HAGERSTOWN, MD - Residents said "Let's Play Ball" by placing baseballs on the Mayor's desk during the public commenting period.
One local speaker says, "Downtown is not an 'it' or a 'thing.' It is residents. It is business owners that have dug in, in hard economic times to stay here and thrive here."
Still, not all are sold. Opponents presented a blue bag full of nearly 1,500 signatures against the project.
"Two of us did over 700 and something ourselves," says Penny Nigh whose against the project. "Carol had gotten most of hers from the residents, as well as from the area down around town."
Another local against the project, Julie Rivett, says, "It was so easy to bully our governing body into mortgaging this City's future into Quinn's untested allegiance to and support of this place we call home."
Supporters believe they can help revitalize downtown and promote growth with a new stadium.
Zach Spedden, Board of Director of the Hagerstown Suns Fan Club, says, "We have businesses down here trying to sustain themselves and unfortunately they aren't getting the support they deserve. A stadium is going to bring more people downtown. It's going to bring people into these establishments and help make Hagerstown a destination."
Right now, it's just a waiting game for most. Waiting for the City to strike a deal with the Suns and for the second phase of an Environmental Study to be completed.
Mayor Bob Bruchey of Hagerstown says, "I would love to be able to share everything 100-percent. We pretty much know where the funding is going to come from. We want to share that."
The Mayor also says he'd like to share the name of the $15-million donor when the time is right. For the time being, he has 21 baseballs in support of the project and a blue bag filled with letters expressing concern for the future of the City if a downtown stadium is built.
One local speaker says, "Downtown is not an 'it' or a 'thing.' It is residents. It is business owners that have dug in, in hard economic times to stay here and thrive here."
Still, not all are sold. Opponents presented a blue bag full of nearly 1,500 signatures against the project.
"Two of us did over 700 and something ourselves," says Penny Nigh whose against the project. "Carol had gotten most of hers from the residents, as well as from the area down around town."
Another local against the project, Julie Rivett, says, "It was so easy to bully our governing body into mortgaging this City's future into Quinn's untested allegiance to and support of this place we call home."
Supporters believe they can help revitalize downtown and promote growth with a new stadium.
Zach Spedden, Board of Director of the Hagerstown Suns Fan Club, says, "We have businesses down here trying to sustain themselves and unfortunately they aren't getting the support they deserve. A stadium is going to bring more people downtown. It's going to bring people into these establishments and help make Hagerstown a destination."
Right now, it's just a waiting game for most. Waiting for the City to strike a deal with the Suns and for the second phase of an Environmental Study to be completed.
Mayor Bob Bruchey of Hagerstown says, "I would love to be able to share everything 100-percent. We pretty much know where the funding is going to come from. We want to share that."
The Mayor also says he'd like to share the name of the $15-million donor when the time is right. For the time being, he has 21 baseballs in support of the project and a blue bag filled with letters expressing concern for the future of the City if a downtown stadium is built.
Comments
It's not just the types of people that live downtown that cause businesses to close or stadiums to not be built. It is all of the fear and negativity regarding growth and change. Be more positive, accept change and growth. This town needs it badly. Historic is nice but new is better.
chefprez c.
September 27, 2012 at 8:13 am
what about the suns fans that dont live in hagerstown and what the suns to stay here hagerstown???
tim r.
September 26, 2012 at 9:50 am
This whole deal stinks on ice. It does absolutely nothing to address the root of the problem in the downtown area. 21% of the population of Hagerstown are unemployed. Another 20% are on disability and/or some other form of public support. 70% of these people live downtown. THAT is the reason downtown is a [censored] hole. IT'S THE PEOPLE. No stadium is going to fix that.
Shawn B.
September 26, 2012 at 6:53 am
