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Local view: Fair proposal charts bright future for Lincoln

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BY SENS. CAROL HUDKINS, DIANNA SCHIMEK, BILL AVERY and DANIELLE NANTKES

Sunday, Apr 13, 2008 - 12:05:01 am CDT

In recent weeks, spirited discussions about the future of the State Fair have taken place — in the media, at your local coffee shop, around your kitchen table and on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. As Lincoln state senators, we have listened intently and have participated in many of these conversations. We have taken to heart the many diverse points of view that you, our constituents and neighbors in Lincoln, have expressed so passionately on both sides of this issue. 

Each of us comes to this issue with a unique set of ideas, professional backgrounds and political philosophies. We also come to this issue with some important concepts as common ground. These common concepts form the basis for our support of LB1116 — the bill that will, if passed, allow the fair to move to Grand Island and allow the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to use the current State Fair property to build the Nebraska Innovation Campus. This is the bill that charts the path for the future of our State Fair and the growth of Nebraska’s economy. The points on which we are all in agreement are these:

1. Importance of the State FairThe State Fair is one of Nebraska’s proudest traditions. It celebrates our heritage as an agricultural state and showcases many important aspects of livestock and commodity production. The State Fair also has been the home of countless treasured memories involving 4-H, FFA and good, old-fashioned family fun. However, there are real and serious needs in infrastructure investments required at State Fair Park, which are estimated to be more than $30 million. We are at a crossroads regarding what we need to do to save our State Fair. Moving it to Grand Island is our best opportunity to do that. Lincoln as a city and as a community should be commended for the efforts it made to find alternate sites to keep the State Fair.

Story Photo
Carol Hudkins

2. Importance of Innovation Campus

The University of Nebraska is one of our state’s most important institutions. The development of Innovation Campus, adjacent to the University of Nebraska’s City Campus, provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for true public-private partnerships and the infusion of new investments and new jobs in Lincoln. With significant private investment, the economic engine that Innovation Campus will become will help move Nebraska into the future in terms of cutting-edge research and technology efforts. The anticipated results of additional quality jobs, a way to attract and keep more young people in Nebraska and an expanded tax base will benefit all Nebraska taxpayers.

Finally, many citizens have expressed a strong desire for a public vote on this issue. State senators do not have the power to initiate that kind of vote involving legislative issues. We can only submit constitutional amendments to the public for consideration.

This is only the first step in the long journey that we as Nebraskans will travel together. We believe that the end result will be a stronger, more vibrant city and state. Our responsibility to you is to set direction for the best outcomes for Lincoln and our state. We believe that LB1116 does that, and we need your help to ensure a successful transition.

The senators’ legislative districts are: Carol Hudkins, District 21; DiAnna Schimek, District 27; Bill Avery, District 28; and Danielle Nantkes, District 46.


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Then wrote on April 13, 2008 9:51 am:
" Maybe you should amend the constitution to let folks argue for or against the fair in Lincoln. The rest of the article states, we have a chance to join private and public money to build this UNL research park. I assume you mean vision 2015. You get the people tied up with this bunch all it means is a tax increase. I hope to be able to see how this all plays out in a few years. I expect the state, city, and taxpayers to fund this whole thing in the near future as someone has to take care of it after it's a done deal. I understand why people of nebraska are upset with your ancient type of government. I can also play johnny carson with his turban saying nebraska has gone back to grass as all the people have left. "

 Laurie wrote on April 13, 2008 10:01 am:
" WHY is moving the state fair our best option??? WHY is moving it, when research clearly shows that Grand Island does NOT have the population base to support it, being so wholeheartedly embraced? WHY is the land at 84th and Cornhusker seriously not being considrered. WHY is GIVING away an economic opportunity the best option?
I truly do not understand and belive that our state fair will become nothing more than a glorified county fair with poor attendance. Grand Island cannot even support it's airport yet they think the fair will do well? I'd like to know what Lincoln's city leaders and state senators were drinking when they moved this forward. "

 state fair wrote on April 13, 2008 10:38 am:
" I hate to see the fair go, but Grand Island is a closer knit community than Lincoln and will survive. There are more people who live west past Lincoln than you might think. The thinking that it is all about Lincoln and Omaha is idiotic. Living in lincoln it is more about the dollar than anything. "

