Who knows best

Judging from the tenor of the recent article and interview with Michael Baumgartner regarding his proposed downtown location for a new stadium (“Baumgartner shows stadium examples,” Feb. 12), along with Mr. Berde’s letter to the editor on Feb. 18 (“They will come around”), I have some concerns regarding their thoughts of the general public’s overwhelming support for retaining the Joe Albi site for the new stadium.

First, the typical voter is too naïve, uniformed, ill-informed or just too plain stupid to understand the advisory ballot. These are the same people that are allowed to vote for president, the state and federal representatives, the mayor, numerous other elected officials, a wide variety of initiatives and referendums, and yes even the Spokane County treasurer.

Secondly, the typical public citizen should follow the lead of the people that “really know.” We should follow the people of wealth and property, the people of influence (real or imagined) or follow the people who might stand to make a few bucks from a downtown stadium that the public will foot the bill for.

Folks, this party is over, the vote in favor of the Joe Albi location is over, with a whelming plurality to retain the current location. Everybody has a lot more important things to worry about than the location of the stadium. I am sure that the school board already has a few things to worry about than satisfying the desires of the downtown business interests and Mr. Baumgartner’s grand designs.

Bill Sargent

Spokane