Tuesday August 10th, 2010 - 3:42PM

Community Maritime Park is good for Pensacola.

Pensacola needs Maritime Park for our long-term economic and cultural viability

Marty Donovan and Jack Nobles seek to derail the project with distortions and false allegations.

They have no valid points to justify their obstructionist campaign:

The $40 million in bond proceeds can NOT be diverted to other city services

Leasing the bayfront property is NOT a giveaway of city land. The city will earn $1 million-plus a year in rental revenue,and city officials will retain control of all leasing decisions.

The multi use stadium is a sweetheart deal for the city not Quint Studer. He will pay the city $1.7 million in rent over 10 years. Studer has also pledged an additional $1.25 million the first 5 years to help cover park operations. Plus all profits from the Pelicans will go to the park.

City taxes will NOT go up to pay for the stadium. It is being financed by revenue already collected by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) serving the downtown area.

Cancelling the contract WILL cost the city $12 million in tax credits, plus $6 million in penalties.

Maritime Park is Pensacola's best hope for revitalizing downtown, diversifying its economic base, creating new construction and permanent jobs. The public-private partnership formed to build the park is the best use of public resources to maximize private investment.

The voters have spoken. They want Maritime Park.

Don't sign the petition. Its only goal is to kill Maritime Park.

FRIENDS OF THE WATERFRONT PARK

Paid political advertisement, Paid for and approved by Friends of Waterfront Park, PC