Investor: Public should not have vote on new Seattle arena

Should the public have the final say on a new Seattle
arena? That question could be in the spotlight again
Wednesday when the investor behind the proposed new
facility in SoDo appears before the Seattle City Council
to testify on behalf of the project.

Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen says the answer should be
no, and urged officials to make the decision themselves in
testimony Tuesday before the King County Council

County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer, a veteran who
played a significant part in gaining approval for Safeco
Field, told Hansen while he didn’t doubt the investor’s
commitment to the project, taxpayers should have a say
since they are taking on some of the risk.

But Hansen said the lawmakers should do their jobs and
make the tough decisions themselves.

“Government would be dysfunctional if it required a public
vote of every single ordinance that was attempted to be
passed that’s why we have elected officials. That’s the
purpose of general elections for councilmembers and
governors and mayors,” Hansen said.

Hansen’s proposal calls for taxpayers in Seattle and King
County to contribute $200 million towards the new arena if
both an NBA and NHL franchise moved here.

Hansen argued taxpayers have already had a say, with
Seattle voters passing Initiative 91 in 2006. The measure
requires publicly funded sports arenas make a profit for
taxpayers.

But von Reichbauer countered, saying voters outside the city who
will also be taxed for the new arena have yet to be given
the chance to weigh in.

“My taxpayers in Federal Way, in
Auburn, in SeaTac, would like a say,” said von Reichbauer.