Community Action!!!

[Aerick]

I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet:

Dear County Resident and Utah Soccer Fan:



Some public officials mistakenly believe that “everyone” in our community is against soccer and the use of public funds to bring world-class soccer facilities to Utah (even without any new tax burden to our residents!).



We know that’s not true, and we want to make sure you know about an important upcoming opportunity to have your voice heard, your faces seen and your influence felt.



It’s about showing a public commitment to find the right solution that will allow us to continue to make Utah a world-class soccer Mecca, with all the benefits for youth soccer (new fields, programs and mentors) and all the economic benefits that come from hosting games like the Real Madrid friendly and the World-Cup qualifier match last summer ($13 million economic impact for Utah from just one game).



Next Tuesday, June 27th, the Salt Lake County Council will discuss a proposal by Sandy City to invest public funds only for PUBLIC infrastructure for the Real Salt Lake Stadium (Infrastructure includes sewer lines, storm drains, sidewalks, roads, etc.).



We need to let the Council know that there are thousands of people who believe strongly that we should support soccer in Utah and help keep professional soccer here for good, just as we have provided public funding for infrastructure for almost every other major Utah project (including the Delta Center, the E Center, Franklin Covey Field, etc.).



PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR FRIENDS WHO MIGHT BE SUPPORTIVE OF SOCCER IN UTAH.



Here’s what to do:



--Call or send a brief email to one of the “at-large” council members and to the council member that represents your district. (Find your council member by clicking here).



--Attend the Council Meeting next Tuesday in the North Building of the County Complex at 2100 South and State Street. The meeting starts at 1:00 PM, so you’ll want to be there by 12:30 PM at the latest. Please understand that there won’t be public comment and that respectful conduct will reflect well on the soccer community. Please wear soccer gear so your support will be visible to Council members.





Salt Lake County Mayor

Peter Corroon, 468-2500, mayor [at] slco.org



Salt Lake County Council

At large members

Jenny Wilson, 468-2934, jwilson [at] slco.org

Jim Bradley, 468-2939, jbradley [at] slco.org

Randy Horiuchi, 468-2936, rhoriuchi [at] slco.org



District Representatives

District 1: Joe Hatch, 468-2933, jhatch [at] slco.org

District 2: Michael Jensen, 468-2932, mjensen [at] slco.org

District 3: David Wilde, 468-2931, dwilde [at] slco.org

District 4: Mark Crockett, 468-2937, mcrockett [at] slco.org

District 5: Courtland G. Ashton 468-2935, cashton [at] slco.org

District 6: Marvin Hendrickson, 468-2938, mhendrickson [at] slco.org



Thank you for your support of Utah and its impending growth as a world-class sports community!



Real Salt Lake

We need to have a good showing here!!!!!!

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by Email

--Call or send a brief email to one of the “at-large” council members and to the council member that represents your district. (Find your council member by clicking here).



--Attend the Council Meeting next Tuesday in the North Building of the County Complex at 2100 South and State Street. The meeting starts at 1:00 PM, so you’ll want to be there by 12:30 PM at the latest. Please understand that there won’t be public comment and that respectful conduct will reflect well on the soccer community. Please wear soccer gear so your support will be visible to Council members.

It seems this email is what prompted this from SLC Spin

Well gosh I suppose we all are being asked to lobby for the stadium...

I will do my best to be there tomorrow.

Does anyone have an email that we could use to send to all of the politicians?
Something that is well written and to the point?
Something that we could all use... like a petition... that we can just put our names on and send over?

[fuegote]

PLEASE send remind our constituents about the urgency for supportive phone calls & e-mails and emphazing the importance of attendance at tomorrow afternoon's County session ... Fewer than 20 e-mails and exactly ZERO phone calls have been received by County Council members since last Thursday night! ...

[the Bardguy]

My response:

Mr. Jensen -

I just wanted to voice my support for the current initiative to allow hotel tax revenue proceeds to pay for infrastructure improvements for the proposed Real Salt Lake Stadium in Sandy. I'm a firm believer in soccer here in the state, and it would be a shame to lose it because the leadership of our county and the RSL front office were unable to come to some sort of compromise.

I can't tell you how much money I've spent going to the games, buying the gear, and generally supporting the professional soccer team here in Salt Lake, and regardless of the team's poor record, it's been a lot of fun for me and my family. Personally, I don't care where the stadium is in Salt Lake or Sandy...I would still attend the games.

