By The Situation:
- NUMMI auto manufacturing plant: The imminent closing of the New United Motors Manufacturing plant (NUMMI) is fast approaching the March 2010 shut down date. This successful joint venture with Toyota and General Motors, a mainstay of manufacturing in Fremont for nearly 25 years, is coming to an end with the dissolution of the partnership because of GM’s bankruptcy issues. Since the prospect of other car manufacturers using the plant have failed, alternative uses have been explored by the City of Fremont and others. To date, no viable plans have solidified.
- Oakland Athletics: In 2008, Fremont was also in the news as a contender for a new baseball stadium for the Athletics, currently in Oakland. The site originally proposed at the south end of the Pacific Commons shopping center at Highway 880 and Auto Mall Parkway was defeated by strong opposition from retailers in the center. Additional sites were also defeated by residents on the east side of Highway 880.
Turn of Events:
- There is now a revived interest in reconsidering Fremont for a new, 36,000-seat stadium at the soon to be vacated NUMMI plant location. The proposed stadium complex would be within walking distance of the new BART stop which will be completed in 2014.
A major sports arena has a big impact on any community, both positive and negative. Here are some thoughts in both directions.
Pros:
- Boosts local economy by providing hundreds of new job opportunities during construction and beyond.
- Brings in needed revenue to Fremont city coffers
- Stimulates businesses around new facility
- Spawns new business and employment as a result of the new baseball stadium
- Is a ‘feather in the cap’ for any city to have a major league sports stadium
Cons:
- Traffic will increase on game days
- Crime may increase
- Additional costs to city for clean up, security and police
- Funding of stadium still not resolved: private vs. public funding
- If the stadium is not successful in increasing attendance for the Athletics, what will happen to the facility?
What is your ‘take ‘on a major sports arena in Fremont?
January 29th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Here’s my take.
Since March of last year, Fremont city management have been “developing” a generous package wherein the taxpayers of Fremont will forego such luxuries as manning all of our fire stations, proper police protection, street maintenance, etc. to buy 120 acres of NUMMI land to GIVE to the A’s in the hope that Mr. Wolff might return to the idea of building a stadium in Fremont.
Mr. Diaz proposes that this will spur economic development. However, ALL current research on stadiums shows that they are NOT economic engines. They create some low-paying, seasonal, part-time jobs, but offset even that with the crippling highway traffic that drives away customers for nearby businesses and spurs skyrocketing increases in crime.
Remember too, that this land will be purchased at market rate from NUMMI, that there is a looming cost of toxic cleanup, and that all of this will come from public tax dollars years before a single dollar of sales tax revenue might be seen from this investment. If rational minds thought this was a bad idea when the A’s were willing to pay for the land, the property tax, and $1 million to the General Fund, it is not a better deal when our taxes pay for the land. This is an unsolicited gift.
Mr. Diaz needs to look at the recent decline in city services, the rise in crime, and the dissatisfaction of our residents. He must realize that every time he moves a dollar to the Redevelopment Fund, he is also taking away 75 cents from our schools. The city says it has “nothing to do with the schools”. That is not true. Diaz’ proposal would take away education dollars the schools desperately need. Yet, Fremont is currently trying to increase the maximum limit on this “redevelopment account” to $1.5 BILLION– perhaps to pay for this venture. If we reach that amount, the city will actually have taken away a net sum of $685 million from our schools. The school district will be trying to get part of this back from local taxpayers in the form of an additional parcel tax in the fall.
If Fremont is willing make this sacrifice, and provide land to foster economic growth, it should make its gift to an industry where the salaries of any new jobs will allow the employees to live in Fremont, to contribute to our local economy, and invest back into our schools. Plenty of other industries would jump at such an opportunity and bring a higher return on our investment.