The Phoenix-based watchdog group The Goldwater Institute has decided not to directly sue the City of Mesa over a deal to build a $99 million spring training complex for the Chicago Cubs. Goldwater believes the deal might violate the Arizona Constitution’s ban on government financial gifts to businesses and is encouraging Mesa taxpayers to challenge the deal. Read more here.
While there does not appear to be any other rumblings about a lawsuit, it could certainly be overcome by arguing a return on investment, despite the reality that the Cubs are only paying $130,000 per year to lease the facility. Whether real or fabricated, numbers can be presented to show the economic impact of new jobs, spring training tourism, etc.
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