 Sean1 wrote on April 13, 2008 12:12 pm:
" Once again it's a case of the public stating what it wants from the legislature only to have their representatives ignore them and do exactly what they want. Well Senators, this will be remembered at election time. Than God for term limits. "

 airedale wrote on April 13, 2008 12:36 pm:
" Innovation campus may or may not bring in new jobs to Lincoln - but it most likely will not be native Lincolnites that get those jobs. The claim these Senators appear to make is that the Innovation Campus will offer good jobs to Nebraska college graduates.
Baloney.
In the first place most of those jobs will probably require a graduate degree of one kind or another. Unless UNL decides to try to keep NU undergrads here for graduate school most of the new crop of bachelor degreed students will still be going elsewhere for either work or school.
Second, despite Perlman's claims that UNL is now or will be a 'top' research school most of the people at Innovation Park will still have degrees from places like Berkeley, the Univeristy of Chicago or Harvard. Private industry will always pick grads from those places first over grads from UNL. Sorry UNL fans but the fact is that UNL will NEVER be viewed as being on the same level as those kinds of colleges.
At best Innovation Park might attract some former Nebraskans back to Nebraska after they get graduate degrees in other States - but those same grad students will most likely be able to go to just about any other State in the Union. Nebraska will face stiff competition getting them back.
Third, what about the remainder of Lincolnites and Nebraskans who don't have advanced degrees (degrees which are increasingly difficult for middle income people to get)? A lot of good paying blue collar jobs have left or are leaving Lincoln and it looks as though these Senators and other people in the government are not trying to bring them back. A lot of native Lincolnites will be forced to either move or take crappy paying jobs if they want to stay in Lincoln.
The way Lincoln is going it won't be long before someone with a decent job will either be working for the University, working for Government, or have a good paying service job like a doctor or a lawyer. Those that don't fit in one of those groups will be out of luck.
It is time for towns outside the Lincoln and Omaha areas for form tighter business alliances. Grand Island, Norfolk, North Platte and Scottsbluff are left with the challenge of providing good jobs for the average Nebraskan. Lincoln seems to be going its own way now. "

 Sad attempt wrote on April 13, 2008 2:31 pm:
" Notice they didn't mention where we are going to come up with the $100 million for innovation park. If they are getting so many people upset at moving it, why are they voting for it? They are probably not going to be in office the next election. "

 rh wrote on April 13, 2008 4:16 pm:
" It's mighty nice of the Lincoln State Senators to think they know what is best for State Fair Park. Anyone who thinks the Fair is used just 10 days a year for community events should NOT be representing the people of Lincoln.There is for more to the State Fair Land than the State Fair. It is just disgusting to think UNL is going to bring status and high paying jobs to Lincoln. Let's hold UNL accountable for the eyesore of Whittier School and Cushman Building. And if you have not been in the Cushman building GO GO... and see what a mess UNL has on its hands. Can you imagine the Eyesore the State Fair Park grounds will be. There is plenty of land between the two campus' for the Innovation Park. Why bother with the tradition of the State Fair that so well represents Nebraska not just the UNL might few.
Come on and represent Lincoln in a fair way. "

 So Dumb wrote on April 13, 2008 5:05 pm:
" Get the innovation park idea out of here. The city just said it was 6 million over budget! "

