents say they’ll file an initiative to block the deal and King County Council Chairman Larry Phillips has told state leaders he’ll block the necessary county tax increases. The land Bennett said he wants to build is apparently not for sale.The Boeing Co. owns the roughly 22 acres that the Sonics want, but a Dallas-based developer, Harvest Partners, has the first right of refusal to buy the property. And Harvest Partners on Tuesday gave no indication it was willing to sell.
Related links: Seattle PI & Seattle Times coverage.
