Will a Grayling amusement park take the state for a ride?

Back in July of 2006 I wrote about a possible amusement park being built in Grayling. I found an interesting article written by Diane S. Katz and James M. Hohman for the Mackinaw Center for Public Policy that debates the merits of our state subsidizing such things as amusement parks. Axiom Entertainment, the force behind the proposed amusement park, is seeking $25 million in infrastructure improvements from the state. For your viewing pleasure, take a look at their breakdown of Michigan's crummy track record with subsidizing entertainment venues:

• Some $35 million in local, state and federal funds was invested in Auto World, a seven-acre theme park in downtown Flint. The park, which opened in 1984, was supposed to draw 900,000 visitors annually and revive the beleaguered city. It closed after only two years.
• Construction of Cereal City USA, in downtown Battle Creek, was made possible by a loan of $900,000 from the state that was secured by the city. The attraction, which opened in 1998, was billed as "a land of wonderful, interactive experiences and entertainment for the entire family, as they explore the birth, development and global impact of the cereal industry." Officials estimated that the park would draw 400,000 visitors annually, but it was shuttered in January 2007 after years of dismal attendance.
• The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum secured a $3 million state grant to launch construction of an aviation theme park. The attraction was touted as "a centerpiece for economic development and tourism in southwestern Michigan," and local officials hoped that the state would finance half of the $80 million construction cost. A 25 percent hike in the local hotel tax also was considered. Ultimately, the grant money was returned to the state after the project was scaled back for lack of support.
• The city of Pontiac invested $55.7 million to build the Silverdome in 1975. The Detroit Lions relocated to Detroit’s Ford Field in 2002. Although the team paid the city $26 million for breaking its contract, Pontiac continues to incur a hefty deficit in maintaining the 127-acre site.

Our state doesn't have the funds to be throwing money around subsidizing entertainment venues that in reality produce very few actual jobs. If state lawmakers are truly looking for areas in the state budget to make cuts - this should be one of them.

Read the very interesting article in it's entirety at Mackinac.org.

Check out the 'Do Something' blog for some positive ideas

Via the Detroit News Dosomethingblog.com has a single post asking for comments on doing something positive. According to the Detroit News, the Do Something blog is the creation of PR firm, Beach Communications.

People across Michigan know something is wrong with Michigan. Politicians have not acted quickly enough or in a manner that we can agree with and this gives folks a chance to voice their positive ideas. This is their chance to have a public forum, of sorts, where their voices can be heard.

Reading the positive comments and ideas helped me get in a positive frame of mind. It is far too easy to be pessimistic about things like gas prices (should I quit posting the average price of gas?), our economy, or our state government.

Lets be positive and creative and see what happens.

Have a Great Friday!

Set your clocks forward one hour this weekend

Don't forget to set your clocks forward (Spring ahead, remember?) one hour this weekend. Effective at 2 a.m. EST on March 11 we begin the new (not sure about improved) longer period of daylight savings. We are shifting one hour of our morning daylight to the evening. Some of your electronic devices such as your VCR and computer might not automatically change their clocks for you since this is the first year for the earlier and longer period of daylight savings. Normally your software would handle this for you, but if you haven't bought a new PC with Windows Vista or perform the Microsoft Automatic Updates you will need to make the change to the clock manually.

Mac users should also make sure they have the most up to date versions of their software.

Happy Friday!

Looking gloomy to save even a part of Tiger Stadium

The idealistic hopes of saving the dugouts, playing field, some seats, and one entrance to Tiger Stadium have run up against red tape and the usual deal killer - lack of money. The plans for the stadium property to be developed into residential units and shops is still on target. Plans for saving even a small portion of the stadium are not looking so good. The city of Detroit is still trying to remain on track to auction off seats and other assorted memorabilia this spring. The plan hope is to demolish Tiger Stadium this fall.

The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy is being asked to come up with the money necessary to keep a portion of the old stadium as well as a viable plan of doing so that will keep in compliance with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations. Thoughts of moving the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame to the Tiger Stadium site have a ballpark (no pun intended) price tag of $7 to $10 million.

Read the Detroit Free Press article.

Register for a chance at Detroit Tigers Opening Day Tickets!

My favorite Detroit Tiger blog, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, tipped me off to a drawing for a chance to purchase opening day tickets for the Detroit Tigers. Starting this morning at 9 a.m. you could call (313) 471-BALL (2255) or for a quicker and simpler process head over to www.tigers.com. I registered this morning. You have until 11:59 p.m. Sunday to enter the drawing. Winners will be notified by the end of the week - no later than March 16.

For some great fan coverage of the Detroit Tigers this year be sure to check out The Detroit Tigers Weblog.

Jackson State Prison to close in July

A cost cutting measure has one of the 5 prisons in Jackson scheduled to close by July 1 of this year. Approximately 1,500 prisoners would be released (if they have served their minimum sentence) and put on parole. 425 jobs will be affected with the majority offered jobs at other prisons, but layoffs are not being ruled out either. Michigan's prison population is one of the highest in the Midwest at 51,000 inmates. My question is this - does Michigan have much stricter laws than other states or a higher concentration of criminals?

Another question I have is how can the state undo what the courts have done? Judges and juries have had to make decisions that put these people in prison and now the state is negating that and paroling them.

Something is very wrong/strange with Michigan's prison system. Our state's population is steadily declining yet our prison population keeps rising.

Yet another aspect of our state that needs fixing.

Read the full article in the Detroit Free Press.