Joe Bologna for Mayor of Escondido
 
The great American pastime. Baseball. I love baseball. I’ve played baseball since I was 4 years old. I can remember little league as a ten year old. The summers in Michigan were filled with many sand lot pickup games, that lasted all day long. Ah, the memories.

Forward to 1984, where I am told by the future General Manager of the Oakland A’s that I am the best switch hitter he has ever seen. Only, Billy Beane has not finished his career as a player yet, he is preparing to go to spring training with the New York Mets. On the other hand, I am building my bakery business, not signing a professional contract with this future General Manager. Oh, what might have been!!

Now for my Escondido ballpark opinion, observation, and investigation.

Number one. In 2010, Escondido’s City Council approved a Luxury Marriott hotel DESPITE the fact many people involved in this decision making process had already HEARD a Minor League team was considering a relocation to the city. The connection is that they could have put out R.F.B.’s ,(request for bids), for a luxury hotel, having the developers compete for the project. Competition in the free market works ! Somebody would have wanted to build that hotel and put up their own money, saving Escondido millions of tax payer dollars. That’s problem number one that I have with the ballpark.

Number two. If we still had the money that we ARE going to spend on the hotel, we would still have nearly half of the money Mr. Moorad and his group have asked us to put up for this project. IF it was a fifty- fifty partnership, let them put up the other half. That would be after we spent some time contemplating if this project is all that it is cracked up to be. I will NEVER support Escondido investing our tax dollars alone.

Number three. Sources I have been in discussion with have told me that Mr. Moorad does not like to put his money out at risk. He has no risk factor if it is our money alone. A whole lot of us could be better off if we could just risk money that belongs to someone else to make ourselves wealthy. I am a Casino Operations Dealer at a local casino, I see gambling all the time. I will not gamble with the Escondido’s finances or its future.

Number four. Has anyone noticed that the San Diego Padres are in first place? I say this because I believe for the first time in Major league history, a team in first place in the middle of a pennant race in September barely drew only 20,000 or so fans to a Sunday home game. Couple that with a Triple-A team with the worst record in the Pacific Coast League and I ask you do you really expect to draw 7000 to 9000 at all of their games also? I say this sounds like a possible a red flag. No one knows the future of sport franchises. Hey, the Clippers left San Diego. Rumors of the Chargers leaving. No sell out this past weekend. What ever happened to Gulls? Maybe Escondido’s Triple-A team will be all that remains someday. I hope not. How is your crystal ball working these days? I don’t use one.

Number five. The higher level of baseball the higher the costs. Major League costs the most. Triple-A, Double-A, etc. The closest Double-A baseball league is in Texas. A California team in the Texas league would not make sense and is not an option. It doesn’t cost as much to travel within Texas, if you are in that league is my point. But if you are in California, and you are traveling in The Pacific Coast League how does this sound. Memphis, Iowa, Nebraska, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Round Rock, Tacoma, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs, Reno, Las Vegas, and finally back in California, Sacramento, and Fresno, and perhaps soon, Escondido. It will be a P.C.L. issue, but Escondido should be moved from the Pacific North Division, to the Pacific South Division. This is a business and a legal issue ,and of handled correctly, it becomes a non issue for the city. All businesses come with risks involved. As a city we must minimize the risk, while maximizing the potential for jobs and growth in our community. The old saying “that the devil is in the details” holds true here. What is the risk to our city?

Number six. Lake Elsinore is a fun place to see minor league baseball, Reasonably priced for a night out with the family or friends. Single A baseball can make that happen. Check out the prices at some of the Triple A teams. Diamond seats for $42, Governors $37, Capitol $36, Solon $36, Senate $19 ,Gold $17, Delta $13,Lawn $7, And Value$7. Those are the ticket prices for the Sacramento River Cats. Add to that parking, concessions, souvenirs, etc. Triple A is no easy sell. Portland is a franchise that has been around for 107 years. It is leaving Portland.. The worst record in the Pacific Coast League this year. How many years will it stay in Escondido? What is the worst case scenario for our city? When contemplating a major investments into a possible city changer like this, we need to do our homework!!

