{

A non-partisan group of organizations has come together to ask our elected officials to hear our voices regarding the investment of tens of millions of dollars for a soccer stadium.

Our group includes;

Women of Color Leadership West Orlando Tea PartyCoalition

Community Empowerment East Orlando Tea PartyProject

Community Action Network Central Florida Tea Party Council

Inner City Neighborhood Central Florida Campaign for LibertyAssociation

Renters Association

Our message is simple;

Before spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on a for profit business enterprise, think about the consequences.

Before taxpayers are asked to fund yet another project outside the core functions of government, please determine how we will fund;

SunRailThe arts centerPublic pension shortfallsCommunity health centersPublic safety

Before we invest as much as $60 million into a private business venture, ask ourselves;

What are the chances this business venture will succeed?. (Both MLS franchises in Florida failed).

Would a bank lend $60 million to a company in business for less than two years?

Does the public want its tax dollars spent on this venture?

Before we spend $60 million to subsidize a for-profit company we should ask;

Do the residents of the Parramore community want this project?

Many residents feel the project is part of the “gentrification” of Parramore designed to get urban African Americans out of downtown.

Before we spend $60 million to subsidize a for-profit enterprise we the people want our elected officials to hear us;

“we the people, the poor, the rich, both Democrats and Republicans oppose corporate welfare”

Corporate welfare corrupts our political system.

“When you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always count on the support of Paul.”

Corporate welfare hurts existing small businesses because it taxes them while taking consumer dollars away from them giving them to a subsidized competitor.

Corporate welfare is a high risk venture. Companies who have solid business plans can obtain their own financing.

Corporate welfare does NOT help our economy. The money going to the subsidized business is money they could have gone to another small business. The “substitution effect” explains consumers will use their disposable income at one business or another.

Politicians who approve of corporate welfare projects will see increasing challenges from the grassroots on the right and the left.

When the grassroots on the left and right merge they will have the ability to remove elected officials who support corporate welfare.

Imagine the power of citizens uniting in the political process. Imagine the anger and emotion of urban black over Trayvon Martin combined with the energy of the Occupy movement combined with the passion of the tea party.

These forces are uniting to end corporate welfare at all levels of government.

We the people ask;

Just say no to corporate welfare.

Reject the soccer stadium proposal and use whatever funds are available to meet our current obligations.