My address is XXXX, Riverton, UT, so if I've sent it to the wrong person, would you mind forwarding it to the person who should receive it?

Thanks!
-me

I also called and left a message.

Don't send a form letter. Formulate your own words and send it to whoever should receive it. Whatever you do...DO IT NOW! Spend 5 minutes and voice your support for the stadium.

I was out gathering signatures before Saturday's game and was happy to find that, without exception, everyone was willing to sign the petition showing support for the stadium plan.

[Deuce]

Thanks BG,
I used yours as a ground work but added my own words to make it mine.

An open letter to the Salt Lake County Council

I sent a copy to Mayor Corroon, the "at large" members and the two repesentatives for Midvale.

[montgjules]

Originally Posted by Aerick

I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet:

I can't believe I haven't received a copy of this from anybody in my email.

[Aerick]

Sent mine, and this was the response I got from Jenny Wilson:

Originally Posted by Jenny Wilson

Dear Eric,

Thank you for contacting me to voice your support of public funding for a new soccer stadium in Sandy.

While I agree with Mayor Corroon’s decision to reject the funding proposal that was previously under negotiation, I would be willing to consider alternative funding proposals, including the proposal that Sandy City will be presenting to our Council tomorrow, but only if it does not rely so heavily on public dollars and the team can provide some more concrete assurances of their longevity and commitment to Salt Lake County. I would prefer to see a shift in the discussion to a scenario that would allow the team to continue to play at their current home, Rice-Eccles Stadium, for a few more years.

I remain encouraged by the level of enthusiasm within our community about having a major league soccer team here in Salt Lake County. However, I still have concerns regarding the use of public dollars for this purpose and it is necessary that I have the following questions answered:

1. Are ReAL Salt Lake and Major League Soccer viable entities? I feel strongly that the County needs some evidence that if we pursue this project, we will not be looking at an empty stadium in ten years.

2. Is this stadium project supported by Salt Lake County citizens?

3. Does the available funding mechanism preserve the County’s coveted AAA bond rating and maintain our financial health?

4. What are the benefits to the community beyond the stadium itself? For example, is ReAL Salt Lake willing to support the creation and maintenance of youth soccer programs for the community? Or are there other worthwhile projects that can be supported in conjunction with this project?

Please know that I take the responsibility of committing taxpayer dollars very seriously and will continue to scrutinize any proposals that come before the Council. Again, thank you for sharing your views.

Sincerely,

Jenny Wilson, At-Large B
Salt Lake County Council
2001 S State St N2200
Salt Lake City, UT 84190
801/468-2930 Office

[Deuce]

I got the same canned response Aerick... right down to the Dear Eric...

I would have posted it but you beat me to it!

[I_Believe_In_Kreis]

Originally Posted by some closed-minded county councilwoman

1. Are ReAL Salt Lake and Major League Soccer viable entities? I feel strongly that the County needs some evidence that if we pursue this project, we will not be looking at an empty stadium in ten years.

2. Is this stadium project supported by Salt Lake County citizens?

3. Does the available funding mechanism preserve the County’s coveted AAA bond rating and maintain our financial health?

4. What are the benefits to the community beyond the stadium itself? For example, is ReAL Salt Lake willing to support the creation and maintenance of youth soccer programs for the community? Or are there other worthwhile projects that can be supported in conjunction with this project?

Aerick, send this back to her:
1. Regardless of whether or not these are viable entities, "we" will not be looking at an empty stadium in 10 years. Dave Checketts might be, but "we" will not because "we" are not paying for a stadium. Dave is assuming that risk. The new sidewalks will still be there and still be getting use whether or not RSL survives.
2. It's supported by those who know the truth about the project.
3. If $15M in hotel tax is enough to ruin the county financially, I question the financial decisions that got you to this point.
4. Is $7.2M not enough?

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

Aerick, send this back to her:
1. Regardless of whether or not these are viable entities, "we" will not be looking at an empty stadium in 10 years. Dave Checketts might be, but "we" will not because "we" are not paying for a stadium. Dave is assuming that risk. The new sidewalks will still be there and still be getting use whether or not RSL survives.
2. It's supported by those who know the truth about the project.
3. If $15M in hotel tax is enough to ruin the county financially, I question the financial decisions that got you to this point.
4. Is $7.2M not enough?

Good points. I've sent them (though slightly modified).