Alert: A Call to Arms..We want our stadium!

a call to arms? Are we planning an armed protest? cause in the words of Bruce Hornsby-I'm down with that.

 

A question, BNH, have you checked yet if we need a permit or anything to do this? I'm sure it won't be a problem, but I'd hate for all the planning and excitement to get wasted on a bone-headed rule from the city of Houston.

 

I've sent messages to all the FB groups I can about the event. Thanks for getting the ball rolling on this.

 

Good stuff Blu - will be there. I'd also recommend bringing this to the attention of Glenn and asking him to blog about it/mention it on the show. Also, I'd ask Jen Cooper to put it in the Keeper notes newsletter.

 

Glenn already mentioned it last night in his blog and said he was going to try to attend.

 

We will continue to put it out on 1560 as well.

 

Rally is a great idea and should be a lot of fun.

Although I think brahma's concern should certainly be looked into if it hasn't already, particularly as the City owns that land now.

 

Based on my cursory research, I can't find anything yet that would require a permit to gather on the city owned lots and do our thing. It doesn't fit within the description of a parade, so that's covered.

However, there is an ordinance requiring a permit to operate sound amplifying equipment, and the way the ordinance is written, this could possibly apply to drums. See City of Houston Ordinance 30-4, available online at http://library7.municode.com/default-test/home.htm?infobase=10123&doc_action=whatsnew

Further, I don't think that 40-27's requirement for a special event permit would be applicable so long as none of the streets are utilized. We'd have to ensure that everyone parks legally somewhere, or on the lot, and make sure no one blocked any part of the streets.

Also, depending on what, geographically, the "Central Business District" encompasses, maybe no booze allowed.

Anderson, what say you, counselor?

 

Glad to see the Free Press getting into it. They have a habit of throwing some amazing events (SummerFest, Westheimer Block Party, NYE at Mango's...) maybe someone should see if they want to give a little advice or even help.

I can't attend because I'll be back in Lubbock, but I hope it goes well, expect some great video.

 

It is our civil right to peacefully gather and protest. The land is publicly owned as of right now, doubt that'll change before the 16th.

 

Aye, but the right is subject to reasonable restrictions as to time, place, and manner.

 

Just looking at the weather for next Saturday, on Accuweather it says rain and 54 degrees. Yuck. On a beautiful day we could get thousands out there. If it's miserable, it will be hard, but it would certainly send a more powerful message. Dynamo fans brave a cold rain to show their support. Would Texans fans do that? Astros or Rockets fans? They don't even have to do that in their stadium. And we can't postpone the event, what message would that send? Let's hope the forecast is wrong, but let's prepare for the worst. I've still got my $3 orange Academy poncho.

 

A bigger problem than the weather is going to be the budget shortfalls that the City and County are looking at - the Dynamo-related funds that would go to the stadium are incremental and would be zero without the stadium but it just looks bad to divert any funds to a stadium in this environment.

 

Have to agree. With the budget shortfalls, it's going to be several years before we a new stadium with government help.

 

I accidentally the stadium deal

 

I'm not sure that is entirely true. The TIRZ has been in operation for a number of years now (I think it might be 5 or 6). I assume it is generating income for the TIRZ above the levels that were frozen when it was initiated. That money can only be used within the boundaries of the TIRZ.

The assumption is that a stadium and related real estate improvements will serve to increase the revenues for the TIRZ, but the money may well already be there now to service the debt that will be incurred when the Dynamo get financing for the TIRZ.

One would assume that the total $20 million would be financed over a specified period of time, and that the principal and interest would come out of the TIRZ which is already generating income above the threshold amount.

I'm not too sure if what I wrote above makes sense - sometimes I don't understand what I write myself.

 

WARNING - POLITICAL COMMENTARY - READER BEWARE

This kind of is in relation to the stadium, because as some might be aware I contributed to the campaign of Gene Locke, even though I'm a member of the opposite party.

Anyway - I recently received a letter from Mr. Locke. I realize that he undoubtedly sent these letters out to all of his supporters, but this is the very first time in my life of giving to political causes that I've ever received a letter like this from any politician. Most of the stuff I receive as a result of my contributions are letters asking for more.

Here's what he said.

