DUTCHESS STADIUM FUNDING AGAIN REARS ITS UGLY HEAD AS REPUBLICANS USE LAST DAYS OF BUDGET PROCESS TO ADD MILLIONS IN STADIUM LUXURIES

Republicans are preparing tomorrow to authorize spending $25 million
on a part-time minor-league baseball team

Although previously thwarted in spending millions on improvements at the stadium to benefit the country's wealthiest baseball franchise & Diamond Baseball Holdings (part of a multi-billion dollar firm in the sports and entertainment industry which bought the HVR in August as part of a $280 million transaction) Republican County Executive Marcus Molinaro - with the full support of and help from Republican Legislative cronies Gregg Pulver, Will Truitt and Deirdre Houston - is now attempting to sneak funding for a luxury player clubhouse, an event space etc. into the budget as a last minute amendment

After Monday night's budget hearing (only three days before the Final Budget Vote) - and after all Public Hearings were concluded - Legislative Majority Leader Republican Will Truitt (Hyde Park & Town of Poughkeepsie) and Assitant Majority Leader Republican Deirdre Houston (Amenia, Washington, Pleasant Valley & Village of Millbrook) informed Democratic Legislative leadership that they would be offering an amendment to the budget to include $25 million in funding for luxury "improvements" to Dutchess Stadium including upgrading the player's clubhouse, etc. Only today were meager details on this proposal provided to Democrats by Legislative Chairman Republican Gregg Pulver (North East, Stanford, Pine Plains & Milan). Pulver's memo also acknowledges that the stadium loses money every year.  This is nothing more than a poorly veiled gift to the Yankees financed by Dutchess County tax payers. The County is pouring $25 million into a baseball park used by only a fraction of residents. County parks should be free - residents must PAY to enter the stadium - making it inaccessible for many. Clearly the last minute timing is intended to cut off public response and outrage. 

MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD
Please come tomorrow, Thursday night, to the Final Budget Vote and make Public Comment regarding this theft from the citizens of Dutchess County.

Thursday, 7 pm
22 Market Street - 6th Floor, Poughkeepsie

You may also email or call the entire Legislature here

Think of it this way, it took years to get the Republican controlled County to spend $20 million on a desperately needed youth center in Poughkeepsie.  Yet, at the very last minute (without proper review, consideration or discussion) Republicans are preparing to spend $25 million on a part-time minor-league baseball team.

Another illustration of the absurdity of this situation is this: The HVRenegades/Yankee's roster lists 32 players. So County Republicans are proposing luxury improvements costing $781,250 per player.