Published: 1 years 136 days ago
Sacramento Press: What a difference a recessionary year makes.
Thursday morning’s meeting of the Sacramento First Task Force, which has been looking at competing proposals for a new sports and entertainment arena, was scaled down in every way from last March’s high-profile event.
With four proposals instead of seven, and even the task force itself smaller by two members, everything in the room reflected the lowered expectations of the moment.
Mayor Kevin Johnson, the driving force behind the recent movement to build a new arena, was not present, preferring to issue a vaguely encouraging press statement.
So why did I leave the meeting feeling so optimistic?
The four remaining proposals are modest. Three of them are reiterations of proposals from last year, and the most modest of all was that of the three-week-old team of David Taylor Associates and ICON Venue, a new player in the game.
For those who are convinced that a downtown arena is a good thing for Sacramento and for the entire region – and there is no doubt in my mind that it is – then the Taylor-ICON proposal deserves some time and consideration. I think the Sacramento First Task Force should give them the nod when they meet in City Council chambers on Jan. 25.
http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/43193/Editorial_More_progress_on_the_downtown_arena
###