Jack Rains' did not have access to your email addresses at his home.  He has
left to go out of the City for the day and asked that I forward the
following  letter directly to you for your information.

>  -----Original Message-----
> From:  Jack Rains [mailto:jmrtexas@swbell.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2000 11:54 AM
> To: Hill Connie
> Subject: FW: The Arena deal: points for consideration
> Importance: High
>
>
> ....and in my spare time....
> JR
>
>
>
>
> Last Saturday Dale Robertson, obviously responding to the Rockets public
> relations machine , wrote a nasty, vicious
> column. It was a personal attack that was a diservice to not only the
> debate but to the city and every citizen of good will..I have attached a
> copy so that you may reach your own conclusions.
>
> During the last debate, on the subsequently defeated Arena proposal, I
> remained silent.  While I had been deeply involved in those negotiations I
> felt under the circumstances of Mayor Brown dismissal, it was
> inappropriate for me to publicly comment.  Up until now I have continued
> that policy.
>
>  Edmund Burke observed that for evil to triumph it is only necessary that
> good men do nothing.  I will no longer remain silent.  Certainly we are
> all entitled to our opinions on the subject of the arena, sports, or any
> other issue we face as citizens, but we cannot be permitted to have our
> own 'facts'.
>
> The attached submittal to the Chronicle sets forth facts you should know
> and matters you may wish to consider in your deliberations.  The Chronicle
> advised me, that due to space limitations, they would publish a condensed
> version, for which I am grateful.  As community leaders you should have
> the complete picture.
>
> We have an opportunity at hand.  An Arena agreement can be crafted that
> will receive the support of the majority of Houstonians.  But first t it
> will be necessary that the '; spin doctors' and other hired guns cool
> their rhetoric.  After they have moved on to earn their fees at the next
> engagement, we will remain in the city we love and have built together.
> We must come together in good faith and stop those attempting to impose a
> decision by threatening anyone who does not agree with their position.  At
> a minimum we must elevate the debate to a standard of civility.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jack Rains
>
>
>
>
>
>  <<HoustonChronicle.com.htm>>
>
> Submitted, Sunday August 13, 2000, to the Houston Chronicle for
> Publication:
>
> A new low in political debate; a prescription for disaster
>
> Few persons, and certainly not County Judge Robert Eckels, Tax
> assessor/collector Paul Bettencourt, or Republican County Chair Gary
> Polland or any other republican or democrat leader I have spoken with,
> want the Rockets and Comets to leave town.  Should the teams go however,
> it will be due to Les Alexander's miscalculations and the blunders by well
> meaning but naive supporters.  That charitable adjective cannot be applied
> to Dale Robertson, Houston Chronicle sports columnist.
>
> Robertson, in his Saturday August 13, 2000 column, established a new low
> in journalism.  Quoting liberally from the Rocket spokesperson, George
> Postolos, the Rockets-Comets CEO, according to Robertson, he spews a
> virulent diatribe of inaccurate, convoluted arguments, misrepresentations,
> and gratuitous insults.  While conceding the points Judge Eckels made in
> his recent letter to the Sports Authority may be valid, Robertson,
> undaunted, attempts to discredit Eckels.  How?  By asking us to believe
> that Mr. Robertson posses clairvoyant powers.  He warns  his readers of
> his perception of  the evil state of mind of the Judge. According to
> Robertson, the arena debate is merely a political struggle, which he
> blithely characterizes as,  "Anglo Saxons vs. a Jewish owner and an
> African-American Mayor".  Outrageous! If that were not enough, Robertson
> goes over the top.  Using his crystal ball we must assume, Robertson warns
> that the next words out of Judge Eckels' mouth will be a lie.  Balderdash!