 Big Deal wrote on April 13, 2008 8:55 pm:
" Thanks Lincoln Senators for looking out for your best interest. Maybe all of you can get jobs working for YOUR BOSS the all powerful UNL.
Stay in your seats for a change and listen to the debate. "

 dewboy wrote on April 13, 2008 9:44 pm:
" Thank god for term limits we will be rid of two (2) of them very soon and one runs into snow plows. These people are really impressive (colored photos) I hope than at least one or two of them can read the responses to their article. I hope one of them does not get the bright idea to run for mayor in the future. We have been stuck with two and that is enough. "

 whatever wrote on April 13, 2008 11:22 pm:
" I've met too many folks like the Senators who wrote this article. Strong in their views about getting something done but pretty much out of touch with reality. "Airdale" brings up a lot of valid points that I'm quite sure the Senators haven't thought of. And it's pretty clear the Senators have a VERY parochial view of the "rest of us" here in Nebraska. I suspect down the road this "innovation park" may spark more development in Omaha as opposed to Lincoln. And it doesn't seem to address the fact that MOST Nebraskans who attend a college or univerisity in this state DO NOT attend UNL, UNK or UNO. In fact my experience with UNL is that of a very parochial institution. Check the figures for schools like Creighton, NWU, Doane, Concordia etc. and see how many of their graduates move on to graduate school and where they go and where they end up. To be fair UNL has a few good programs, but overall it's pretty much a "party school" with very little serious academics going on. And as far as Lincoln seriously looking for another location in the city for the State Fair beyond the craphole that is the Lancaster County Events Center come on just how dumb do you think we are? And if you really believe that and you Senators the "best" Lincoln has to offer for leadership then you really are deluded. "

 Fully Support the Move wrote on April 14, 2008 12:24 am:
" I'm really tired of all the above posters speaking "for the people of Nebraska!"

I for one fully support Innovation Park and the State Fair's move to Grand Island. This is an excellent move and a win-win situation for everyone. Great work and I'm glad you didn't cave to the uninformed masses. "

 do some research wrote on April 14, 2008 7:43 am:
" Moving the fair is our best choise. It is the most cost effective and well planned. GI doesn't have the population base, but enought people will come to make the fair a success. 84th and cornhusker is in a floodplain and they don't want horseracing. Horseracing accounts for 2/3's of the revinue for the fair. The millions of dollars that they are "giving" away now, it is an investment in the future of lincoln. The inovation park will generate revinue and jobs for the city and that will be of more value than the fairgrounds. "

 Listen to the People - Let Us Vote! wrote on April 14, 2008 12:19 pm:
" I am tired of hearing that the State Fairgrounds is the only place in the state for a research park. How stupid do they think we are? The University could build this park anyplace and on any of their land they already have. Also, the University is not paying the full actual value for State Fair Park. They are only paying $21.5 million. The original LB 1116 said they would pay $30 million or the appraised value if higher. What happened to that requirement? Did the University force them to take this out? I graduated from the University and have supported the University, but on this issue the University is just plan wrong. The State Fair should stay where it is at State Fair Park. I also say we should vote on this very important decision. It is interesting how we had to vote to give 10% of the Lottery to support the State Fair (Amendment 4), yet on this even more important issue the Legislature says they cannot let us vote. The Legislature put Amendment 4 on the ballot, so they can put this issue on the ballot as well. "

 Gee, wrote on April 14, 2008 12:27 pm:
" apparently Lincoln/Omaha doesn't have the population to support the Fair either. Sorry, but you naysayers need to look at the facts instead of your nostalgia time-machine. Attendance has dwindled over the years because the Fair was allowed to become a has-been, decrepit mud-pit. Good riddance, maybe it will be rejuvinated in GI, but if this same Fair Board is involved, then it's doomed again. "

 mitchy_v wrote on April 14, 2008 12:40 pm:
" I will put this in simple terms for you. The Legislature can only put items that involve the State Constition on a public vote (lottery money to the fair). Selling the fair grounds has nothing to do with the constitution, therefor the Legislature can't place it on a ballot.

LB1115 needs to pass so we can get a new fair board. "

 Realistic wrote on April 14, 2008 9:34 pm:
" Nebraska already has an innovation campus...at 63rd & Shirley in Omaha. Take a look. It's the Aksarben campus, home of the Scott Tech Transfer Center and lots more. Sorry Lincoln, but the innovation has been in Omaha for years. "

 dewboy wrote on April 17, 2008 11:23 pm:
" Bye, Bye my dear senators. Im sure in the future when there is not a State Fair to speak of you will plead innocence and feel real good when the tax payers get the tab for the new park or maybe you will be working there as a janitor. "

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