What the KJ Scandal Really Means For Local Kings Fans

by Tom Ziller on Apr 26, 2008 10:01 AM PDT

The Bee ran a set of responses from the mayoral candidates on questions regarding the Kings' arena situation. With Kevin Johnson streaking out of the picture in a blaze of butane and humiliation, Heather Fargo's a shoe-in for a 47th term as Sacramento's mayor. Here are her responses to The Bee's questions.

Should the mayor play a lead role in the building of a new arena?

Only yes if there is a realistic finance plan The Bee supports.

Should the public share financing costs?

No - Voters said no, 80% to 20%.

Should the city assist with infrastructure, subsidies, tax incentives?

(no response)

How important is keeping the Kings in Sacramento? Very important, important, not important?

Important

Do you support the NBA plan for an arena at Cal Expo? If not Cal Expo, where would you locate an arena?

Only if there is a realistic financing plan and a realistic transportation management plan. If not Cal Expo, downtown.

I won't even discuss the first two answers, which are beyond depressing. (OK, I lied, I will discuss them: Only if there's a plan The Bee supports?!?! Are you f'n kidding me? The eternal mayor of the city needs the local newspaper's approval on a funding mechanism for a private development?!? I pray that's a typo. And voters did not say 'no' to sharing in the financing ... they said 'no' to a very specific and very flawed proposal which even the Kings organization itself did not support. I understand the art of the pander; I work in public relations, for goodness sake. But this is an absurdly absurd answer.)

The one question offered in which the mayor's response actually matters -- whether the candidate would support the city being involved in infrastructure and tax incentives (as the city is in numerous other projects -- downtown condo towers, manufacturing plants, etc) -- Fargo gives no response.

I'll give my standard "the arena isn't the most important thing in this race" disclaimer here. But it's a shame KJ thought he could slip through this race; because he entered the thing, an actual, electable alternative to Fargo never materialized. Awesome.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Indeed

WTF kind of answer is that?

Should the mayor play a lead role in the building of a new arena?
Only yes if there is a realistic finance plan The Bee supports.

Let’s face it, she’s only going to pay lip service to the Kings, and her dumb ass is going to remain as uninvolved as possible during her next term. It should be business as usual at the Mayor’s office.

"Boo Lakers! Boo Kobe! Go Kings! Go Giants! Boo Dodgers!" - my 5 year-old daughter - 4/15/08

by otis29 on Apr 26, 2008 12:39 PM PDT reply actions

It's hard for me to find anyone who likes her

which of course remains the real mystery in-of-itself. Where are actual candidates for the mayor of Sacramento? Is KJ the best SacTown can produce? As a long time native of the place I find this maddening. (Especially because I, unlike some others, like TZ—not picking on anyone for where they live or grew up, grew up in Sacramento. I’m sure I’m not alone on this.)

I will say that Sacramento politics effects everywhere else, because after all, it’s the biggest city you’ll hit until Oakland or SF.

{Otis I like your daughter’s statement. Except for liking the Giants. I can overlook that affliction for a 5 year old though. HeHe :)]

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Apr 27, 2008 1:46 AM PDT up reply actions

arena

There are far more important things for this city to spend money on than an arena.

by chri5 on Apr 26, 2008 12:48 PM PDT reply actions

I don't disagree with that, chri5

But are these far more imporant things to be determined by the Sacramento Bee?

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Apr 26, 2008 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

and I hope that quote is just a typo too…

by chri5 on Apr 26, 2008 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting logic

Will the money be spent on those things if an arena is built? How about if an arena is not built?

There will always be something more important. Using this logic, we should only be spending the city’s money on one thing – whatever that most important item is.

"Boo Lakers! Boo Kobe! Go Kings! Go Giants! Boo Dodgers!" - my 5 year-old daughter - 4/15/08

by otis29 on Apr 26, 2008 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Personally I don’t see an arena as anywhere near important enough to spend ANY public money on. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

If an arena made economic sense, there wouldn’t need to be public subsidy. There would be developers looking to foot the entire bill, but why would they when they can dupe governments into giving them massive payouts? I know if I were looking to build an arena I’d hold out until I could get hundreds of millions in free money too.

by chri5 on Apr 26, 2008 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

That only happens where big developers get the lease and big taxbreaks to do it

See Staples Center. That being said I agree about the city not providing subsidy’s for business’. I feel that way for all business’ (and having run a small business no less than a year ago in Sacramento) period. I’m not picking on Sports because it’s easy.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Apr 27, 2008 1:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Not So Fast

Anyone who knows downtown Sac politics knows that this race is far from over… one of the candidates has to get over 50 percent by the first election in early June. KJ was leading in the polls, and will definitely slip now.

The hatred for Fargo is so great city-wide right now, though, that it’s doubtful she gets 50 percent by June, meaning that this thing is going to the general election in November where majority wins. Plenty of time for KJ to right the ship or sink. Whatever happens, a re-election of Fargo is a mjor step backwards for the city of Sacramento

by King_Me on Apr 26, 2008 4:45 PM PDT reply actions

I suspect

she meant that there would be no point in backing any proposal the Bee came out against as strongly as they did last time. Although I had my own WTF moment when I first read her response.

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Apr 26, 2008 6:26 PM PDT reply actions

Heather Fargo is the Queen Douche

Who remembers her nay vote against the Kings in 1997? (I do.)

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Apr 27, 2008 1:49 AM PDT up reply actions

I'd forgotten her vote against Jim Thomas.

but I did remember her support as far back as 2001 and, of course, the debacle where the Maloofs hung the city government out to dry.

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Apr 27, 2008 11:26 PM PDT reply actions

One thing is for sure KK

The Maloof’s may be “Democrats” but they love Republicans to do their dirty work.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Apr 28, 2008 2:13 AM PDT up reply actions