The City of of Winston-Salem refuses to release revenue projections for the new downtown taxpayer-funded stadium, which has since been dubbed Woulda Coulda Shoulda Park by keen observer Jeff Taylor down at Meck Deck.
City officials say the documents are protected by —- you guessed it—- state public records laws. But here’s the money quote:
City Manager Lee Garrity said in an e-mail response that the city will not make the documents public because they could put private businesses that supplied information for the estimates at a competitive disadvantage.
Garrity said yesterday that the financial health of the stadium, once it starts operating, would be obvious to Winston-Salem residents.
“The way we’ll all know (that the stadium is succeeding) is as long as Mr. Prim’s companies are able to make the lease payments — if they’re able to cover their financial obligations to the city,” he said.
That’s a loaded statement, considering the fact nothing —- absolutely nothing —- is “obvious” when government is involved, especially with this deal.
