``mountain Laurels'' Is A Regular Series Of Letters From Readers Conveying 
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2 Lawsuits Filed Against Ymca

Thursday, January 30, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





Skating around the arena issue &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Local economic developers really expect to get $3 million in exchange for a
corporate sponsor for the proposed Luzerne County arena/convention centerSome
local businesses actually say they're interested. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Count me in. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm also interested in playing goalie for the unnamed "still in
negotiations" farm team pro hockey team that's scheduled to anchor the
proposed coliseum. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While you're at it, put me down for one of those fat founder's suite boxes
the Luzerne County Arena Authority is already trying to hustle for the unbuilt
stadium. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A source says they're going for between $250,000 and $300,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But I can't tell for sure because authority chairman Kevin Blaum wouldn't
say when a Times Leader reporter asked recently. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Blaum is paid a full-time salary plus expenses and perks as Wilkes-Barre's
representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Don't all
lawmakers take an oath to be forthcoming whenever the people's interests are
at stake? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Guess not. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And, although the people's interests clearly are at stake here, local
captains of industry, politics and privilege secretly hawk elegance while they
shun taxpayers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's my main problem with the arena. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Despite millions of dollars in public funds still being drawn from state
coffers, a privileged few continue to behave as if the money belongs to them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The bosses conduct closed-door meetings away from public view and then toss
a few comments to the press. The bosses hide the people's business from the
people. Now, the bosses even hide the cost of what they're trying to sell. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If truth suffers this badly now, wait until the bosses break ground and
start handing out contracts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pssst! Hey, buddy. Wanna buy a cheap politician? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Expect it all and then some in this $44 million enterprise. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More than anything, a lack of candor has haunted this project from the
beginning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's why I called Legg Mason Real Estate Services, the Philadelphia
enterprise in charge of the project. Maybe they'd tell me the cost of a
founder's suite. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The vice president in charge of unbuilt hippodromes wasn't in, so I got
another VP. When he asked who I was I gave him my name. Then I hinted that I
might be interested in buying one of them 12-to-15 seaters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hey, I might be. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Obscene phone callers have made me feel more comfortable. The man growled
that I asked enough questions to be a reporter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I told him I was a reporter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The man refused to tell me which hockey team supposedly is coming to town,
refused to tell me the cost of the rich suites as well as the luxury boxes and
refused to stop laughing when I told him how corrupt Luzerne County was. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Around here, democracy is a luxury," I said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Feeling a little sorry for the sucker, though, I wished him well. Legg
Mason executives can't possibly know what they're getting into. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'll apologize, however, if some corporate fool does hand over a $3 million
check for the right to name the dufus dome. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 My guess is that even the wealthiest business slicksters will balk when it
comes to putting their starched collars on the line to the tune of three
million clams. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Because if the project fails, which it might, judging from hard times in
arenas all over the country, those local stuffed shirts could wind up tripping
on the corporate ladder. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tell it to the home office when the arena hosts Saturday night professional
creamed corn 'rassling just to make enough money to keep the lights lit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Call me a pessimist, but I just lack faith. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Give Kevin Blaum my arena penthouse. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Luxury suites always leave a sour taste in my mouth. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Corbett's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. E-mail Corbett
at stevec@abc.com &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Skating Around The Arena Issue 
Local Economic Developers Really Expect To Get $3 Million In Exchange For A 
Corporate Sponsor For The Proposed Luzerne County Arena/convention Center.

Skating Around The Arena Issue Local Economic Developers Really Expect To Get $3 Million In Exchange For A Corporate Sponsor For The Proposed Luzerne County Arena/convention Center.