Michael Brown
@mjbofdca.bsky.social
The First Fellow of the UNLV Lincy Institute. Retired Grand Poobah, now a Think Tank Wonk. Bow Seat Rower. Unabashed Centrist. Virginian, Nevadan, and sometimes a Clevelander.
Reposted by Michael Brown
Somehow I missed this. How is this guy so nonchalant about not having near enough money to build the stadium he is supposedly already building? This whole thing is so weird.
Fisher says cost for the Las Vegas A’s ballpark has risen above $2 billion - The Nevada Independent
Fisher says cost for the Las Vegas A’s ballpark has risen above $2 billion. Read more from The Nevada Independent.
thenevadaindependent.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Somehow I missed this. How is this guy so nonchalant about not having near enough money to build the stadium he is supposedly already building? This whole thing is so weird.
Reposted by Michael Brown
We've now passed the 2-year mark since Nevada approved giving $380 million in subsidies to build the A's a new ballpark. We're still waiting. It ain't happening.
June 16, 2025 at 11:33 AM
We've now passed the 2-year mark since Nevada approved giving $380 million in subsidies to build the A's a new ballpark. We're still waiting. It ain't happening.
Reposted by Michael Brown
Suppose I attend a conference in Denver, get a hotel room, and eat a Subway. Acc to CSL, the Subway gets to count my conf fees, room fees/taxes as econ imp. And so can the conf and the hotel. So now all my spending gets counted x3. Please stop being terrible at thinking
ourrfk.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
ourrfk.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
ourrfk.dc.gov
June 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Suppose I attend a conference in Denver, get a hotel room, and eat a Subway. Acc to CSL, the Subway gets to count my conf fees, room fees/taxes as econ imp. And so can the conf and the hotel. So now all my spending gets counted x3. Please stop being terrible at thinking
ourrfk.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
ourrfk.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Michael Brown
Maybe this is old fashion, but the goal of government is not to hasten the deaths of Americans.
Republicans should reread the bible – Jesus did exactly the opposite of what they’re doing with their Big Ugly Bill.
Republicans should reread the bible – Jesus did exactly the opposite of what they’re doing with their Big Ugly Bill.
June 4, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Maybe this is old fashion, but the goal of government is not to hasten the deaths of Americans.
Republicans should reread the bible – Jesus did exactly the opposite of what they’re doing with their Big Ugly Bill.
Republicans should reread the bible – Jesus did exactly the opposite of what they’re doing with their Big Ugly Bill.
Reposted by Michael Brown
The funniest people are the folks who start running away when I speak up on film incentives or Rivian. (Oh no, those are good. Someone at the Georgia/Metro Chamber assured us.) Sorry, it's not just stadiums that lack any economic justification and end up as boondoggles.
November 27, 2024 at 2:43 PM
The funniest people are the folks who start running away when I speak up on film incentives or Rivian. (Oh no, those are good. Someone at the Georgia/Metro Chamber assured us.) Sorry, it's not just stadiums that lack any economic justification and end up as boondoggles.
Reposted by Michael Brown
There is no legitimate policy justification for government support of the film industry. None. There are two types of people who favor propping up entertainment on the backs of citizens. People who don't know any better and those who are in on the scam.
May 6, 2025 at 11:43 AM
There is no legitimate policy justification for government support of the film industry. None. There are two types of people who favor propping up entertainment on the backs of citizens. People who don't know any better and those who are in on the scam.
Reposted by Michael Brown
Community Benefit Agreements are nothing more than a ruse to get public stadium deals approved. The only people who are fooled into believing them are the people who want to be fooled.
June 1, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Community Benefit Agreements are nothing more than a ruse to get public stadium deals approved. The only people who are fooled into believing them are the people who want to be fooled.
Reposted by Michael Brown
City of Alexandria Statement on the Trump Administration Listing Alexandria as a Sanctuary City. Read more: alexandriava.gov/go/7067
May 30, 2025 at 2:15 AM
City of Alexandria Statement on the Trump Administration Listing Alexandria as a Sanctuary City. Read more: alexandriava.gov/go/7067
Reposted by Michael Brown
OPINION by Michael Schaus: Hollywood’s fuzzy math is pure fiction
“Hollywood studios vying for taxpayer money often run up against a fundamental problem when trying to convince the public to support their efforts: Their math simply doesn’t add up.”
thenevadaindependent.com/article/opin...
