On October 15, 2013, a new organization called “Voters for a Fair Arena Deal” held a press conference at Sacramento City Hall to announce a new campaign to collect voter signatures on petitions to place a fiscal accountability ordinance on the ballot in the City of Sacramento.
The “Voter Approval for Public Funding of Professional Sports Arena Act” states the following:
The City of Sacramento shall not use or redirect, undertake an obligation to pay, or bond or borrow against monies intended for or from the City general fund for the development and/or construction of a professional sports arena without the approval of a simple majority of voters.
Leaders of the organization are making a deliberate attempt to distance themselves from another organization called “Stop Arena Subsidy” (STOP), which qualified the petition but then made some poor strategic decisions about its name, message, and sources of funding.
Contractors opposed to the union deal to impose a Project Labor Agreement on construction of the proposed new Sacramento Kings arena (the “Entertainment and Sports Center”) are funding the signature-gathering efforts of “Voters for a Fair Arena Deal.”
Interesting test of political strategy: will mayor’s deal with unions for Project Labor Agreement pay off or be #NBAKings arena downfall?
— Kevin Dayton (@DaytonPubPolicy) October 15, 2013
If you are a registered voter within the boundaries of the City of Sacramento, you can obtain a petition and instructions to help place the Voter Approval for Public Funding of Professional Sports Arena Act on the ballot:
On the “Voters for a Fair Arena Deal” web site: http://ourcityourvote.com/petition/
On the “Stop Arena Subsidy” web site: http://www.stoparenasubsidy.com/signature-petitions/
Documents from “Voters for a Fair Arena Deal”
October 15, 2013 – Media Advisory – Voters for a Fair Arena Deal – Sacramento Kings
October 15, 2013 – Press Release – Voters for a Fair Arena Deal – Sacramento Kings
October 15, 2013 – Ten Principles – Voters for a Fair Arena Deal – Sacramento Kings
October 15, 2013 – Campaign Code of Conduct – Voters for a Fair Arena Deal – Sacramento Kings
Opposition Response
www.DowntownArena.org – Supporting the Arena Is Sponsored by Region Builders, Inc. – “Lipstick on a Pig” – October 15, 2013
News Coverage
New Group Forms to Combat Kings Arena Subsidy - Sacramento Bee - October 15, 2013
New Kings Arena Draws Fan Attention – and New Opponent - Sacramento Bee – October 16, 2013
Sacramento’s Arena Deal Has a New Player – www.CalWatchdog.com – October 16, 2013
Voters for a Fair Arena Deal Forms Today to Gather Initiative Signatures, Change Tone of Arena Discourse - Sacramento News & Review – October 15, 2013
New Group Emerges in Campaign for Public Vote on Arena Deal – Fox News 40 (KTXL) – October 15, 2013
New Sacramento Arena Group to Help Force Public Vote: Group Will Help STOP Gather Signatures – CBS News 3 (KCRA) – October 15, 2013