Frank Beckmann, the WJR talk show host, asks in his Detroit News column Friday if Detroit and Michigan are doing the right thing when it comes to using taxpayer funds to finance the new hockey arena for the Red Wings as Detroit is bankrupt.
The column has attracted attention because it is one of the only examples of pushback against the area financing, and because of the source: Beckmann is an outspoken conservative and former sportscaster who still broadcasts University of Michigan football.
On the same day Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr was in bankruptcy court in Detroit, the state of Michigan announced a whopping $450 million bond project to build the new hockey arena for Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch. Another $200 million will be used to develop the area around the new arena for housing and retail projects.
"Sure, that’s a source of public pride, but in this case you’ll have to forgive those protesters who marched outside Detroit’s federal building to complain that their hard-earned pensions might be chopped or eliminated as a part of the city’s financial restructuring, if they’re not too excited about the announcement."
"As optics go, the arena funding press conference couldn’t have come at a worse time and was a grievous blunder by the Snyder administration and Detroit economic development officials."
Beckmann analyzes the financing and the arguments for using taxpayer money, and acknowledges no funds will come directly from Detroit's general fund.
"The issue is whether that should be done with taxpayer dollars, especially at a time when Detroit is in bankruptcy court and public employees are about to take an unwelcomed haircut."
