Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts speaks with fans Monday at a rally for the team in Mesa. (Paul Sullivan/Tribune)
MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts was one of the featured speakers Monday at a rally in support of keeping the team in Mesa.
"It's been a terrific spring training season, we've had great attendance and a lot of fun out here," he said.
Ricketts, Gov. Jan Brewer and Mesa Mayor Scott Smith all spoke at the rally, held outside of HoHoKam Park before Monday's Cubs-Reds game. Brewer also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Ricketts thanked all the politicians for "trying to find a good solution to our issues here in Arizona." The Cubs are hoping to build a new spring training complex with funding from the city and state.
"I'm highly confident that with all the people rolling in the same direction, as I think we are now, that we'll have a great solution and something we can be proud of pretty soon," he said.
"We're confident that we'll get a solution," he said. "We're working hard. So we'll just play it through ... and we'll get it done."
Smith said Selig "didn't say anything that he hasn't said for a long time" about his opposition to the Cubs tax.
"The commissioner, a month ago, said he was against the surcharge," Smith said. "I think what everyone realizes is there is widespread opposition (to the tax) and the fact is we're talking about alternatives to that."
But Selig said for the first time on Saturday that the Cubs tax is dead and will not be part of any legislation. But the surcharge is still in the bill, which was sponsored by Ariz. Rep John McComish.
Smith was asked whether the Cubs tax was indeed "dead."
"I think that needs to be answered by the legislative leaders, since they're the ones that are running the bill," Smith said. "But I think the reality is certainly, even Rep. McComish has said he's not moving forward with the bill that's in the Senate right now.
"Until there are some changes, or something is done, he's not moving forward with it. So I don't think Commissioner Selig was saying something that isn't already out there."
Smith declined to say what the alternative financing plan is for the city and the Cubs. Aside from the "Cubs tax," a $1 auto rental car tax was also eliminated from the original bill that passed through the Arizona House and was headed to the Senate.
"In some ways, we are starting from scratch," he said.
Smith said it's unfair to call is a "Cubs tax" because the surcharge would benefit the entire Cactus League. The Cubs, however, are the only team that would benefit immediately, and Selig said: "To tax everybody for somebody is a dangerous precedent."
Smith said a new plan will be unveiled.
"Probably there will be an alternative, or some kind of different kind of scenario involved," he said. "Major League Baseball will be involved.... The mechanism, it will be different than a straight-out surcharge. I don't know what that will be."
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Hey, why is he asking my youngest son for a donation in the picture above? I hope Sully tells him to stick it where the wind only blows out. I'm glad there are witnesses. This had to be before the tragic loss of Kevin Millar. I can't imagine him showing his face after out of pure embarassment.
I never figured this guy as a dofuss. My tutu gets frosted just thinking I will be getting tickets to the May 5th Cubbies game and this dumdum wants to keep them in Arizona. They play in Chicago you idiot!
ya we aleady paid for the Pig in a Poke called the Cell
I'm all for higher taxes, but not for the Cubs. Higher taxes should only be used for real teams, like the White Sox.
So the greedy bastard couldn't get the taxpayers to pay for his stadium? Good! If that jack@ss wants a new park, let him pay for it. He's already ripping off Cubs fans for the 2010 season, he shouldn't be able to rip off the taxpayers, too.