Think I'm joking?
"Pawtucket Red Sox sold; group eyes Providence; Stadium along river is sought" by Alex Speier, Globe Staff February 23, 2015
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Pawtucket Red Sox have been sold to a group that includes Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, and the owners hope to move the popular Triple A team to a new stadium in Providence, officials said Monday.
An industry source said Monday that the Red Sox’ top minor league affiliate was sold Friday to a 10-member ownership group at a cost of more than $20 million. The new owners said in a press release that Lucchino will serve as chairman of the club and Rhode Island lawyer James Skeffington will serve as team president.
The team would stay at least two more years in Pawtucket, allowing time for negotiations with local officials, the acquisition of land, and the construction of a new stadium, team officials said.
If the team does move, it would shed the familiar “PawSox” moniker it has had since 1977. Skeffington said he hoped to call the team the Rhode Island Red Sox.
“The Boston Red Sox have enjoyed a productive relationship with the Pawtucket Red Sox for more than four decades,” said Lucchino, who, according to the press release, will continue as Red Sox CEO/president. “The franchise has played key roles in the Red Sox’ historic success, both as a player development affiliate and as a Rhode Island home for affordable family entertainment.
“We seek to enhance those roles, and to honor the substantial contributions that [longtime PawSox owner] Ben Mondor and his loyal team have made to this community for generations,” Lucchino said.
In a conference call, Skeffington described a plan to leave Pawtucket and the team’s longtime home at McCoy Stadium and move to a new ballpark in Providence within walking distance of downtown. The new owners have identified a site along the Providence River that would offer the possibility for home runs to splash into the city’s central body of water.
Skeffington said the new owners plan to use private funds to build the ballpark, noting that other Triple A parks typically have cost $60 million to $70 million. He added that the owners “can’t do that alone” and would seek state and local funding “to help in some way.”
The tax loot is worth it when it comes to $ports!
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And how is the Rhode Island economy these days?
"R.I. lawmakers push to end tax on retirement income; Aim to keep more seniors in state" by Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press February 17, 2015
PROVIDENCE — Top lawmakers are pushing to exempt Social Security, pensions, and other retirement income from the state income tax as a way to stop seniors from leaving Rhode Island, though how far legislators are willing to go is unclear.
The state stands to lose $20 million to $40 million annually in revenue from the tax on Social Security and $100 million or so more if other retirement income is also exempted. Even the lawmakers say the state cannot afford that.
They have introduced about a dozen bills so far with different ways to structure a cut, to start a conversation about how the state can help retirees.
Democratic state Representative Robert E. Craven Sr. proposed repealing the tax on all retirement income. He first considered focusing his bill on Social Security but expanded it because not all seniors benefit from the federal program.
‘‘I do not expect the bill will fund that broad of a total exemption,’’ Craven said.
Rhode Island has a projected shortfall of $34.5 million for the current fiscal year, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council said last month.
Well, that's half of what it will take to build a ballpark.
Craven said he would like to see a cut spread across various types of retirement income, with exemptions only up to a capped amount. The gesture would help people see that Rhode Island is headed in the right direction, he said.
Democratic Rep. Patricia A. Serpa’s bill is similar, but she changed the eligibility age from 65 to 62. She doesn’t think hers will pass intact because it’s more expensive.
Changing the tax policy is House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s top priority this legislative session. “Ultimately I would like to exempt many forms of income that retirees receive, but I am aware of our budget limitations,” said Mattiello, a Democrat.
Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo has said the change “certainly sounds great,” but she questioned where the money will come from. Her spokeswoman, Marie Aberger, said Thursday the governor’s top priority is creating jobs and expanding opportunity for all Rhode Islanders, and she will view these proposals through that lens.
Deputy Minority Leader Patricia L. Morgan said Rhode Island can’t afford to lose that revenue. Morgan, a Republican, wants to exclude Social Security and the first $15,000 of personal income from the tax. Both initiatives would cost the state a total of about $50 million annually, she added.
Morgan said she’s confident $50 million in wasteful spending could be found in the state budget. Morgan is part of a Republican caucus bill to exempt all retirement income, but she said she’d prefer to make cuts incrementally.
Keeping retirees in the state is important, she said.
“When they leave, they take their wealth with them, their contacts, their business acumen, and our state becomes poorer and poorer as a result,” Morgan said.
Willey, a managing director in the tax group at CBIZ Tofias in Providence, said some of his clients are leaving Rhode Island for Florida to save on their taxes but also because of the warmer weather.
“The problem the leadership has is perception,” he said. “They’re faced with studies and surveys on where’s the best state to retire, where are the worst states to retire, and Rhode Island comes up on the bottom because of the tax on Social Security.”
Had to go to the Washington Times to get the rest of that print.
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Time for this post to hit the showers.
UPDATES:
Otis Elevator complaint blames contractors in Fenway fall
Man gets caught in escalator at Chinatown MBTA station
City approves 30-story Fenway tower
