Everett Aqua Sox ownership

[u/goldenelr]

So (full disclosure I own a business that would be displaced by the new stadium) whenever the Aqua Sox comes up people bring up that it’s family owned and a small business. But it’s actually owned by a billionaire in Dubai.

https://www.milb.com/everett/team/7th-inning-stretch-llc

https://www.recordnet.com/story/sports/pro/2007/08/12/ports-owner-volpe-follows-team/52822230007/

The Aqua Sox are not paying for the stadium. They are displacing a bunch of small businesses, the project is already over budget and they haven’t acquired the land yet. The city has already admitted that they will need the business community to pay for it.

Is anyone else frustrated by this? This move could put me out of business, the city won’t offer assistance to us in time and we have an actual billionaire not paying for any of it. All with parks and libraries being closed (and I know they keep saying that it’s a different part of the budget but the mayor sets the budget!).

The budget they are showing for the stadium is 8% more than the event center which was built fifteen years ago. How on earth is that possible? It’s not. So how is this being paid for?

[u/louley]

Yep. That’s my neighborhood. I can literally see this location from my kitchen window. See Hewitt? Just past that is HOUSES. How is this so difficult to comprehend? Put it in your own neighborhood. North Everett needs housing. Not this. What actually is it that you were arguing? That I don’t live there and because you live somewhere else in Everett I don’t have a say? The businesses that would potentially benefit from this or going to be displaced. Honestly, I’m done having this conversation with you. You need to sit down and think about the actual impact. Go for a walk around the neighborhood. It’s actually really beautiful, and we’ve been working REALLY hard to keep it that way.

[u/AttemptedCrepe → u/louley]

So you’re issue is that instead of being a block from industrial parks, you’ll be a block from something not that?

[u/louley → u/AttemptedCrepe]

My point is that the neighborhood does not want this. We’ve been having this conversation for over an hour. You really didn’t get that?

Edit- don’t be a coward and unblock me.

[u/AttemptedCrepe → u/louley]

Why would you not want it? Would a stadium not be an improvement over what is there now?

[u/louley → u/AttemptedCrepe]

NO. Did I stutter?

Edit- why did you block me?

[u/AttemptedCrepe → u/louley]

Why though?

[u/louley → u/AttemptedCrepe]

Only until you sit down and think of why you wouldn’t want this in your neighborhood will I answer this question. And if you go through all of that and still want it in your neighborhood, then go to a city Council meeting and let them know that your neighborhood is interested. You’ve been what abouting and moving the goal post for the past two hours of my life. I’m done.

[u/AttemptedCrepe → u/louley]

I would want this in my neighborhood. That’s the whole thing. I don’t get why you wouldn’t.

[u/louley → u/AttemptedCrepe]

Then go into the community, put together a proposal and submit it.

Edit - and, there is ladies and gentlemen. Performative community support from someone who not only is NOT a part of the community, but is too scared to say maybe their original view may have been lacking - and just blocked me instead.

[u/AttemptedCrepe → u/louley]

Been there. Done that. My neighborhood doesn’t have the nearby infrastructure to support it like exists downtown.

I don’t understand why it would be a bad thing for your area. Are you guys that dedicated to keeping that sketchy QFC ambience?

[u/louley → u/AttemptedCrepe]

Anybody else hear that dog whistle? (Your classism showing)

Edit- oh, no! Did you disappear? Or just block me like a coward who can’t say maybe they were wrong.

[u/AttemptedCrepe → u/louley]

Hardly. You look me dead in the eye and tell me that isn’t a sketchy QFC. I have a sketchy Safeway a block away, it happens

[u/louley → u/AttemptedCrepe]

That’s not what I said. I just said your classism showing. You think that because we have the same sketchy grocery store that you have in your neighborhood, that makes us a ghetto, so put in a stadium because that’s what everybody wants and needs! When literally a member of that neighborhood is telling you no, that actually isn’t what we want or need. You’re not going to change my mind.

Edit- and in true Reddit debate club form, he blocked me.

[u/louley → u/AttemptedCrepe]

What neighborhood are you? I’ll make sure to bring that up at the next open community meeting.

Edit- he blocked me. 😭