Slicked again

The readers' forum received numerous letters over the weekend in anticipation of last night's Winston-Salem City Council meeting on additional funding for the downtown baseball park. We were unable to print many of these letters before the meeting.

In addition, our deadline for today's pages fell before the meeting began, but we decided to print these letters anyway, not knowing the outcome of the council's vote, or whether a vote would be taken. We will continue to print additional letters on the stadium throughout the week.

Slicked again

I read with disgust your article about giving $12 million, then $15.7 million, to slick baseball promoters ("City's cost: $15.7 million more to play ball," June 12). The citizens voted against major league baseball a few years back. Let's face it, the promoters of class-A baseball slicked Mayor Allen Joines and the city council, and they will be slicked again if they agree to put more taxpayer money into a great big white elephant -- or should I say a great big red elephant?

If the city wanted a new ballpark, it should have convinced the voters to support it and then built it and leased it to the promoters. The city council will argue that the city will own it after 25 years; really, what will be the value of the stadium then?

JOHN A. REDDING

Lewisville

Further involvement

In reference to the article "A stadium in the balance?" (June 14) I am grateful that Forsyth County has limited its involvement in this project. However, I have concern about the comment by Forsyth County Commissioner Debra Conrad, that an unfinished ballpark would be "a symbol of failure" for the city. I worry that this comment is paving the way for Forsyth County's further involvement in this project, which would be "rich-people welfare."

Forsyth County has no business paying for Billy Prim's bad business decisions.

PHYLLIS O'FLAHERTY

Kernersville

Grievous insult

To announce a stadium bailout Friday ("City's cost: $15.7 million more to play ball," June 12) and vote on it only three days later is a grievous insult to the taxpayers and voters who elected the Winston-Salem City Council and Mayor Allen Joines.

These officeholders represent the people of this city, not Billy Prim or his need to buy out Andrew "Flip" Filipowski.

At the very least, the council should give the voters sufficient time to study the full details of this package. Does it put Prim's bank lenders ahead of the taxpayers in the event the ball club goes bankrupt?

AL PERRY

Winston-Salem

It can be done

No one is happy about the status of the baseball stadium, but I see no reasonable option other than to get it completed. And, if things are done right, the city can recoup its loan money and then some.

I lived in the St. Petersburg, Fla., area when people screamed bloody murder about building the Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium. That arena turned that city around 180 degrees. It was dead; now it is a great place to be -- not only the stadium, but museums, the arts, restaurants, the pier, et al. It can be done.

First impressions are very important. We need to look to the positive impression this stadium will give to people who might like to move here, visit here or just pass through.

MARY DICKINSON

Winston-Salem

A vision for Winston-Salem

We are lucky to have a mayor with a vision for Winston-Salem and the determination and energy to try to make it a reality. We have lost tens of thousands of jobs over the last few years, and the stadium project, in conjunction with other initiatives, can help us replace them. I much prefer having someone in a place of leadership who is willing to take reasonable risks than one who sits on his or her hands and carefully measures the political costs if the unexpected and unwelcomed occurs -- as in this case.

Who could have imagined that a family squabble would place the city's leadership in such a pickle? Mayor Allen Joines and the Winston-Salem City Council, acting on our behalf, have been deliberate and responsible in crafting the city's role. Unfortunately, an unforeseen crisis has presented itself, and they have no choice but to play the cards they have been dealt.

The stadium must be built, lest we lose our investment and credibility and become the national poster child for these troubled times. Going forward boldly will prove to be a wise decision.

Regardless of the issue, there is never a lack of naysayers. As for me, I support Mayor Joines and the city council and look forward to hearing the announcer say, "Play ball!" in the new stadium next year.

CARROLL HARDEN LEGGETT

Winston-Salem

For years

For years I believed money didn't grow on trees. Then I met Mayor Allen Joines and the Winston-Salem City Council.

RANDY M. PULLIAM

Pfafftown

Tell it all

The news that the public's ante on the downtown baseball stadium needs to be upped by $15.7 million does not sit well with local citizens. In 1882, William Vanderbilt of the New York Central Railroad answered a reporter's question about the railroad's duty to the public with the retort: "The public be damned!" The executives of Dell (you have no right to know about our layoffs) and Dash (give me $15.7 million more or else) are channeling Vanderbilt's utter disdain for the public.

Local citizens are reasonable people who understand tough economic times; they have plenty of first-hand experience. Had either the Prim partnership or Dell spoken directly and candidly to the public about their economic circumstances, the public might be forgiving or at least understanding. Instead, we had stories of the lack of stadium progress rooted in negotiations to disentangle a family partnership.

The first rule of public relations is "tell it all and tell it fast," especially if it is bad news. That way, you are treating your public partners with respect and generating some trust and good will, even in the face of adversity. Through their actions, Dash and Dell effectively told the public to go to blazes and quit pestering them -- until it is time for another cash infusion.

The concerned parties -- including business executives and local government leaders -- will be rebuked for their disregard of the public interest and careless treatment of the public purse. It is a pity, but they have earned it.

JOHN LLEWELLYN

Winston-Salem