Oh See How They Spin!

Governor Ed Rendell has come out in the media, print and television, stating that he is trying ever so hard to negotiate some sort of arena plan with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Stating that their proposed plan to get the single stand alone slots license for Pittsburgh is tying his hands. The Penguins, as has been well publicized, have partnered with the Isle of Capri in the hopes of winning the slots license. If the Isle of Capri is to win the license, they have pledged to give $290 million to construct a new arena, not just for the Penguins, but for the city of Pittsburgh. There is also a plan to complete almost $1 billion dollars of renovation, revitalization and development in an area of the city that certainly needs it with ZERO burden on the taxpayers. In the Isle of Capri deal, the Penguins have agreed not to enter into negotiations on a "plan B." As one might expect. A business partner tends to hold you to a deal that you have agreed to, so as not to be left high and dry when you broker some sort of side situation.

This is where it gets very shady. Rendell is spinning the story. He is trying to turn the perception of this situation to one in which the Penguins are painted as uncooperative, and unwilling to consider any of his suggestions or possibilities for a new arena. Here is a news flash for you Eddie, you were not willing to come up with any alternatives for a new arena during the last 4 years. All of a sudden you have found the magic plan that wasn't available in the past. You also seem very willing to throw the taxpayers of the region right under the bus now, in saying that the there are many possibilities and alternatives. Your media spin in this situation is serving as nothing more than the smoking gun. A smoking gun that screams out the fact that you just may have made a promise to someone about this slots license. How can you tell the Penguins that the plan they have come up with in regard to the slots license is one that they shouldn't be "married too" as was mentioned in today's Post Gazette. They have been told for many years that their only hope for an arena in this region was to try and secure the license. No public monies were available. Well, please tell me Ed, how is it that now; when their plan is close to being head and shoulders above the other applicants, there are alternatives? If there were alternatives and you were willing to be so helpful, it should have been mentioned well before today.

Fortunately for you Fast Eddie, the majority of voters in this area have still not realized that they were not going to have to pay a dime if the the Penguins were to win the license and your allegations will convince them that the team isn't being flexible. Just realize that most people who have followed the arena fight since 1999, when Mario Lemiuex took this team out of bankuptcy, understand that you are full of lies and false promises. Funny how your home town, Philadelphia, has a pretty new Baseball Park, a pretty new Football stadium and lastly, that's right a new arena. Standing right across the street from the old one....one that must still be in pretty good shape since it is used almost as frequently as the new one! Enjoy your run in office now....I am sure it is your last.