February 13, 2001, Tuesday
HEADLINE: ON SHAKY GROUND; CHOICES THAT A CITY MAKES INVOLVING ITS INFRASTRUCTURE VS. SPORTS STADIUMS

ANCHORS: PETER JENNINGS
REPORTERS: JOHN MARTIN
BODY:PETER JENNINGS, anchor:

We're going to take another look tonight at the truly enormous problem of
the country's infrastructure. The problems are so extensive that we looked
at it bit by bit. Tonight the choices that a city makes. And here's the
question. Pretend you're a member of the city council. You may actually be
one. Parts of your city are falling down and the owner of a local sports
team wants a new stadium. Which do you choose? ABC's John Martin is in
Detroit.

JOHN MARTIN reporting:

(VO) Detroit is a once great city of abandoned buildings, empty, empty,
empty. But when it comes to professional sports Detroit has only the best.
Taxpayers gave $ 250 million in subsidies for new stadiums. This one will
replace this one, still among the tops in the NFL.

(OC) The Silver Dome is only 25 years old but across the country,
communities are replacing stadiums like these, spending billions of
dollars, money that's not going for basic services.

(VO) Seattle spent $ 300 million to blow up the Kingdome, age 25 and to
build a new stadium. Tampa voters rejected sales taxes for schools and
police until Mayor Dick Greco, a former pro-football executive, sweetened
the deal for sports fans.

Mayor DICK GRECO (Tampa, Florida): We added a stadium to that very issue,
revoted it several months later, less than a year and it passed. Now
that's sad commentary on what the public wants and needs.

MARTIN: (VO) To see how priorities can turn upside down, look again at
Detroit. It's ancient sewer system violated the clean water act. Fixing it
will cost a billion dollars and take years. Steve Liddle who's made a law
practice out of suing suburban communities, he represents 10,000 residents
who have been flooded with raw sewage.

Mr. STEVE LIDDLE (Detroit Attorney): There's too much emphasis on money
for sports, stadiums and special interests and nobody want's to say, 'I
made your sewers work.'

MARTIN: (VO) Detroit doesn't have enough money for streetlights or parks
or swimming pools. This one stayed closed all summer for lack of a pump.
Michelle Brown is struggling to renovate housing here with little help
from the city.

Ms. MICHELLE BROWN (Cass Corridor Development Corporation): When I see not one--one stadium completed, another stadium on the way and I see people
still sitting out here and I have to tell people, 'We don't have any units
available.' It--it bothers me to the heart.

MARTIN: (VO) So why do politicians give priority to rich team owners?
College professor Frank Rashid tried for 10 years to keep the Detroit
Tigers from replacing their baseball stadium but he lost to team friends
at city hall.

Professor FRANK RASHID (Marygrove College): They are the ones who get to
say, you know, 'This contractor is going to get the work,' 'This bond
attorney is going to get the work,' 'These are the developers we're going
to use.' And those things all give a politician tremendous power.

MARTIN: (VO) So infrastructure or sports? Many politicians choose sports.
John Martin, ABC News, Detroit.

JENNINGS: Just one other note without making any judgments. In Pittsburgh
on Sunday, they blew up Three River Stadium. It was great to watch. The
city is building two new stadiums. The billion dollar effort will also
include a convention center and a new riverfront park. It is the most
expensive public works project in Pittsburgh's history.

We'll have more news in a moment and later in the broadcast cloning human
beings despite the government's displeasure.

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