A new bill proposed by the Arizona senate could make it easier for developers to build stadiums in the state, but opponents say the bill would allow the creations of theme park districts without local input.
HB2274 was originally supposed to give first responders access to treatment for PTSD, but the after the bill passed the house and was sent to the senate, a strike everything amendment, which allows language to be deleted and replaced, was introduced, radically changing the purpose of the bill.
According to News 12, the new language deal with "theme park and change state law to say that if a city does not participate in the formation of a theme park district, it doesn't get to have a representative on the district's governing board, even if the district is within the city.
Critics say the new version of the bill is squarely aimed at making it easier for Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo to build a new stadium and be paid back the expense.
“The coyotes, don't want to pay taxes," State Senator Juan Mendez (D-8) said at a press conference Tuesday morning. "They just want to keep themselves making profit."
Meruelo owns what's left of the Arizona Coyotes. The team was sold and moved to Salt Lake City, but Meruelo kept the name, the logos and rights to a future NHL team in Phoenix.
The NHL gave Meruelo five years to build and arena in order to get another team. Now Meruelo has said he wants to build an arena and an entertainment district without taxpayer funding. However, he has also said he wants Phoenix to help him with a theme park district that would set up a 9 percent sales to help recoup the cost of the facilities.
"My impression is that not every major metropolitan area is having these same kind of fights," Mendez said, "or has to resort to giving away or foregoing taxes in order to incentivize people to come here."