********************
Dear Nigel,

Words are not adequate to tell you how much I appreciate everything you did for me during my campaign for Mayor. Your personal endorsement provided early credibility, your financial support provided the ability to communicate my message across the city, and your encouragement provided the strength I needed to keep going during the long days. For that, I will always be greatful.

The experience of running for mayor of our great city is something I will always remember. It was worth the fight because Houston is a special place.

I wish for you and your family a wonderful holiday time and a most prosperous new year.

Sincerely

Gene Locke
***********************

Houston missed out on an opportunity to have a great mayor.

p.s I'm still a Rep however
​

 

I think you are right in part, the City already is participating in the TIRZ so any incremental value growth will stay in the zone, but that will require a decent growth in property value to get there.

As an example, just take the $20M to be put in by the City thru TIRZ revenues and assume 0% interest (for simplicity purposes) for 20 years or a revenue requirement of $1M per year. At the current City tax rate, that would require values to rise in the zone by about $150 million, or the equivalent of a few shopping malls, a few office mid-rises, etc. That seems pretty agressive for that area of the city. I assume values have gone up some but not by that amount (and is there a TIRZ pool already out there?). And if you include any kind of rational interest, the revenue requirement is closer to $1.5M annually.

On the County side of the equation, if they participate, they would take general fund revenues and effectively forego them to trap them in the TIRZ area, so it is a net diversion. That is where the bigger issue is.

 

On January 10, 2010, a confab was held in the boardroom of the Last Concert Cafe to discuss the rally to be held next Saturday at the Dynamo Stadium site. In attendance were yours truly, CeltTexan, Mr. & Mrs. Blu n Houston, JVilla07, barstoolrob, and Anna. Adult beverages were ordered and consumed, and Celt only got to smoke one Marlboro Red for the entire nearly three hour roundtable, as the boardroom, we learned, is decidedly non-smoking.

Major Points of Discussion:

1. Involvement of EaDO organizations that stand to benefit most directly from construction of the stadium. These are the folks that were represented at the rally last year at the site. Only difference is - that rally was theirs. This is ours. We reach out to them and seek their participation. They have PR resources we might not. Also involve TSU in this effort.

2. Make it more than a one-off event. The issue of County participation in TIRZ 15 must be placed on the commissioner's agenda prior to the season opener at Dallas - action before the end of the first quarter of 2010. "1Q10" With this in mind, hold a series of three rallies - one next weekend, one in February, and one in March, with those in the coming months held the Saturday before the 2nd Commissioner's meeting of the month.

3. Messaging. Dynamo supporters know the facts surrounding the stadium issues better than anyone in the public at large. The organization has done a commendable job of putting the facts out there, but we all know that the nuances of this deal are lost on the average joe. We can no longer rely on the media to get the message out. If we want the message out, we have to craft it ourselves. Talking points, sloganeering, and thinking like a TV producer with an 8 second attention span are paramount. Opponents of the stadium say the club should build it themselves. We say the club will, if only they are allowed to do so. Our players have earned it. Our working men have bought it. Let Luck build it.

Next saturday's rally is our first go at this. Here's hoping the weather cooperates. Bring as many people as you can. We'll have some speakers rally the troops, and then those who are able can kick the ball around while I run my weedeater at safe distance.

We'll be putting out calls to players and media folks during the week, and we've talked about possibly getting together Wednesday night to discuss further. Hopefully, if we get some traction with grass roots effort number 1, we'll get even more with No. 2.

This is an open process. All collaboration, assistance, and ideas are welcome.

Talk amongst yourselves.

UNITE THE CLANS

 

did you guys look into or talk about the possibility of having Oscar de la Hoya speak at one of these or at least show up and smile? I know the idea is to have this be a fan driven thing and I respect the hell out of you guys for organizing this for the fans. Just wanted to point out that having a big name there is great media bait.

 

@Claws - most certainly we did. Getting Oscar out for one of the rallies would be a real coup, and efforts are underway. We also talked about the possibility (more realistic in the short term) of getting some players out to address the crowd and generate buzz.

 

Glenn told me tonight that he'll use any footage we can get from the rally Saturday. I'm looking at you, audio-visual club. I don't have a video camera, so I'm no use.

He's got interviews with Ching and Alvarez for the Soccer Matters taping tomorrow, so he can't do an interview on the rally. He's going to do one on next week's show, so here's hoping the weather holds up and we can get some good footage.