“Hollywood studios vying for taxpayer money often run up against a fundamental problem when trying to convince the public to support their efforts: Their math simply doesn’t add up.”
thenevadaindependent.com/article/opin...
May 29, 2025 at 3:31 PM
OPINION by Michael Schaus: Hollywood’s fuzzy math is pure fiction
“Hollywood studios vying for taxpayer money often run up against a fundamental problem when trying to convince the public to support their efforts: Their math simply doesn’t add up.”
thenevadaindependent.com/article/opin...
“Hollywood studios vying for taxpayer money often run up against a fundamental problem when trying to convince the public to support their efforts: Their math simply doesn’t add up.”
thenevadaindependent.com/article/opin...
Reposted by Michael Brown
Econ impact doesn’t pay your bills. Taxpayers do. No one should care about EI bc 1) it’s a nebulous concept and ripe for abuse, 2) almost everything creates some form of it, and 3) tells you nothing of costs or tradeoffs, which is key to efficient public policy. www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/ap...
Sarasota County faces deficit in baseball stadium fund by 2027 | Your Observer
Projected to spend all of its fund balance on maintenance of its two spring training stadiums, Sarasota County is working on a plan to replenish its reserves.
www.yourobserver.com
May 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Econ impact doesn’t pay your bills. Taxpayers do. No one should care about EI bc 1) it’s a nebulous concept and ripe for abuse, 2) almost everything creates some form of it, and 3) tells you nothing of costs or tradeoffs, which is key to efficient public policy. www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/ap...
OPINION: It's time Nevada brought actual transparency to its tax credit programs thenevadaindependent.com/article/opin...
OPINION: It's time Nevada brought actual transparency to its tax credit programs - The Nevada Independent
Combing through the available information suggests that more than $600 million in tax credits have been authorized since 2017. Still, the public cannot be certain what funds are "spent" and what funds...
thenevadaindependent.com
May 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
OPINION: It's time Nevada brought actual transparency to its tax credit programs thenevadaindependent.com/article/opin...
Reposted by Michael Brown
Simply unbelievable. This is the film tax credit model, which is an even worse boondoggle than sports stadiums. This is unconscionable.
Not only is the proposed tax credit refundable, it's also transferable. Teams could have their state inc tax liability zeroed out, accumulate a surplus of credits, and sell outstanding credits for 75%-100% of par. This also means annual team cap contributions would be reimbursed by taxpayers.
May 14, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Simply unbelievable. This is the film tax credit model, which is an even worse boondoggle than sports stadiums. This is unconscionable.
Reposted by Michael Brown
And two years later, the Nevada Legislature is screaming about "accountability" for everyone else (mostly teachers), while they work to pass a film tax credit bill worth $1.65 billion.
May 20, 2025 at 10:52 PM
And two years later, the Nevada Legislature is screaming about "accountability" for everyone else (mostly teachers), while they work to pass a film tax credit bill worth $1.65 billion.
Reposted by Michael Brown
"You read books, eh?" A 1949 red scare Herblock cartoon about pressures on teachers that hits hard once again.
May 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
"You read books, eh?" A 1949 red scare Herblock cartoon about pressures on teachers that hits hard once again.
Reposted by Michael Brown
LOL. We're approaching two years since the ballpark was approved, and this is where we are. ...Totally normal. www.reviewjournal.com/sports/athle...
What happens if the A’s ballpark isn’t built? There’s a plan for that
The Athletics and Clark County are set to enter an agreement in which the A’s would put up a $3.7 million to cover decommissioning if the new Las Vegas Strip ballpark is not finished.
www.reviewjournal.com
May 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
LOL. We're approaching two years since the ballpark was approved, and this is where we are. ...Totally normal. www.reviewjournal.com/sports/athle...
Reposted by Michael Brown
Reposted by Michael Brown
This trend of describing TIF funding mechanisms for stadiums as "private financing" needs to stop. I get that this can be confusion; so, media members, please call a local public finance professor for guidance.
