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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Rescheduled Regular Meeting -November 2, 2007 <br />6. NEW BUSINESS <br />A. Public Hearing <br />(8) continued... <br />ballpark and the whole project probably <br />wouldn't have been brought up if it were not <br />for the fact that our former mayor is a <br />controlling partner in the baseball team, and <br />as I recall he actually presented part of this <br />original proposal separately. Once again, <br />I'm seeing, not that it's necessarily here, but <br />I have certain reservations about a business <br />venture, the South Bend Silverhawks, <br />benefiting from the scope of this project <br />which is going to be based on public money <br />so that a private venture, the baseball team, <br />which is leasing from the city parks <br />department will benefit. I get a little <br />uncomfortable when I see connected <br />politicals benefiting off of taxpayer money. <br />Mr. Downes countered by asking Mr. Leone <br />if the City of South Bend doesn't receive <br />some financial payment from the State of <br />Indiana just for the presence of the <br />Silverhawks in South Bend. Mr. Leone <br />responded that there is a special arrangement <br />under state law by which the taxes that are <br />paid, including payroll taxes, go into a <br />special sports development fund, so the <br />business generates a lot more than would <br />otherwise be apparent based on some special <br />conditions of state law. That fund is <br />available for improving Coveleski and other <br />kinds of sports related expenses in South <br />Bend. <br />Mr. Peczkowski asked if those numbers <br />would increase based on the scope of this <br />project. Mr. Leone responded that he did not <br />58 <br />