How Will "We" Fund It?
As I read through the articles about Stadium renderings, statements from elected officials and editorials from our local new agencies, I am constantly weighing how I should craft my next long form piece. It's a daunting task.
One thing that I am certain of is the dedication of Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and The Cleveland Plain Dealer to deliver Regionalism to Northeast Ohio.
On July 7th Cleveland.com unveiled their proposal of a 1/4% Sales Tax across the 9 County Region to fund Public Stadiums and Airports. Very similar to what I predicted back in May. Since then, we have been hit with article after article surrounding the plans. From the Browns releasing renderings of the $2.4 Billion Dollar domed Stadium in Brook Park, to Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's $461 Million Dollar offer, to this piece on the statement from Cuyahoga County. Opinions and ideas are plentiful, but everyone keeps coming up blank when it comes to funding. I find it highly suspicious that Cleveland.com wallows through these murky waters without ever mentioning the Regional Sales Tax solution that they spent so much effort creating and are supposedly so proud of. The one thing that I have grown to understand in my years studying the reporting of the local media, is that the truth often lies within the confines of what is omitted.
So, as everyone gets sucked into the drama surrounding the future of Cleveland Browns Stadium, don't lose sight on the fact that the solution that they still have in their back pocket is the one they presented in the first place. One that promises to transform the future of Northeast Ohio for generations.