The leg approved the county’s share of $14 million to perform infrastructure improvements around the Bass Pro location. Some legislators balked at paying that kind of money when we have a fiscal crisis going on. But:
Erie County will devote $14 million from its tobacco settlement to the Bass Pro project on Buffalo’s waterfront, lawmakers decided Thursday as they delayed action on the huge issue before them: a deficit of more than $100 million.
Federal rules require that money from Erie County’s tobacco settlement be spent on projects with long lives, 17.8 years or more, so the millions of dollars still unspent cannot go to pay for everyday needs and help close this year’s deficit.
Bass Pro will be a good deal for downtown. Objectively and fiscally. It’s an investment in our future. If Buffalo doesn’t help to improve the area around the Aud for this project, some other city will get Bass Pro and the phenomenal benefits that come along with it. Not direct benefits – after all, it’s only about 300 jobs we’re talking about. But indirect benefits. The objective evidence from other cities shows that Bass Pro has an incredible positive affect on its surroundings. Chains that would never have considered that area lease space. Dead malls come alive again. Dead shopping districts show new vitality and 300% increase in business and traffic.
Bass Pro isn’t the E-zone. It’s not a casino. It’s not whatever horrible silver bullet that’s been pushed on you recently. Bass Pro has a track record of following up on its commitments, carrying out its promises, and improving cities. Bass Pro has proven that it’s a big draw – and the one in the Aud – across the street from Lake Erie – will be a huge draw. Bass Pro has never closed a store, and it wouldn’t be pledging $57 million of its own money if it didn’t think its Buffalo store would be a success.
The Buffalo Record 
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