General Ongoing Coyotes saga thread

[troutman]

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
Judge Fink: There was a request that I invalidate the entire ordinance. I'm only willing to say section 7 is inoperable. #Coyotes

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
Judge Fink: I expect to enter an order soon. #Coyotes

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
#Coyotes hearing adjourned. Judge Fink leaves chambers.

[troutman]

Here is the real end game:

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
#Glendale resident/plaintiff Joe Cobb says he'll start gathering signatures from those against #Coyotes deal tomorrow.

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by troutman

Here is the real end game:

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
#Glendale resident/plaintiff Joe Cobb says he'll start gathering signatures from those against #Coyotes deal tomorrow.

Is he related to Bob Cobb?

[fundmark19]

So it is up to the public now?

[troutman]

Referendum on Coyotes agreement can go forward

http://ktar.com/22/1554288/Referendum-on-Coyotes-agreement-can-go-forward

Residents now have 30 days from the June 8 Glendale City Council vote to gather signatures for a public referendum on the agreement.

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
Referendum on #Coyotes deal would require 1,862 valid signatures from #Glendale residents.

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
The deadline is more complicated. It's 30 days after #Glendale council vote on deal but there could be exceptions made. #Coyotres

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
After signatures are filed, #Glendale gets 20 business days to process and randomly review 5 percent of the signatures. #Coyotes

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
Next, Maricopa County recorder gets 15 days to do the same. And finally, #Glendale gets 72 business hours to do final processing. #Coyotes

[landshark]

Here in the US, signature gathering is easy. There are businesses that will help (for a price). There will be no problem gathering 20k signatures. The referendum will easily pass. This is a serious problem for the coyotes...

[Stealth22]

Okay, I haven't been following this whole story that well. So if the Glendale public votes against all of this, then Glendale's lease agreement (read: subsidy) gets shot down?

[Tsawwassen]

Another episode in the never ending series of As The World Turns.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by landshark

Here in the US, signature gathering is easy. There are businesses that will help (for a price). There will be no problem gathering 20k signatures. The referendum will easily pass. This is a serious problem for the coyotes...

But is that right that all they need is 1862 signatures? Wow. I don't even think that would be hard in Calgary, never mind in Phoenix where it sure seems that there is a significant division between people who want the team and people who don't.

When will the NHL comment on any of this? Surely they're recognizing that the team is done in Phoenix.

[troutman]

Could Glendale voters derail Greg Jamison’s bid for Phoenix Coyotes?

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl...1741--nhl.html

Joyce Clark, a pro-arena deal member of the Glendale City Council, took to Twitter regarding the referendum:

"Coyotes Troops: It's not over until the fat lady sings and this fat lady isn't singing yet. The opposition has to get 1862 valid signatures and turn them in on July 9 (July 8 is a Sunday). They really need at least 2450 to account for invalid signatures and they have to do it in 18 days with a long July 4th weekend. I'm not saying it's not do-able but it will be very, very difficult."

And from Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal:

The move could essentially kill Jamison's bid to buy the team from the National Hockey League either by squelching the favorable arena deal or scaring off investors by dragging out the process. "That's their real goal," said one official familiar with the Coyotes deal.

A Coyotes' ballot measure could be teamed with a potential referendum backed by Glendale car dealers against a proposed city sales tax increase.

Glendale City Attorney Craig Tindall said the city won’t try legally to keep the Coyotes referendum off the ballot but will look at how the ballot measure is worded and whether enough signatures are collected. Maricopa Superior Court Judge Dean Fink did not rule Tuesday on the Goldwater lawsuit to void the deal. That could come on Thursday.

[Muta]

If there's alot more Glendale hockey non-supporters than hockey supporters, the Coyotes are in trouble regarding collecting signatures. I don't see why the average person would want their taxes increased in order to really support one private (non-essential, to boot) organization. What about the thousands and thousands of other business in the area that aren't getting this type of red carpet?

I don't think 1862 signatures is hard to get AT ALL. that Joyce Clark lady is just sticking her head in the sand as the apocalypse arrives.