>
>
>  Shame on Dale Robertson and the Editors of the Chronicle who allowed such
> grossly inaccurate, hate filled statements into print.  The Chronicle's
> Founding Publisher, Jesse Jones, must be spinning in his grave.  Every
> person who has worked to achieve racial, ethnic, and religious harmony, no
> matter what their political and other views, should condemn such hateful
> bigotry on the part of Robertson and the Chronicle.  Postolos destroyed
> his credibility with the disingenuous claim that he was 'genuinely and
> completely surprised' by Eckels letter.  Come on George.' spin 'won't
> sell.  Robertson, far worse, went beyond the pale with his slurs aimed at
> any party that dares question the current arena deal.  Pitifully sad and
> counter productive to reaching an Arena agreement the voters will approve.
>
> Judge Eckels' temperate, well-reasoned letter, questions a proposal that
> Arena supporters privately concede "needs work".  For example on Channel 2
> Sunday, Sunny Messiah, the publisher of the Houston Defender, the leading
> Black newspaper, and an Arena supporter last time around, joined Dan
> Patrick, a right wing shock jock at the radio station which broadcasts the
> Rocket's games, in agreeing on the Arena proposal.  That was a first for
> those two.  Both asked hard questions, concluding it was less fair to the
> public than the prior agreement rejected by voters.  During the program,
> viewers were told   that Sports Authority Chairman Billy Burge and Vice
> Chair Grover Jackson, architects of the agreement, had declined to appear
> and defend their arrangements with Alexander.
>
> There is another matter under discussion that requires clarification.
>
> Some assert that Mayor Brown had a 'deal' with Judge Eckels.  I doubt the
> truth of that claim and will explain why.  All citizens have the
> constitutionally protected right to speak out, and public officials such
> as Brown and Eckels have a duty to speak up on behalf of the taxpayers.
> Surely Robertson and the defenders of the constitutionally protected
> rights of the press would not condemn, or attempt to muzzle, anyone's
> right to free speech.  Eckels was right to state his concerns.  If the
> hour is late, blame the Sports Authority and Alexander who have been
> negotiating since their last deal was rejected in 1999.  Remember this is
> Alexander's third bite at the apple.  He lost last year and walked away
> from negotiations back when Bob Lanier was Mayor.  It is late but we have
> two years to go on the Rocket's lease at the Compaq Center and that could
> be temporarily extended if necessary.
>
> The assertion that Mayor Brown stayed out of the Stadium negotiations is
> simply not true.
>
> That agreement between Harris County, the NFL, the Rodeo and the Sports
> Authority, was concluded and executed during my term as Chairman of the
> Sports Authority.  The Mayor contacted us on several occasions with input.
> It was due to his correct insistence that the stadium be designed to
> accommodate expansion for the 2012 Summer Olympic games.  The change, over
> the NFL's objection, added significantly to the cost, but represents a
> wise investment for a growing region.  In fact, Mayor Brown will recall,
> we made the final break through in those negotiations, in his   office,
> reaching closure when he and Commissioner Lee reached agreement on major
> sticking points between the County and the City.  Mayor Brown's leadership
> and input was important to our ultimate success in bringing the NFL back
> to Houston.  Judge Eckels' input will be equally important in fashioning
> an Arena agreement that the voters will approve.
>
>  Robertson and the Chronicle evidently missed all those events, or fail to
> understand their ramifications.  He conveniently dismisses   the last 'top
> down, cram down' deal on the Arena that the voter's slammed dunked.  We
> can't afford another failure due to yet another open-ended, capitulation
> to Alexander's demands.  The voters are not stupid and will not be
> intimidated.
>
>
> It is a disservice when we lower the debate to name calling and
> questioning of motives.  Robertson, is surely sincere in his support for a
> new arena, Obviously Les Alexander wants a' done deal'.  While we all
> desire the same results, vicious personal attacks are counter-productive.
> Let us   get back to working out an Arena agreement that will serve our
> citizens well for the next 30 years and beyond.  We can and must fashion
> an   agreement that a majority of our citizens will support.
>
> Jack Rains
> Founding Chair,
> Harris County-Houston Sports Authority
>
>
>
>

 - HoustonChronicle.com.htm