The Post-Gazette wants the Civic Arena torn down for some unknown reason. Apparently, they are receiving payola from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mario Lemieux or Ron Burkle because they have the redevelopment rights for the land around the Civic Arena and stand to make millions and millions of dollars if the Civic Arena is torn down. Another thing I find to be very disturbing is how they received these rights. I believe there used to be such as thing as competitive bidding on projects but it appears now that the awards go to those who polish the politicians palms with the most payola!

Mr. Hildebrand,

I applaud you for taking the time to write a letter that does point out the truth of the matter. I agree, meetings during the day do keep the majority of people who work away.

The meeting was held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. As the person who filed the state approved application for historic preservation, there was no stopping me from attending.

In my view, this meeting should have been held in the evening and at the Civic Arena, with free parking to everyone. That would encourage attendance and create an atmosphere about discussing the fate of this structure in the facility we’re talking about.

The whole issue has been fraught with corruption. As an SEA “Interested Party” member, I have had two of my presentations censored from the SEA website. Two citizens making comments (pro-preservation) to the SEA “Effects Report” that supports demolition have been censored too.

The P-G reported http://www.post-gazette.com/pg...62-454.stm that Sen. Sean Logan received a gift from Oxford Development. They failed to make a connection, as he is a SEA Board Member, and voted on a contract to award Oxford the IP consulting contract.

Oxford produced bogus reports to support demolition. The one report was about monthly costs to maintain an empty arena which only included embellished expenses. They failed to include the revenues of daily commuters that park in their lots. How convenient!

Since they have produced reports to support the SEA agenda, it is fair to ask if they will recuse themselves from future demolition and construction contracts to avoid any conflicts of interest. They have refused to do so.

Same can be said for the HOK Sports report that condemns the Civic Arena on bogus claims. Once they completed that report, that opened the door for designing the Consol Energy Center. Guess who supplied the architect plans??? Yep, HOK Sports. No conflict of interest, right?

I could go on, but hope to have an Op Ed piece published in the P-G. They are contesting all of the points I have made, even ignoring the fact that the SEA gave away the development rights, auctioned off arena assets, removed all signage identifying the arena on the building and our highways, all before a decision has been made on preservation or redevelopment. And there is still more….

Gary J. English
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the arena will be torn down eventually. arena football and nhl hockey will be played in the new arena. all concerts and shows will be at the new arena. the old arena is not needed and can not compete with the new one. seriously guys, **** or get off the pot. all i here is complaining. what's the plan? make it a petting zoo, a water park, a move theater?? huh? i say, let the development of commercial and residential take place there. stuff for people to do. something to benefit the city and visitors. having an empty building sitting for years while people have a ******* contest over fantasies is ridiculous. aint hatin just sayin! wow.

want to attend the meeting? take off work, find someone to swap you days. find a way to make it happen if its so important to you! the world does not revolve around anyone's schedule! i'm sure all of your comments and garbage ideas wouldn't be seriously considered anyway.

The thing is... no political body cares what the public thinks anyway. They know whats best for us and we just have to pay of it.

Supergenius:

Your assumption that everyone has the luxury of taking off work during the day is fallacy.

Further, we’re not talking about the world that revolves around just anyone’s schedule. Rather, we are talking about making government accessible and serving its people, 1.2 million of us. I know, what a novel concept!

Just how hard would it have been to hold the meeting in the evening so more could attend?

Instead, they held it when the majority of people are working, going to school or have other commitments.

Also, they held the meeting at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Instead, this meeting should have taken place in the evening, at the Civic Arena, with “free parking” for everyone that attended. That would encourage attendance and create an atmosphere about discussing the fate of this structure in the facility we’re talking about.

This whole issue has been fraught with corruption. Shall I get back on the podium and point out conflicts of interest, censorship and more?

How could the SEA give away the development rights, auctioned off arena assets, remove all signage identifying the arena on the building and our highways, all before a decision has been made on preservation or redevelopment. And there is still more….YES MORE!

It’s not what you think or want, nor is it what I think or want, this decision should be left to the owners of the Civic Arena, the Allegheny County taxpayers… not dirty politics!

Do you have a problem with putting this issue on the November 2nd ballot?

If you do, then you are denying the citizens’ rights, demolishing a historic landmark and costing us hundreds of millions in our tax dollars. I can easily cite $30.8 million in federal earmarks alone.

Gary J. English
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While I have yet to hear of any scheme that will save the arena and NOT cost the taxpayers money, I do agree with the point of the letter, and not just on this issue. The people who schedule such meetings have the luxury of doing so to suit themselves. The rest of us do not, and the rest of us deserve to be heard.

regis,

Just my opinion, but I don’t think that preservation or demolition will be without some form of taxpayer money.

I could be wrong, but I would argue that redevelopment will cost far greater. I’ve already identified $30.8 million in federal earmarks by Senator Specter, Congressman Altmire and Doyle. Then there will be untold state, county and local matches, not to mention using Tax Increment Financing to give tax breaks for up to 20 years.

Already, we've given the Civic Arena $37 million in RAD monies. The enabling tax legislation is to "preserve" regional assets. So demolition would violate the law and also be a colossal waste of tax dollars as well as leave a remaining debt of $14.3 million once the arena is demolished.

Have you read the SEA’s “Effects Report”? Most people haven’t, it is 106 pages in length.

If you have you’ll see fifteen revenue streams that I have identified to fund the Civic Arena. Some with, some without taxes.

If you haven’t read the report, visit: http://www.pgh-sea.com/images/...ermark.pdf

It is not just the government having the luxury to hold meetings, but to hold them to serve its constituency. I thought it would be appropriate to hold it on a weeknight at the Civic Arena, with free parking to anyone that attended.

As for the citizens deserving to be heard, I have already seen four comments censored by the SEA Consultants. I gave two presentations to the SEA “Interested Party” Committee that were censored and two citizens that submitted comments to the SEA “Effects Report” have been censored too.

This whole process held by the SEA has been a farce. Again, ask yourself, if the IP Meeting process was to make recommendations to the SEA Board, how can the SEA give away the development rights, auction off assets, remove all Civic (mellon) Arena signage from the building and highways before a decision has been made on preservation or redevelopment?

Gary J. English
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