Seattle mayor makes pitches to NBA and DOJ
Jun 12, 2012, 4:44 AM | Updated: 6:16 am
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has gone straight to the top to address two of the cities biggest issues, the police and a proposed new arena in SoDo. (97.3 KIRO FM/file)
(97.3 KIRO FM/file)
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has gone straight to the top to address two of the cities biggest issues, the police and a proposed new arena in SoDo.
On Monday, the mayor met with NBA commissioner David Stern in New York to pitch a return of the NBA to Seattle. A spokesman says the mayor wanted Stern to understand the city’s commitment.
A hedge-fund manager has proposed building a nearly $500 million arena south of Safeco and CenturyLink fields in Seattle. The amount of public support would be $200 million if an NBA and NHL franchise moved to Seattle.
McGinn backs the plan. The city council and King County Council are scrutinizing the proposal.
To deal with another big issue in Seattle, McGinn will also be meeting with the head of the justice department’s civil rights division in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.
McGinn reportedly wants to try and smooth over the relations with the DOJ to avoid facing a lawsuit over changes to the police department.
The Seattle Times reports the mayor will tell Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez of his desire to keep working on a settlement.
Mayor McGinn heads to Orlando for the rest of the week for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
