Seattle Stadium Backers Get Legal Ok To Sell Bonds
Spring training
A Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday that King County can legally sell $336 million in bonds to finance its share of a new Mariners ballpark, rejecting stadium opponents’ challenge of the bond sale.
The opposition group, Citizens for More Important Things, said it would appeal the 11-page ruling.
Central to the case is a petition drive led by the opposition group seeking a public vote on every county bond issue greater than $50 million - including the planned $336 million bond issue for a $414 million ballpark.
The Stadium Act passed by the state Legislature in 1995 created a package of specialty taxes to pay for the project and said King County “shall issue bonds” to finance it.
County prosecutors argued that because state lawmakers mandated the bond issue, those bonds are not subject to a public vote.
Judge J. Kathleen Learned agreed.
Season tickets a hot item in Seattle
Opening Day is still more than a month away, but Seattle Mariner fans are already snapping up season tickets in record-breaking numbers.
Despite a $1 to $3 increase for most Kingdome seats, sales have topped 14,600, beating last year’s figure of 13,466, according to team officials.
The boost in sales comes in the wake of back-to-back winning seasons and prospects of a new baseball stadium.
Bonds takes a fall
Less than a week after signing a record $22.9 million, two-year extension, Barry Bonds fell down a flight of stairs at his spring-training home and injured his right hip - perhaps seriously. The Giants said MRI results of the outfielder’s hip were inconclusive. Doctors hope to know more today.
Fan confronts Belle
A disgruntled Cleveland Indians fan from Ohio broke into the Chicago White Sox spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., last week and confronted and yelled at outfielder Albert Belle. He was later arrested and is still jailed, police said.
David E. Henry, 38, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, was charged with misdemeanor loitering, prowling and felony burglary. Police say Henry was upset about Belle leaving the Indians.