[troutman]

http://informglendale.com/

This website exists not because we are Coyotes fans, but because we are residents of Arizona who are concerned that the facts of the Coyotes lease deal with Glendale aren’t being provided to you, the citizens. The people/groups that are giving you their “enhanced” version of the facts have their own agendas [pot meet kettle]: they benefit from the prolonged legal battle while you, the citizens, suffer the consequences.

I would say half the listed "facts" are not facts - either untrue, or unfounded speculation.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Slava

But is that right that all they need is 1862 signatures? Wow. I don't even think that would be hard in Calgary, never mind in Phoenix where it sure seems that there is a significant division between people who want the team and people who don't.

When will the NHL comment on any of this? Surely they're recognizing that the team is done in Phoenix.

I'm pretty sure the signatures have to be from residents of Glendale, not all of the Phoenix area, so getting to the target isn't quite as easy as it seems.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Muta

If there's alot more Glendale hockey non-supporters than hockey supporters, the Coyotes are in trouble regarding collecting signatures. I don't see why the average person would want their taxes increased in order to really support one private (non-essential, to boot) organization. What about the thousands and thousands of other business in the area that aren't getting this type of red carpet?

I don't think 1862 signatures is hard to get AT ALL. that Joyce Clark lady is just sticking her head in the sand as the apocalypse arrives.

Looking at it as a hockey supporters vs. non-supporters is missing the real issue, which is whether or not this deal is a better financial move for Glendale than seeing the Coyotes leave town. It's not about supporting on private organisation, it's about dealing with the fact that they're paying for that arena one way or another and doing so in the best possible way.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by valo403

I'm pretty sure the signatures have to be from residents of Glendale, not all of the Phoenix area, so getting to the target isn't quite as easy as it seems.

Should be interesting. A table at this Mall would likely garner plenty of signatures. I imagine this deal is hugely unpopular in Glendale.

http://www.arrowheadtownecenter.com/

[Muta]

Originally Posted by valo403

Looking at it as a hockey supporters vs. non-supporters is missing the real issue, which is whether or not this deal is a better financial move for Glendale than seeing the Coyotes leave town. It's not about supporting on private organisation, it's about dealing with the fact that they're paying for that arena one way or another and doing so in the best possible way.

I can agree with that; the only flaw with what you're saying is that you're giving the public too much credit. Generally, most people who don't understand the situation will see this as a move to support the Coyotes, and sign accordingly. That will be unfortunate for the pro-arena deal people, but that will be reality.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Muta

I can agree with that; the only flaw with what you're saying is that you're giving the public too much credit. Generally, most people who don't understand the situation will see this as a move to support the Coyotes, and sign accordingly. That will be unfortunate for the pro-arena deal people, but that will be reality.

Agreed, call it wishful thinking

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by troutman

Should be interesting. A table at this Mall would likely garner plenty of signatures. I imagine this deal is hugely unpopular in Glendale.

http://www.arrowheadtownecenter.com/

That is the most interesting part to me, are residents of Glendale really invested in this, either for or against? Or is this so far off the radar for them due to the typical apathy found in most areas these days.

I will be interested to hear how the collection of signatures goes.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by troutman

Should be interesting. A table at this Mall would likely garner plenty of signatures. I imagine this deal is hugely unpopular in Glendale.

http://www.arrowheadtownecenter.com/

I agree it likely is, the manner in which the council has pushed it through likely swayed a lot of people.

The big question (assuming they get the signatures) is whether Jamison is willing to go through the whole process in the hopes it passes, or willing to go back to the drawing board on different terms if it doesn't. I'd imagine that he'll be departing from the picture relatively soon.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by valo403

I'm pretty sure the signatures have to be from residents of Glendale, not all of the Phoenix area, so getting to the target isn't quite as easy as it seems.

Originally Posted by troutman

Should be interesting. A table at this Mall would likely garner plenty of signatures. I imagine this deal is hugely unpopular in Glendale.

http://www.arrowheadtownecenter.com/

Ya, fair enough I guess I should've specified just Glendale. Even so though Glendale has a population of about 226k. Like troutman notes a table in a mall for a few days would probably get you pretty close.

My point about Calgary is that if you did a similar thing here and had to get 8-10k signatures I think that it would be fairly simple with a "should we increase taxes to support this private business?" angle. (I picked 8-10k for the signatures just based on the population size).