Despite all of the red flags I’ve presented to you, I believe if the right deal is struck it could be a grand slam for our city. My last source of information came through in a big way. First of all, being well acquainted with Jeffrey Moorad, he is a firm believer that Mr. Moorad will market this Escondido Triple A team in such a way as to provide a product of affordable family entertainment. Prices will more than likely be slightly lower than previously mentioned. Albeit, allowing for the higher prices for “sky boxes seats” to generate revenue. The fact that this will be the “newest ballpark in Triple A” will bring more people to our region. Baseball executives, general managers, and scouts that measure talent and trades for their parent clubs, will flock to the area to see the Padres, the Escondido franchise, and the Lake Elsinore Storm, all in one visit to Escondido. I was reminded that there are only thirty cities that can boast of having a Triple A team. This is the part where he told me it is so important to understand the product. We are talking about the highest level of baseball other than the Major leagues. These are the players of the immediate future and many from the past. Veterans trying to showcase their talents or rehab their way back to the “ big leagues “will be playing here. The quality of the competition is extremely high. The guest experience will be far beyond that of the Lake Elsinore Storm, which in itself is a fun time, and I personally would still support also. In the Pacific Coast League, the fans from the other fifteen cities will be hearing about the “Escondido Friars“, or whatever WE come up with for our name. Traveling to our community will be many of the fans who will experience San Diego County for the first time. We can again solidify our position as the “leader of San Diego North County!”

Involvement in the community through school programs with players, mascots, and other speakers will help to bring people together. This could help alleviate some of the divisions we are experiencing currently. One of the essential parts of the agreement or partnership with the city will be the requirement to allow for mixed use of the facility. By offering concerts, soccer, wine and dine experiences, and reservations for special events, the ballpark will be able to serve the Escondido area after the season has ended. Respecting the needs of the playing fields condition during the season. Perhaps Cal State San Marcos Baseball team could play here as well. These options for mixed use will help keep the revenue flowing into the city after the seventy two or so games are over. Another observation was that the projected capacity of 9000 seats was described as ” perfect” by a C.O.O. and president of a Triple A team in the Pacific Coast League. A ballpark any larger would result in sky-rocketing costs for the ballpark, and the half empty ballpark experience is not as enjoyable.

No matter where we put the ballpark “we will be dealing with these and other issues, (police, fire, etc.) in and around that park, adding to the costs. Also realistic expectations of development must be made to areas around the same area to estimate the benefits to the city. My information came from six wonderful individuals affiliated with Major and Minor League Baseball. These estimates and projections truly were ballpark figures in the literal sense. I , unlike some within the council, had to do this investigative work without the Escondido connection at the council level. As Mayor, I will not be catering to special interest groups. My only “special interest groups “are the people that I will serve with honor and integrity that live in the city Escondido. My leadership abilities will help put us on the road to recovery.

Mr. Moorad, I hope to be able to sit down with you and discuss the plan for the proposed ballpark in the city that I live and love. It would be great if you would like to partner with the city. However if you are looking to gamble with me, it will not be when I am mayor. It will have to be while I am still at the casino. Let’s get together and make this be the one project that can help direct our city along the path to fiscal recovery, and engage our community in coming together again, for one common purpose. To work together to help Escondido become the best city it possibly can be! Putting us on the map in a big way! Let’s make this a win, win deal!!!

Joe Bologna

 
 
LIMITED GOVERNMENT:
  • I will hold fast to the need for vital services to protect our residents – SAFETY being our Number One priority.
  • I will cut the fat out of areas of the City Budget that are, quite honestly, a WASTE of the taxpayers money.
  • I will encourage more PRIVATIZATION of areas that have required city subsidies.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:
  • Instead of just rubber-stamping every developer's silver-tongued presentation with star-struck eyes, we will look at the best and worst-case scenarios and truly listen to what the people, THE TAXPAYERS, say and want. I will make the tough, hard choices necessary in a volatile economy.
JOB CREATION:
  • I will create a BUSINESS-FRIENDLY environment to help current business owners and to attract new businesses to Escondido. We need to eliminate delays and roadblocks that have halted past projects from coming to our city. Successful businesses create jobs.
FREE MARKETS:
  • Let's streamline the process so new businesses can once again come to our city. Let's ELIMINATE THE ROADBLOCKS and “stop signs” that hurt them as well as our current businesses. Parking restrictions frustrate customers!
THE “BALLPARK”:
  • I have outlined six problems with the potential ballpark based on information from sources within MAJOR AND MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, nonetheless.
THINK OUTSIDE the BOX:
  • I will listen to the people and search out ideas and find what is working elsewhere in similar situations in other communities while also keeping in sync with my TRUE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE PROMISE to the citizens of Escondido.