After two hurricanes ravaged the Tampa Bay area, local politicians decided to take a rare moment of introspection and ask an important question: Does the local government really want to give a multi-billion dollar private company hundred of millions of dollars when tens of thousands of residents are under financial duress?
The answer was yes, and it took 49 days to be sure.
Now the Rays want more.
Following the County vote to approve issuing the bonds — which must be sold in time for the County to fulfill it’s obligation to have funds available by the end of April — Tampa Bay Rays co-President Matt Silverman issued the following statement:
“It was unsurprising to see the Commissioners acknowledge how important the Tampa Bay Rays and our stadium development agreement are to this community and its citizens.