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Joe Henderson: (Tampa Bay) Rays learn the hard way what it means to cross Gov. DeSantis
Florida Politics ^ | June 7th 2022 | Joe Henderson

Posted on 06/07/2022 5:07:51 AM PDT by Jacquerie

Gov. Ron DeSantis red-lined the $35 million budget item approved by the House and Senate to build a youth sports complex in Pasco County. The Rays clearly hoped to move their spring training headquarters there from Port Charlotte.

DeSantis gave two reasons for the veto.

The first: the Governor said he doesn’t “support giving taxpayer dollars to professional sports stadiums, period.”

He’s not wrong there.

But the other reason was more in line with his “think like I do, or else” agenda.

After the massacre in Uvalde, Texas, the Rays donated $50,000 to Everytown for Gun Safety. They tweeted:

“We all deserve to be safe — in schools, grocery stores, places of worship, our neighborhoods, houses, and America,” the Rays posted. “The most recent shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde have shaken us to the core. This cannot become normal. We cannot become numb. We cannot look the other way.”

They added, “We all know, if nothing changes, nothing changes.”

The Governor, who favors no-license open so-called “constitutional carry” in Florida, was not amused. Since he said he planned to veto the ballpark plan anyway, why not use it as an example for those who disagree with him.

DeSantis said it was “inappropriate to subsidize political activism of a private corporation. So I think, either way, it’s not appropriate.”

Just ask the Walt Disney Co. about its return on investment after it got crossways with the Governor. We remember that, right?

(Excerpt) Read more at floridapolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 78minutes; banglist; desantis; fl; florida; joehenderson; rays; sports; the78minuteexception
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To: teeman8r

...snicker...it’s hilarious (to me) that during the commie’s projection they think they’re also mind readers.


21 posted on 06/07/2022 5:52:48 AM PDT by gr8eman (Qui non laborat, non manducet)
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To: NicoDon

You can argue that pro sports teams may be worth it...but minor leagues? Gimme a break! I paid 22 bucks for a college baseball game ticket thinking it was for a double-header. When I went back for the second game (like an idiot), the ticket takers appropriately laughed at me. I’m sure they charge as much for minor league games when they should let people in for free.


22 posted on 06/07/2022 5:57:06 AM PDT by gr8eman (Qui non laborat, non manducet)
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To: Jacquerie

The point is, if you’re asking for taxpayer dollars, shut your damn mouth when it comes to engaging in virtue signaling over contentious political issues. You can’t have it both ways.

I do love the butt-hurt from media Leftists though....as if they don’t 100% support the same kind of thing when a Leftist politician does it.


23 posted on 06/07/2022 5:57:41 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: Jacquerie

Still no looking at locking school doors.


24 posted on 06/07/2022 5:59:07 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Jacquerie
Dems are mad because now they're not the only ones playing Rollerball in politics.


25 posted on 06/07/2022 5:59:09 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Bus No. 2525)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Well put. Hipsters can’t differentiate! If you’re 50 years old and still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up; or 40 years old and still want daddy to buy you a pony, you may be a hipster!


26 posted on 06/07/2022 5:59:26 AM PDT by gr8eman (Qui non laborat, non manducet)
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To: glorgau

Sort of like State Farm.


27 posted on 06/07/2022 6:01:41 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: OKITRUMP77

That’s because the ticket prices are stupid. Most people already pay $70 a month to watch it on TV!


28 posted on 06/07/2022 6:02:10 AM PDT by gr8eman (Qui non laborat, non manducet)
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To: Jacquerie

DeSantis is building his creds for 2024.


29 posted on 06/07/2022 6:15:16 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz ("Todays conspiracy theory is tomorrows spoiler alert." )
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To: EQAndyBuzz

DeSantis needs to stay where he is to show the other 49 governors how to do their jobs.


30 posted on 06/07/2022 6:20:01 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed the nation whose GOD is the LORD. ~ Psalm 33:12)
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To: NicoDon
A general rule of thumb is that a sports venue makes more sense from an economic development standpoint if it is a multi-purpose arena that hosts an NBA team, an NHL team, some college basketball games, concerts, and other entertainment events. The key is to get 250-300 (or more) event dates on the calendar. Once that happens, the venue becomes the centerpiece of an entertainment district and starts to take on a life of its own.

Baseball stadiums are too specialized and can't easily be used for anything other than baseball games. So you get 81+ dates per year at best out of them.

Football stadiums are even worse. They'll host 8-9 regular season games, 1-2 preseason games, and 2-3 (at best) playoff games. Use the same stadium for an NCAA team and you get another 5-6 dates on the calendar. The return on that investment is terrible.

31 posted on 06/07/2022 6:24:18 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("It's midnight in Manhattan. This is no time to get cute; it's a mad dog's promenade.")
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To: EQAndyBuzz

4 more years...

desantis for florida governor 2022...

desantis for president 2028...

florida first!... 😎


32 posted on 06/07/2022 6:26:44 AM PDT by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: Jacquerie

Leftards are complaining about being ostracized for their politics? What goes around comes around, schmucks! Stop doing it to people who actually know what they’re talking about if you don’t like it.


33 posted on 06/07/2022 6:45:41 AM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: SamAdams76

Exactly. Let the market decide without interference what locations are viable markets for their product.


34 posted on 06/07/2022 6:51:19 AM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: heavy metal

What’s sad is that many on this forum, if not most, who enthusiastically support Desantis as governor will viciously and ruthlessly attack him as some sort of RINO or neo-con if he dares to run against Trump in 2024.


35 posted on 06/07/2022 7:04:32 AM PDT by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: CA Conservative

i prefer desantis serves a full second term...

trump/musk revenge tour 2024... 😁


36 posted on 06/07/2022 7:16:14 AM PDT by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: SamAdams76

BINGO. Every word you just wrote is true.


37 posted on 06/07/2022 7:27:02 AM PDT by Old Grumpy
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To: corkoman
"Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms"


What do they have against moms? 😜
38 posted on 06/07/2022 7:32:30 AM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: Bikkuri

When they screw people they prefer to do it without having progeny to care for.


39 posted on 06/07/2022 7:41:29 AM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: Jacquerie

This is stupid from all possible sides.


40 posted on 06/07/2022 7:48:13 AM PDT by Demiurge2 (Define your terms!)
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