Got word that the Denver NWSL owner wants TIF to cover the cost of the stadium. Keep in mind: the argument is that the stadium is privately built and operated. But with TIF to reimburse construction debt, it's equivalent to taxpayers building it, deeding it to the team, and owner keeps all revenue.
May 4, 2025 at 8:46 PM
This trend of describing TIF funding mechanisms for stadiums as "private financing" needs to stop. I get that this can be confusion; so, media members, please call a local public finance professor for guidance.
Reposted by Michael Brown
BREAKING: The constitutional crisis has arrived. We knew it was coming, just not when.
April 25, 2025 at 2:43 PM
BREAKING: The constitutional crisis has arrived. We knew it was coming, just not when.
Reposted by Michael Brown
Can someone point me to where the money is in arguing that stadiums are poor public investments? If I stopped this line of research, my compensation wouldn't change (I didn't use to do this). If I switched sides, I'd be much wealthier.
A's on track for June groundbreaking in Las Vegas
The Athletics cleared a significant hurdle last week to keep the groundbreaking for their new park in Las Vegas on track for June.
buff.ly
April 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Can someone point me to where the money is in arguing that stadiums are poor public investments? If I stopped this line of research, my compensation wouldn't change (I didn't use to do this). If I switched sides, I'd be much wealthier.
Reposted by Michael Brown
Day two of the sports economics conference at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County! We've got a packed day of presenters and we all got lost in campus construction on the way to the meeting room, so let's go!
Liveblog: What sports economists are telling us about stadiums and public funding
Day two of the sports economics conference at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County! We've got a packed day of presenters and we all got lost in campus construction on the way to the meeting roo...
www.fieldofschemes.com
April 4, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Day two of the sports economics conference at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County! We've got a packed day of presenters and we all got lost in campus construction on the way to the meeting room, so let's go!
Reposted by Michael Brown
A great Special Op-Ed from @skaiser-nv.bsky.social
"The current #NVLeg Session presents an opportunity to work together as a coalition again to speak together for those who cannot, Nevada’s children. Nevada’s kids shouldn’t face another decade without adequate funding. It is time to #PassThePlan"
"The current #NVLeg Session presents an opportunity to work together as a coalition again to speak together for those who cannot, Nevada’s children. Nevada’s kids shouldn’t face another decade without adequate funding. It is time to #PassThePlan"
Now's the moment to bring Nevada's classrooms up to the national average in per-pupil funds
Susan Kaiser writes: We have arrived at a crossroads. Every child deserves the opportunity for success in education.
www.rgj.com
April 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A great Special Op-Ed from @skaiser-nv.bsky.social
"The current #NVLeg Session presents an opportunity to work together as a coalition again to speak together for those who cannot, Nevada’s children. Nevada’s kids shouldn’t face another decade without adequate funding. It is time to #PassThePlan"
"The current #NVLeg Session presents an opportunity to work together as a coalition again to speak together for those who cannot, Nevada’s children. Nevada’s kids shouldn’t face another decade without adequate funding. It is time to #PassThePlan"
Reposted by Michael Brown
Report shows Nevada’s heavy reliance on federal funds — and susceptibility to cuts thenevadaindependent.com/article/repo...
Report shows Nevada’s heavy reliance on federal funds — and susceptibility to cuts - The Nevada Independent
Report shows Nevada’s heavy reliance on federal funds — and susceptibility to cuts. Read more from The Nevada Independent.
thenevadaindependent.com
April 9, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Report shows Nevada’s heavy reliance on federal funds — and susceptibility to cuts thenevadaindependent.com/article/repo...
Reposted by Michael Brown
Treasury bonds are traditionally seen as a safe haven in times of economic turmoil, because they offer investors a guaranteed payment backed by the U.S. government. Instead, investors are selling the assets.
Here's what to know.
Here's what to know.
Another Rocky Day in Markets: Stocks and Bonds Sink
With the S&P 500 near a bear market, shares in Europe and Asia fell as China and other major U.S. trading partners confronted significantly higher tariffs. Investors also sold U.S. bonds.
www.nytimes.com
April 9, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Treasury bonds are traditionally seen as a safe haven in times of economic turmoil, because they offer investors a guaranteed payment backed by the U.S. government. Instead, investors are selling the assets.
Here's what to know.
Here's what to know.
