ESPN is reporting that Eckels is giving the arena deal his full support. http://espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/0804/39601.html Here is the article for the click above challenged... Judge: Rockets likely to leave if vote fails ESPN.com news services HOUSTON -- The agreement for a $175 million downtown arena has a county judge's qualified endorsement. Judge Robert Eckels said Tuesday that Harris County's interests were sufficiently safeguarded. City Council members must now determine if the arena's financing plan is acceptable, Eckels told the Houston Chronicle in Wednesday's editions. The city, which has been asked to contribute as much as $30 million to the arena, will begin what is likely to be a contentious discussion of the issue on Wednesday. "Subject to the city's financial review, I would vote for this agreement," said Eckels. "This will probably be the voters' last opportunity to keep the Houston Rockets here. "If people want the team to stay, they should vote for the arena," he said. GOOD NEWS !!!! NOW BRING ON THE VOTE ! DaDakota ------------------ All you MO-FO's better stop ripping off my lines !!
This is great news. This will bring a few percent more Republicans to our side, and we only needed a slim few more points the last time around. It was close last time. With Eckels' support, a few on the mid-right will probably switch sides. Not many, but probably enough. It will pass in November. Good news all around today... ------------------
It was good to get Eckels to back the new arena deal, but I think a key person to support the deal would be Paul Bettencourt. I remember watching his campaign headquarters on TV when the last deal was shot down and seeing all of his supporter snickering and geeking over the defeat. This guy seems to have some sort of vendetta against the entire arena deal. Bettencourt needs to keep his focus on stealing...err...collecting our taxes and not spending so much time worrying about a deal that should involve only the city.
But he did some Chinese food delivery courtesy of me. ------------------ Bow down to GOD FRANCIS! "If they offered me (a lifetime contract) tomorrow, I'd take it." -- Steve Francis on if the Rockets offered him a lifetime deal. He has now been elevated to "God" status.