Prediction on H-burg/USM Tax Bond - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Oct 6, 2004

Prediction on H-burg/USM Tax Bond

Date: Oct 6, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Green Hornet
"Given the recent decisions by voters in Laurel and Lamar County, I predict that the Hattiesburg/USM Tax Bond election will meet a similar fate. Any one with different thoughts on this prediction? "

I agree with you, GH. I think come November 2 we will have a Pine Belt Trifecta with bond issues.

Date: Oct 7, 2004

A "Trifecta" is almost a sure thing, given recent events reported on WDAM of a restraining order being requested by the Hattiesburg School Superintendent against the Rev. F.

All the PR in the world is NOT going to put a good spin on this and the voters will not support this issue.

Date: Oct 7, 2004

But the difference here is that the bond issue on Nov. 2 is for supporting non-educational expenses at USM, correct? That seems to be a whole different animal to me. I agree that the same mindset may come into play, but for different reasons.

Date: Oct 7, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Green Hornet
"A "Trifecta" is almost a sure thing, given recent events reported on WDAM of a restraining order being requested by the Hattiesburg School Superintendent against the Rev. F. "

Would you provide some more info on this? I missed it.

Date: Oct 7, 2004

Fairley claims that Davis supports the bond issue and is therefore dragging students in the Hattiesburg school district into the issue. Fairley claims that the HHS/Meridian football game played at USM was a political ploy by Davis to gain support for the bond issue. Davis claims that Fairley threatened him at the HHS/Meridian football game and he has filed a temporary restraining order against Fairley.

Date: Oct 7, 2004

a more complete story on the Fairley-Davis dispute is here: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20041007/localnews/1374644.html

Date: Oct 8, 2004

More from the American. Magee is probably right: it is a mountain of a molehill. But by the time the ballots are cast, it is almost certain to doom the bond issue.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20041008/localnews/1381507.html

Date: Oct 8, 2004

(Ma) Gee, at least the problems in Hattiesburg aren't limited to Thames & Co.!!!!

Date: Oct 21, 2004

The American has an on-line poll and an article indicating that the ADP is supporting the Bond. Interesting that the new ADP pres will not be announced before the election.

Date: Oct 21, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Conspiracy Theorist
"The American has an on-line poll and an article indicating that the ADP is supporting the Bond. Interesting that the new ADP pres will not be announced before the election. "

The article states " . . . the board of directors voted unanimously to support passage of the $12 million Southern Miss bond issue for needed facility upgrades at eight athletic venues."

Uninamous, huh? Sounds to me like the ADP's board of directors is not in touch with the common folk of Hattiesburg.

Date: Oct 26, 2004

Time to punt (kick)

Date: Oct 26, 2004

Is there something in the contract with architects on USM's campus that they must be visually challenged.

The stadium renovation places all the luxury boxes in the endzone. Somehow paying thousands of dollars for an endzone seat doesn't seem like the most attractive situation. Why has there never been any effort to abandon the old stadium and start fresh with something that could help other schools in the area. A new stadium used by many might have prevented the need to build the Oak Grove Stadium.

With regard to other architecture the Trent Lott Center looks like an old Post Office collided with a Carnegie Library on 49 and the wreck was pulled to the side of the road. Even the old field house had more style.

Is anybody in Hattiesburg even awake anymore.

Date: Oct 26, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Eagle
"Is there something in the contract with architects on USM's campus that they must be visually challenged.

The stadium renovation places all the luxury boxes in the endzone. Somehow paying thousands of dollars for an endzone seat doesn't seem like the most attractive situation. Why has there never been any effort to abandon the old stadium and start fresh with something that could help other schools in the area. A new stadium used by many might have prevented the need to build the Oak Grove Stadium.

With regard to other architecture the Trent Lott Center looks like an old Post Office collided with a Carnegie Library on 49 and the wreck was pulled to the side of the road. Even the old field house had more style.

Is anybody in Hattiesburg even awake anymore."

In response to your last question, NO there is nobody awake at the controls. The Trent Lott building (to replace the old Sports Arena is out of place with the surrounding architecture (Stadium and Athletic Center) and is only being placed there to be seen from Hwy 49. Stadium renovations to close the North endzone would be better suited to include a new HPR building and teaching space (because of the lost space from the Sports Arena) Not much thought is being done by this administration.

Date: Oct 26, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Eagle
"Is there something in the contract with architects on USM's campus that they must be visually challenged. The stadium renovation places all the luxury boxes in the endzone. Somehow paying thousands of dollars for an endzone seat doesn't seem like the most attractive situation."

Eagle--

I found a link to today's American that has a picture of the endzone expansion luxury sky boxes; but the text of the article indicates that architects for the project have yet to be chosen. So the picture is nothing but a guess, I guess.

The athletic supporters among us should find the following quote provocative: "I don't think conference reshuffling is over, and I want USM to be one of the schools considered for being included in a good conference." So there, C-USA!

Oh yeah, here's the link:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20041026/localnews/1482237.html

I get the feeling that, notwithstanding the "sweeping view of the field," the real reason for the $32,000 per year skyboxes is twofold: (1) segregate the wealthy elite from the hoi polloi; and (2) provide a venue for business development (a euphemism for upscale partying.) "If you're a business, you get so much better response getting (clients) to come in and sit in a sky box rather than sit on bleacher seats."

