Governor Mark Dayton decided to have an independent committee look into the Wilf's finances after they were found guilty of fraud in a New Jersey land deal that took place 20 years ago.
Well, while the state has decided to do that, Ziggy and his family have decided NOT to continue pursuing all the other stuff that needs to be done to get the stadium built, until THAT investigation is finished.
That actually could mean a delay in getting the new stadium built by the beginning of next season.
And now the state officials are in a huff because they say the Wilfs aren't giving them all the information they need to audit the big stadium deal properly. The Vikings say that is nonsense.
You know what ticks me off more than anything? These delays could end up costing Minnesota tax payers tens of millions of MORE dollars than expected. And if this fight gets real ugly Ziggy still might take his team and go elsewhere citing breach of contract with the state.
The Wilf are BILLIONAIRES. The land deal happened ages ago, and the general consensus was that even though they were found guilty, it was more a matter of the Wilfs being so rich that they could afford to pay their now broke partners the money, even if they did nothing seriously wrong (or wrong at all.)
If THAT decision had not been made, nobody would even CARE about the current deal the state has with them. It's just like every other stadium deal that every other owner has with every other state. The problem is that once more government got "concerned" in a way that did not matter. As a result, people on both sides of the issue have decided to make an ugly fight out of it.
I'm so sick of politics that I could scream.
And did I mention that the liberal congress in our state raised our LOCAL property taxes to give more money to schools even though LOCAL voters decided that was not necessary for our local district? They overruled the will of the people to satisfy the liberal inititiative to make us even more dependent on government.
And now EVERY child in the district will be given a free breakfast every morning, even though the vast majority are also being fed at home. To "solve" the problem of a few parents not providing adequately for their children, they have decided to spend over $100,000 this year for a meal most do not need. And the latest polls in America show that the number one problem for children in America is not hunger, but obesity. Now all of these fat kids are going to get an EXTRA meal every day. AND they will be required to eat THREE items from each breakfast menu. They will not be allowed to choose just one or two things. New Ulm has decided to do the same thing.
All of this extra government grant money can't go to waste, not when we can have even fatter children waddling around our streets and neighborhoods.
And the next step? I'm pretty sure that everyone will be taxed more, and our health insurance rates will go up as special initiatives are put in place to give obese children additional mandatory support and programs for their increasing medical problems.
You read it here first.
Intelligent people would have looked into all the financial details before they signed a contract. Now they want to check the details? As a Minnesotan, I'm embarrassed about this whole thing.
ReplyDeleteThe NFL reviewed the Wilf's finances thoroughly when they bought the team from Red McCombs. Everybody was aware of the ex-partners New Jersey lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteThis is just more political grandstanding. And stuff like this always costs more money and time than its worth.
Is the state now admitting that they DIDN'T go over the contracts closely when they made the deal originally?
Of course not.
It's a delay tactic that they can use to help them get re-elected.
And the Vikings are the pawns again.
It will cost Ziggy more money. It will cost the taxpayers more money. And it will leave a bad taste in everybody's mouth.
At this point, If I were Ziggy, I would take my team and move to L.A.
Minnesotans deserve what they get when they elect idiots like this.