You really want to like these guys. They are personable. They say and do all the right things. They are always there for charity and it seems like they want to win.
It is O.K. if they want to invest in loony political candidates. It is less O.K. when they claim poverty when putting a competitive team on the field is discussed. Now, one day after Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles came up with a budget cutting plan that would make us work until we were 68, chop Medicare and cut a path through American life: the Cubs want a tax break.
They want the Cubs to prosper and they want to renovate Wrigley Field.
The fans want that too.
The Cubs say that they are the third largest tourist attraction in Illinois, They generate $600 million in revenue and provide 7,000 jobs. They pay $60 million in taxes annually. All they want is a portion of the 12% city and county amusement tax to be kicked back. They promise to sink all of it into $200 million of Wrigley Field renovations.
Sounds good.
But…
If the financially strapped county and city implemented the 12% tax, they did it for a reason. Revenue has to be generated to cover city and county expenses. No one has suggested that these taxing bodies have a surplus.
No one wants to pay taxes, but the ticket holder is going to pay the 12% only it will go to the Cubs instead of the government. The Cubs say this will be painless.
Across the city and Wrigleyville there are theater companies and music venues. The 12% amusement tax is applied to them as well. If they are struggling to survive the city and the county will not consider a tax break to keep them afloat. True, they don’t employ 7,000 and they never will pay $60 million in taxes, but what they do is equally important to the fabric of life in the city.
The Ricketts family bought this business, knowing the problems involved. You assume that there was some building inspection. You would assume that there were some cost estimates concerning planned improvements and building. Did they assume also that the taxpayer would foot the bill?
There is a hint of coming blackmail in the Cubs proposal. “The team will commit to play in Wrigley Field over the long run and to remain in the field during construction so, in this difficult economy,local businesses will continue to enjoy revenues the Cubs help attract” In other words, if we don’t get what we want, we’ll tear the place down and take the Cubs somewhere with a more appreciative fan base.
We keep hearing about the size of government and the tough measures we have to take. Admittedly we all are faced with some hard choices, but allowing a multi-million dollar business manipulate us is not the answer.
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