Jim Morris
The news that the City of Indianapolis, through the Capital Improvement Board (CIB) is providing some $160 Million in payments and subsidies to the Indiana Pacers at a time when other critical city needs are going unmet has caused lots of people great concern. The monies the CIB is providing the Pacers under a new 10 year deal isn’t tax money that could be directly used for streets and police officers. It’s money from hotel and car rental taxes, local income taxes from pro athletes who play at downtown stadiums and part of the 1% food and beverage sales tax at area restaurants. But at a time of limited city resources, the Pacers deal has rubbed many the wrong way. Appearing on Afternoons with Amos, Pacers Sports and Entertainment President Jim Morris tried to explain to Amos and listeners the deal and why it was important for the entire community. During the interview Amos asked if the Pacers would exceed the City’s guidelines for the use of minority, women and veteran owned businesses in the upgrade improvements to Bankers Life Fieldhouse under this deal. Morris agreed, but wasn’t quite as firm in supporting Amos’ idea of revealing a range of the Pacers profit or loss as a franchise or revealing how much of the Pacers spending with minority-owned businesses is done with Black-owned, Hispanic-owned and Asian-owned businesses. Click the Arrow to Hear Amos’ Revealing Interview with the Pacers Jim Morris. Runs 18 Minutes Copyright 2014 WTLC/Radio One.
