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Cleveland’s billionaire sports team owners are under fire for their unwillingness to contribute to the upkeep of the facilities where they play, even as the city and county face significant financial challenges, and Today in Ohio podcasters saluted Mayor Justin Bibb for fighting their greed. The controversy centers around Bibb’s stand against the owners of the Guardians and Cavaliers, who are resistant to his proposed funding plan for stadium maintenance. Instead of continually dipping into city general funds, Bibb wants to establish a new community authority—essentially a special taxing district—around the Gateway area that would generate dedicated revenue for facility upkeep. The teams would have to pay into the district. “How selfish and sleazy is it that in a city with the poverty that Cleveland has, in a county that has the money troubles that we have in Cuyahoga, they’re refusing to pay their little part because they want to keep reaching into our pockets?” Chris Quinn asked during the podcast. The proposed taxing authority would add small fees to parking, dining, entertainment, and drinks in the district—costs that would be shared by patrons, businesses, and the teams themselves. It’s a model already in use around the lakefront, but the teams have been cool to the idea. Ourtney Astolfi explained the mayor’s reasoning: “He describes this as a fairer approach, and he’s talking about it would shift some of the cost to the fans and visitors and patrons of those teams away from city taxpayers and folks who aren’t using those amenities.” The podcast discussion highlighted recent history, noting that the teams had already received $40 million from general funds earlier this year. The county had to borrow money to cover its portion of the costs. The county and city are on the hook because of poorly written stadium leases that continue to disadvantage taxpayers. Quinn praised Bibb as a rare example of strong leadership in a region he often criticizes for lacking bold action: “Look, I talk about the dearth of leaders in this region all the time. The one bright spot is Justin Bibb. I can’t remember the last mayor who told the Cavs, the Browns and the Guardians to stick it. And he’s fighting for the residents. He’s fighting for the taxpayers, saying, ‘Come on, billionaires, pay your part.’ And they’re saying, ‘no.’” The proposed fees would be relatively modest—the podcast noted it would amount to approximately 25 cents on a $5 hot dog—but would create a more sustainable funding mechanism that doesn’t continually drain resources from basic city services. What makes this standoff particularly galling to the podcast hosts is the stark contrast between the immense wealth of team owners and the financial struggles of everyday Clevelanders. In a city with one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, they argue that billionaire team owners should be willing to contribute more toward facilities that primarily benefit their businesses. Bibb has drawn a clear line in the sand, stating that the city won’t continue bailing out the teams on repairs unless they get behind his funding plan. The mayor’s stance represents a significant departure from previous administrations that were more acquiescent to team demands. As this high-stakes negotiation continues to unfold, the Today in Ohio podcast has positioned itself firmly in Mayor Bibb’s corner, celebrating his willingness to challenge powerful interests on behalf of Cleveland taxpayers who have shouldered these costs for far too long. Listen to the discussion here. Read more Today in Ohio news “This is appeasement:” Dems blasted for caving to GOP blackmail on Ohio’s gerrymandering “First president ever” to let Americans go hungry: Trump keeps cash that could feed Ohioans Is Cleveland built for boomers? Detroit’s spectacular waterfront has ideas to attract young families
