CLEVELAND, Ohio – Greater Cleveland Congregations is requesting an in-person meeting with Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert as the non-partisan coalition of religious groups continues to object to a plan to use public funds to help pay for the renovation of Quicken Loans Arena.
The meeting is requested to work out a way to bring some of the money proposed to be spent on the Q arena makeover back to the neighborhoods, according to a news release from GCC.
The group, as well as other activist organizations and some residents, don’t agree with a plan that would divert taxpayer dollars to downtown development but not invest equal amounts of money in the neighborhoods in their eyes.
The group is asking for Gilbert to support establishing a Community Equity Fund which would provide a match of any public funds for the Q makeover to go towards neighborhood priorities, the news release said.
An investment of $35 million is being asked from Gilbert personally to capitalize the fund and to help with initial costs to build two mental health crisis centers on the east and west sides of Cleveland, the news release said.
“GCC’s belief is that the financial benefit Mr. Gilbert and the Cavaliers accrue from the Q far outweighs what Cleveland-area residents receive in return, therefore there must be equity built into the deal in the form of the Community Equity Fund,” the news release said. “Examples of these benefits include not paying property tax on the Q building, extracting exclusive value of the building’s naming rights, and a Cavaliers franchise now valued at $1.2 billion, up from $375 million when Mr. Gilbert first purchased the Cavs, which the public helps subsidize through the current Q arrangement.”
As of Saturday morning there was no response to the meeting request.
“We ask to meet with Mr. Gilbert in-person in the coming weeks to explain our position on the Q deal and discuss how he can help unite Cleveland, instead of continuing the long history of pitting neighborhoods against downtown,” Donna Weinberger, member of GCC’s Strategy Team said in the news release.
The group met with Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish as well and requested Budish slow down the legislative process and allow transparency and community input. GCC also wants Budish to be a part of the establishment of the Community Equity Fund.
Members also spoke out against the proposal Tuesday at the County Council meeting, where the plan will be under consideration for the next few weeks.
The group will hold a public meeting March 9 at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 6114 Francis Avenue in Cleveland to update the public on the project.
The GCC is a group of faith communities and partner organizations that works to build a greater Cleveland for everyone.
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