And "Donate" to help the cause!
Donations can be mailed to:
Fair Vote Nebraska
P.O. Box 22903
Lincoln NE 68512
Or make a secure donation by credit card, just click on the donation button below.
See Tom Roth's "Sad State of Affairs" video by clicking on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBaOUA4VsjA#watch-main-area
Contact us at FairVoteNebraska@aol.com
| Keep the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln! |
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"The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen"
Inscription above the main entrance to the Nebraska State Capitol by Hartley Burr Alexander, Professor of Philosophy. |
FairVoteNebraska.com is a grassroots movement to keep the State Fair where it is and has been for 107 years.
The Legislature's action moving the Fair was ill-conceived and hastily planned. The goal was to free up the land for the University of Nebraska with little regard for the health and future of the State Fair and ramifications of closing all the other activities at State Fair Park.
The Nebraska Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on whether to keep the State Fair in Lincoln. The case is expected to be heard in late September 2009.
This continuing fight takes money, and your help would be appreciated. Contribute to the cause by clicking the button at the bottom of this page.
See Tom Roth's "Sad State of Affairs" video by clicking on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBaOUA4VsjA#watch-main-area
Also see http://www.1011now.com/news/headlines/55990287.html
FairVoteNebraska.com talking points:
We submit that any decision on moving the 107 year old State Fair should be by a vote of the people.
Unlike community festivals, much of the appeal of State Fairs is their tradition. Moving the Fair to a new location will destroy that very important continuity and connection to our history.
Legislative consultants estimated the current State Fair location could be improved for $30 million dollars. The Legislature instead voted to spend $42 million dollars to move it to the middle of the state.
State Fair Park generates a $27 million dollar economic impact to the City of Lincoln every year. A figure comparable to the economic impact of the College World Series to Omaha. Closing State Fair Park would eliminate that.
State Fair Park is used all year round. The 2008 calendar lists 1001 days of revenue generating events on the grounds. This is in addition to events at the Devaney Center and the Icebox. The Lancaster Event Center does not have the open dates or facilities to accommodate most of those events meaning they will either go out of town or cease to exist.
State Fair Park has an annual payroll of $2.5 million dollars that will be eliminated from the Lincoln economy if the Fair moves and the Park is closed.
It is likely that most of the current State Fair staff would not relocate to Grand Island, so the State Fair will lose decades of experience and know-how.
Consultants hired by the Legislature said a successful State Fair should have 300,000 people living within 30 miles of the event. Grand Island does not meet that requirement meaning a much smaller attendance draw. This will make it difficult to raise corporate funds who base contributions on potential exposure. Drawing smaller crowds will also diminish revenues needed to support activities which will force a downsized event.
Since 2004 when voters approved a constitutional amendment that provided a percentage of Lottery funds for improvement of State Fair Park facilities, steady progress has been made. Moving the State Fair would mean losing much of that investment.
The State Fair and horseracing support each other at State Fair Park. Splitting those entities could easily spell the demise of both.
We are not opposed to the University's Innovation Park concept, but it has no current commitments, is estimated to cost $100 to $300 million dollars, and could take 20 years or more to develop. With the limited research dollars available and the extremely competitive environment for them, we feel this experiment does not merit gutting a historic site that fills an income generating niche. In this time when all affected parties are financially stressed, the University could build their facilities at a more cost effective location.
Fair Vote Nebraska
P.O. Box 22903
Lincoln NE 68512
Or make a secure donation by credit card, just click on the donation button below.