How do you stop the rape of cities by professional sports?

SARAH PHIPPS / SPECIAL TO THE SEATTLE TIMES. A sign supporting the Sonics' move is seen in downtown Oklahoma City, Okla., on February 14, 2008.

Seattle is a bit worked up because the basketball team has been bought by a group of Oklahoma City-based business people, who want to move the team to Oklahoma City. And they have been playing off Seattle, King County, Washington, and Oklahoma City against each other.

(After Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Hornets used Oklahoma City as home base for two seasons, drawing large, enthusiastic crowds.)

Too bad that Senator Specter is so concerned about the National Football League that he has introduced legislation allowing churches to show the Superbowl (see "Bill Would End Separation of Church and Super Bowl" from the Washington Post) but no Congressional Committee seems very worked up about how cities are being "played" by professional sports team.

An op-ed in the Seattle Times, "Oklahoma City's poor forced to pay so millionaires can play" points out that an Oklahoma City sales tax measure will take from the poor to give to the rich:

A ballot measure that passed March 4 will raise $121 million in sales taxes to "fancy up" a practically new building in town with luxury skyboxes, rooftop gardens and more, in an attempt to lure the Sonics to Oklahoma City.

This scheme to enrich one Oklahoma City billionaire and several millionaires will gouge the poor by forcing them to pay more for groceries, utilities and other necessities. Cost to each average Oklahoma City resident will be about $150.

Supporters: www.bigleaguecity.com/
Opponents: www.mapsformillionaires.org/

Also see "Oklahoma City seeks a Sonic boom" and "Oklahoma Legislature working on Sonics tax package" from the Seattle Times.