Weighing in
A weekly look at reader comments and reactions to the news
The filing of an expected lawsuit last week against Spokane County that potentially saddles taxpayers with $1.1 million in unpaid renovations at Spokane Raceway Park drew strong reader reaction, with some expressing disgust that taxpayers are again left holding the bag on the County Commission’s controversial purchase of the troubled West Plains racetrack and others arguing that it’s too early to declare it a complete failure. To read the full debate, go to www.spokesman.com.
schoes4: Thanks to our County Comm. for purchasing a money pit. $4.3 + $1.1 million. How much more is the taxpayer going to be on the hook for before we dump those comms and the track?
Mr. Natural: The solvency of the Mielke-Richard Memorial Race Track will be realized when the vocal motor-head proponents of this dubious venture step up and put their money where their mouth was … (cue cricket noise).
Kodiakwebracing: The initial venture in getting SRP up and running in 2009 was doomed for many reasons right out of the gate. We as racers and promoters of the sport did our best to bring you, the fans, a worthy show. From what I understand the county was in line under the past contract with Austin Motorsports to take such a huge chunk of gate proceeds that any investor would have been out of his mind to even invest in the venture.
Just_My_Opinion: I can see everyone’s point about buying the track because of budget problems. But you must look a little farther down the road. … Spokane has needed a real racetrack for years, even if you’re not a “motor-head” it is not any different than providing soccer or baseball parks for people to enjoy their time off with their families.
Roger_Young: So why didn’t all these Track wannabees pony up their own money and form an LLC?
Screwball: I am not against having a racetrack for the motor enthusiasts to use. I am against the county owning it. … There is plenty of potential for an independent operator to own and operate the facility. But my tax dollars should not need to be used to do it. Not when my roads are deteriorating faster than they are being fixed, and I am losing more police personnel.
Bruce Nickerson: If any of you naysayers were ever out to the track back in the World Finals heyday (late ’70s thru early ’80s) you know what kind of potential this facility has. If memory serves, three-day attendance for that race alone was over 20,000. … It seems to me that this is more political than anything else. I hate to break this to ya Screwball, but if the county sold this property for 20 million, you’d still be hitting pothole after pothole.