70 replies to this topic

[You Play to Win the Game]

For the city, or for the billionaire investors?

[NewMarketSean]

Education, just off the top of my head could've used that money. It's the silver bullet, unlike "cracking down on em".

The city gets the most, or nearly the most money spent per student in the state.

[NewMarketSean]

For the city, or for the billionaire investors?

For the city, which collects taxes from the businesses that Preakness attendees patronize while here.

[BSLChrisStoner]

The city gets the most, or nearly the most money spent per student in the state.

 

 

It's a long watch (20 minute clip), but worth the time. Can fast forward to about the 4 minute mark. Jess Gartner is great. 

[You Play to Win the Game]

The city gets the most, or nearly the most money spent per student in the state.

It's not enough.

[DuffMan]

I wouldn't be surprised if this gets bungled during next years Legislative Session.

[NewMarketSean]

It's not enough.

 

You can always spend more money on education, I agree. But it's still not going to fix the city's problems, many of which cannot be fixed by throwing money at them.

[mweb08]

You can always spend more money on education, I agree. But it's still not going to fix the city's problems, many of which cannot be fixed by throwing money at them.

I'd argue that a lot can be fixed by throwing money at the problems, but I'm talking about a level of money that people wouldn't support.

[SportsGuy]

+/_ $35M annually.

Estimates of +/_ $50M with new track.

And do we know what he money is going towards?  (I get that this is probably a complicated answer but I wasn't sure if there is something specific the money is supposed to go towards.)

[SportsGuy]

You can always spend more money on education, I agree. But it's still not going to fix the city's problems, many of which cannot be fixed by throwing money at them.

You're right.

 

If you funnel more money into the city, that is just that much more money that will be stolen by the politicians, investors, etc...

 

NOTHING CHANGES without drastic changes in the system and that will never happen.

[BSLChrisStoner]

And do we know what he money is going towards?  (I get that this is probably a complicated answer but I wasn't sure if there is something specific the money is supposed to go towards.)

I don't know if it's earmarked for anything specifically like casino $ is supposed to be. 


 

[BSLChrisStoner]

Hogan was adamant at Preakness that the Preakness needed to stay in Baltimore. 

Haven't seen him comment on the deal, but realistically (and if you look at comments from June etc, seems clear) he had some involvement. 

I didn't anticipate I would like any possible deal... but they found something which works for Pimlico and Laurel. Consolidates the industry here. Gets more use for Pimlico year round (the grounds) and does more for the surrounding Park Heights and Mount Washington communities than expected. 

 

It's largely a win. 

 

[SBTarheel]

Hogan was adamant at Preakness that the Preakness needed to stay in Baltimore. 

Haven't seen him comment on the deal, but realistically (and if you look at comments from June etc, seems clear) he had some involvement. 

I didn't anticipate I would like any possible deal... but they found something which works for Pimlico and Laurel. Consolidates the industry here. Gets more use for Pimlico year round (the grounds) and does more for the surrounding Park Heights and Mount Washington communities than expected. 

 

It's largely a win. 

 

He was correct. 

 

And it seems to have worked out. 

 

The rest is just noise. 

[JeremyStrain]

And do we know what he money is going towards?  (I get that this is probably a complicated answer but I wasn't sure if there is something specific the money is supposed to go towards.)

 

It won't have any restrictions. It was already allowed to happen and didn't need a public vote to pass. The restrictions on where to distribute the money were what got gambling through.

[JeremyStrain]

He was correct. 

 

And it seems to have worked out. 

 

The rest is just noise. 

 

Did it though? I mean aside from sentimentality is there a reason why?

 

Admittedly, not being from Baltimore, I don't have a specific dog in the fight, but outside of it, if you have a better facility within 20 miles, and the money still stays in state...I don't get the real need.

 

Unless it's about the cut the city takes itself, which could just as easily been handled by letting them go to Laurel and signing an agreement for a small percentage to filter back to the city itself. Not that it's likely but could have happened, probably easier than this deal. Then if you do something else with that site you can double dip, you get money from the track AND you get something on the land. I'm sure something else could have been developed there that would benefit the surrounding area more than a race track.

 

I've just never really understood the passion behind the argument. Laurel has so much more land, parking and room for so much more than just racing. Slots, sports book, tables, the whole thing could have been turned into something really elite, which you would want a major race like that at.

[SBTarheel]

Did it though? I mean aside from sentimentality is there a reason why?

 

Admittedly, not being from Baltimore, I don't have a specific dog in the fight, but outside of it, if you have a better facility within 20 miles, and the money still stays in state...I don't get the real need.

 

Unless it's about the cut the city takes itself, which could just as easily been handled by letting them go to Laurel and signing an agreement for a small percentage to filter back to the city itself. Not that it's likely but could have happened, probably easier than this deal. Then if you do something else with that site you can double dip, you get money from the track AND you get something on the land. I'm sure something else could have been developed there that would benefit the surrounding area more than a race track.

 

I've just never really understood the passion behind the argument. Laurel has so much more land, parking and room for so much more than just racing. Slots, sports book, tables, the whole thing could have been turned into something really elite, which you would want a major race like that at.

I guess tradition is the most important to me. Right or wrong, and i get the argument against, believe me. 

 

I grew up going as a kid with my Grandfather, then of course my teen years and 20s going for the party aspect, then even in my 30s strictly to gamble. i realize this is a cliche, but I just can't imagine the Preakness being anywhere else, and I think a lot of Baltimore people feel the same way. 

[BSLMikeLowe]

 

It's a long watch (20 minute clip), but worth the time. Can fast forward to about the 4 minute mark. Jess Gartner is great. 

 

I tend to believe that per-student spending doesn't really tell the story of how well-funded a school system is. So many seem to be bureaucratic hierarchies, and some even corrupt, where a ton of money disappears before ever reaching the classroom. I'm all for investing in education, and paying more in taxes if that's what's truly needed to have a great educational infrastructure. But I think we need to really find and eliminate the waste first.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Did it though? I mean aside from sentimentality is there a reason why?

 

Admittedly, not being from Baltimore, I don't have a specific dog in the fight, but outside of it, if you have a better facility within 20 miles, and the money still stays in state...I don't get the real need.

 

Unless it's about the cut the city takes itself, which could just as easily been handled by letting them go to Laurel and signing an agreement for a small percentage to filter back to the city itself. Not that it's likely but could have happened, probably easier than this deal. Then if you do something else with that site you can double dip, you get money from the track AND you get something on the land. I'm sure something else could have been developed there that would benefit the surrounding area more than a race track.

 

I've just never really understood the passion behind the argument. Laurel has so much more land, parking and room for so much more than just racing. Slots, sports book, tables, the whole thing could have been turned into something really elite, which you would want a major race like that at.

 

I'm not sure economically there would be a huge difference between holding it at Pimlico vs Laurel. But more than tradition, it would be a huge blow to the psyche of Baltimore, just like the Colts leaving was (despite Laurel being only 30 miles down I-95).

[SBTarheel]

I'm not sure economically there would be a huge difference between holding it at Pimlico vs Laurel. But more than tradition, it would be a huge blow to the psyche of Baltimore, just like the Colts leaving was (despite Laurel being only 30 miles down I-95).

This was said much better than I did. So, yeah, this.

[JeremyStrain]

I mean don't get me wrong, I'm not discounting the emotional connection or the traditions of it being there, sports fan, so I get that. I guess it's just different for me because I'm more removed from it.

 

For me it's just that I've been to Laurel Park quite a few times, and every time I go there it's just that it could be SO much more. I was excited to see it get the big race, still represent for MD, but be something GRAND.