Baseball Is Expensive

Taxpayers beware.

The proposal to build a minor league baseball stadium is probably going to cost you lots of money. How much is anyone’s guess. The economic fact of life is that minor league clubs don’t generate much income and therefore expect their rent and much of their stadium operating expenses to be subsidized. It seems most folks won’t pay much to watch the minors when they can watch the majors free on television.

From the news reports it appears that certain politicians and groups supporting the stadium have kept the potential financial impact to the taxpayers well hidden from public view or have not done their homework on the subject. After the councils OKd the study some months ago, the next thing we hear is that the study is completed and the councils, with only a few weeks’ notice, were hastily being urged to approve a joint powers agreement and financial plan for the proposed ballpark.

I urge every member of the Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo city councils not to get “in bed” with this special interest until the public has been informed and has had the opportunity to consider and debate whether this is a wise use of scarce public funds.

RICHARD A. WEINSTOCK, Ventura