Actually, the folks sitting up there will get a good view of the running lanes as they open up, and they will have a good view of the play at their end of the field. When the play is at the other end, well, "each box will include a television."

By the way, do you think the University will assiduously enforce the "no alcoholic beverages" rule in the new sky boxes? With apologies to George Orwell: All fans are equal, but some are more equal than others.

Date: Oct 26, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
"By the way, do you think the University will assiduously enforce the "no alcoholic beverages" rule in the new sky boxes? With apologies to George Orwell: All fans are equal, but some are more equal than others."

Oink!

An excellent reason to buy a $32,000 sky box -- to be able to drink at a ballgame.

Date: Oct 27, 2004

How do they know what the skyboxes will cost if they don't even have an architect? I have an inlaw who's an architect. He would throw up if he saw the picture that was in the paper.

Date: Oct 27, 2004

It's interesting to note how the paper repeatedly stresses that no bond money will go to the luxury seating. But by using the bond money to pay for necessary repairs and facilities, university money is freed up for a more controversial use. Thus, the bond money IS making the sky boxes possible.

Date: Oct 27, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Shell Game
"It's interesting to note how the paper repeatedly stresses that no bond money will go to the luxury seating. But by using the bond money to pay for necessary repairs and facilities, university money is freed up for a more controversial use. Thus, the bond money IS making the sky boxes possible."

This sounds remarkably like an economics argument. Perhaps if we learned more real economics and less pseudo-economics more people would understand. It's all about choice, yes?

Date: Oct 27, 2004

Sounds to me like somebody sat down and tried to come up with some sort of justification for the proposed skyboxes. Sounds like those feeble justifications are being parroted by the bond issue supporters. What a bunch of rhetoric nonsense.

Date: Oct 27, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Ghost Writers in the Skyboxes
"Sounds to me like somebody sat down and tried to come up with some sort of justification for the proposed skyboxes. Sounds like those feeble justifications are being parroted by the bond issue supporters. What a bunch of rhetoric nonsense. "

In the tradition of Klumb, Thames, Mader, Dvorak and the departed Hanbury and the Blame It On Tim Team.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Shell Game
"It's interesting to note how the paper repeatedly stresses that no bond money will go to the luxury seating. But by using the bond money to pay for necessary repairs and facilities, university money is freed up for a more controversial use. Thus, the bond money IS making the sky boxes possible."

This is a very good point: Paying for one thing does free up other funds to pay for something else. One point of clarification, though. At least in theory, it will not be "university money" that is freed up for the more controversial use of building sky boxes. The boxes are paid for by the individuals and businesses that will be leasing them.

Changing subject at bit: I received in Wednesday's mail a brochure urging a vote against the bond issue. This solicitation was paid for not by Rev. Fairley's group, No Not Now, but by an organization named Enough is Enough. The brochure emphasizes the "high-end upgrades and new constuction of USM athletic facilities" and employs some high powered hyperbole: "Local families will be forced to pay more to feed their children -- is that fair?"

This is the first I have heard of this group. Anybody know anything about them?

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
" Anybody know anything about them?"

I heard one of their ads on the radio late last week. The gist seemed to be that if the out of town revenues do not reach the expected bond amount then homeowners will be required to pay the difference through a multi-year increase in property taxes. An example of how this previously happened to Hattiesburg residents (was it over the convention center?) was provided. Actually, I think the ad was targeted against improvements to the convention center now that I am remembering it. The ad ends with "Enough is Enough" and there is no relation to this old FireShelby website poster.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

If there are fat cats want to sit in skyboxes to watch football games, let them shell out the sufficient funds, up front, to pay for them out of their own pocket. Otherwise, let them sit in the stands with the rest of us. These letters to the editor, and other orchestrated support of the bond issue, are getting quite irritating. USM would be well advised to begin to pay more attention to the academic mission entrusted to them by the taxpayers. When it becomes a tier 1 institution (not in our lifetime), it might consider skyboxes from private - not public - revenue.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
"This is the first I have heard of this group. Anybody know anything about them?"

I didn't know they were working against the Hattiesburg bond issue. Enough Is Enough is a group that opposes the MS Coast Coliseum bond issue. But it could be the same bunch of guys, who knows?

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"I didn't know they were working against the Hattiesburg bond issue. Enough Is Enough is a group that opposes the MS Coast Coliseum bond issue. But it could be the same bunch of guys, who knows?"

From a Sun-Herald article:

The Harrison County Chapter of Enough is Enough, a newly formed statewide network that opposes taxes, questions whether the convention center is needed and warns that local property owners could pick up the bill if lodging taxes fail to produce projected revenues because of a hurricane or terrorist attack.

A statewide anti-tax group would bear watching by anyone who has an interest in strong public education as well...

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Taxation Without Representation Is...
" From a Sun-Herald article: The Harrison County Chapter of Enough is Enough, a newly formed statewide network that opposes taxes, . . ."

Thanks for the information. I found this interesting piece:

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/9876955.htm

I wonder at the apparent conflict between the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association (organizers of the "Enough is Enough" campaign) and the numerous Hattiesburg restaurateurs who are actively involved in the "Win-Win" Campaign in support of the bond issue.

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it, too?

Date: Oct 28, 2004

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Date: Oct 28, 2004

RE: Prediction on H-burg/USM Tax Bond

Date: Oct 28, 2004

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