Hope in Seattle: State Senate Bill 6116 Back on the Floor

Washington State Senate Bill 6116 is headed back to the floor for a vote this legislative session down in Olympia. The bill is, for everyone that doesn’t know, about extending the current hotel and restaurant taxes in the city of Seattle to pay for Key Arena and some other big projects in Seattle.

First and foremost this bill creates jobs and builds up the local economy.

Secondly, it gets the city of Seattle closer to having professional basketball back in the city.

I will not get into the specifics of what teams are the likely candidates to relocate here or what team I’d like to have come here *cough* Hawks *cough* and we all know the team will not come via expansion either. If the NBA was smart, it would actually contract six teams.

But that’s a different story for a different day.

Word on the street is that future principle owner, Steve Ballmer, is more interested than ever in buying a team and moving them here.

Give a big thanks to the success that Windows Seven has been for Microsoft and padding Mr. Ballmer’s wallet a little bit more, as well.

Before all of this can happen though, SB 6116 needs to pass.

We have all got our hopes up before regarding this bill only to be kicked in the nuts and then have our hearts ripped out.

This time there isn’t $30M riding on it and there is going to be less pressure on lawmakers to get this passed.

Does it mean that as Sonic fans we should not be vocal?

Oh no, not by any means. We still need to contact lawmakers both at the state, county, and city levels. We need to rally as much support on all levels and make some trips down to Olympia again. We may annoy people, but at least they know the green and gold will never go away and that their mistake will always be visible.

Maybe get the Sonicsgate crew to add some extra footage on the whole process. Not necessarily a sequel, but a special.

The sequel can be when we get a new team.

Be hopeful, but wear a cup.

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