[Alerts] Nader and League of Fans' letter to NJ Gov. McGreevey on subsidies

[Shawn McCarthy]

Ralph Nader, League of Fans Praise New Jersey Governor James McGreevey 
for Ruling Out New Subsidies for Nets and Devils

Today, Ralph Nader and the sports industry watchdog League of Fans sent 
a letter to New Jersey Governor James McGreevey praising his August 26 
announcement that there will be no new state subsidies for current or 
future owners of the New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils. In the face 
of a $5 billion state budget deficit, the owners of the two teams and 
their potential buyers, have been actively seeking public subsidies for 
a new arena in downtown Newark and have threatened to move across the 
Hudson River to New York City if New Jersey refuses to pay for most of 
the cost. The letter follows:

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September 5, 2003

The Honorable James E. McGreevey
Governor of New Jersey

Dear Governor McGreevey:

We would like to commend you for your courage and leadership in ruling 
out any new state subsidies for current or future owners of the New 
Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils.

It is encouraging to know that there is a principled Governor who 
refuses to broadside citizens by dropping the burden of increasing 
profits for wealthy team owners on the backs of taxpayers. Too often, 
that is not the case. Following more than a decade of irresponsible 
choices by elected state and city leaders across the country regarding 
the allocation of taxpayer subsidies where there are sports owners 
concerned, the deficiencies in funding for pressing real life needs have 
worsened.

As you are aware, despite the economic boom of the 90's, we witnessed 
how the public assets of our states and cities were neglected and left 
to fail while the profits of the economy overwhelmingly reached those at 
the top. This was due in no small part to an attitude in state and local 
government that was reflected in the flood of sweetheart deals our 
elected leaders provided for sports franchise owners. All the while 
strapping our state and local governments with large amounts of debt and 
neglected public works, government officials fattened the wallets of 
team owners by building them new stadiums and arenas, giving them all 
revenues generated in and around those facilities, and providing them 
with tax breaks that no average citizen enjoys.

Now in a period of fiscal uncertainty and in the face of threats that 
the Nets and Devils could move to New York, you have come forward to 
proclaim that "There is simply no justification for state dollars being 
used to guarantee the profits of team owners. . . . in New Jersey, those 
days are over."

Gov. McGreevey, other elected leaders should follow your example and 
remember that their first duty is to the people they represent, not to 
super-wealthy sports moguls or their phony contention that public 
subsidies are needed for their teams to compete. Please hold to this 
conviction and see leagueoffans.org for more information about 
taxpayer-subsidized stadiums and arenas.

Sincerely,

Ralph Nader

Shawn McCarthy
League of Fans

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If you'd like to help, League of Fans asks supporters to thank Governor 
McGreevey for his leadership and encourage him to keep his word 
regarding subsidies for the Nets and Devils. His contact information 
follows:

The Honorable James E. McGreevey
Governor of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

tel (609) 292-6000
fax (609) 292-3454

Use this page to email the Governor: 
http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html

Please distribute widely, especially to friends in New Jersey.

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www.leagueoffans.org