Index
Everett Stadium Investigation
wrote AquaSox PDL President Charles Volpe
to Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and staff.
Blackmail the city council and the legislature too’
From the song ‘No Frogs Downtown Blues’
The “warning” letter was from Major League Baseball Representative Chris Brumm, the MLB Senior Vice President & Head Counsel from the Corporate and Finance of the Office of the Commissioner.
Peter Woodfork, MLB Senior Vice President, Minor League Operations & Development, numerous other senior MLB Representatives were included as well as Justin Toole of the Seattle Mariners.
In a Championship Game on September 13, 2025 (above photo), the Everett Washington Aquasox played the Eugene Oregon Emeralds.
Eugene Oregon voters rejected a $15 million bond measure for a new stadium.
Naming rights for Everett Memorial Stadium (named for WW II veterns and now named Funko Field) come up again in 2027. The Mayor’s ‘team’ (staff) said,
Everything’s for sale in a new stadium.”
The Everett Stadium Investigation includes something called
“Project Frog Pond – Timeline and Responsibilities.”
Project Frog Pond was sent to Mayor Cassie Franklin of Everett, Washington,
from Major League Baseball AquaSox PDL (Player Development League) President Charles Volpe.
Index Links – Youth Activity Facility Account– Naming Rights – REET Taxes – The Latest
John Stanton Mariners – Thomas Volpe Aquasox – Cassie Franklin Mayor Everett – A Tale of Two Cities – Scott Pattison Mayor’s Special Projects Manager – Donald Schwab Everett Council President – Ben Franz Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ) – Timothy J. Leiweke Oak View Group
The Funko Field Option – Who tried to take money from the School District? – Political Maneuvers and Candidates – Aquasox Out of Town and Good Riddance!! – Decay Multiplier – Capital Depreciation Taxes – Federal Taxes – Community Attributes Inc. – Stadium Taxes And Economic Research – Everett Herald and Media – The Soul of Baseball – Downloads – The Latest
****
A global marketing plan – Everett is a tiny piece of it. (Click)
President of the United States. (Click)
Oak View Group CEO Timothy J. Leiweke was recently indicted for conspiracy to rig the bidding for the development, management, and use of a multi-purpose arena. Oak View Group Manages the Everett Public Facilities District (PFD) multi-purpose arena – – Angel of the Winds.
Oak View Group, the operator of the Climate Pledge Arena, was also investigated by the Washington State Attorney General’s office and ordered to pay a settlement of over $477,000 for charging undisclosed fees to customers.
On July 18, 2025, Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ) contacted the City of Everett seeking legal, revenue, and bond information from the Everett Public Facilities District (Oak View Group). Details follow.
City of Everett officials have been in direct contact with Major League Baseball and Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ).
Public Records Requests are revealing more and more about these relationships.
Source MyMLTNews Letter to the editor: It’s tiny Everett vs. global Major League Baseball 7-12-20251
Source United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division. Press Release 7-9-2025 2
Source Washington State Attorney General Press Release 9-20-20243
Source Cascade PBS,”Climate Pledge Arena to pay over $477K to settle hidden fees case” 9-20-20244
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(see – “Project Frog Pond – Timeline and Responsibilities”)
and the way Aquasox ownership and the government operate
without public oversight.
8-3-2023 7:53am
Letter
From: Chad Volpe chadvolpe@ gmail.com
To: Cassie Franklin Dan Eernissee
Cc: Pat Filippone
“Mayor Cassie and Dan,
As discussed with Dan on Tuesday, attached is the “warning” letter we received from MLB. This was unexpected, and we have until September 30 to respond.
We’re happy to discuss with you at any time, and hopefully our meeting on the 23rd lays the groundwork and timeline for us to respond appropriately to them.
Thanks,
Chad“
From: Baldino, Kayla kayla.baldino@mlb.com
Date: July 28, 2023 at 3:53 pm EDT
Subject: MLB PDL Compliance Plan Approval Letter (Everett AquaSox)
To: Chad Volpe chadvolpe@ gmail.com
Cc: Brumm, Chris chris.brumm@ mlb.com, Sword, Morgan morgan.sword@ mlb.com, Woodfork, Peter peter.woodfork@ mlb.com, Seymour, Fred fred.seymour@ mlb.com, LaCassa, Mike mike.lacassa@ mlb.com, Meginniss, Briana Briana.Meginniss@ mlb.com, Warren, Sabrina sabrina.warren@ mlb.com,
Justin Toole [Seattle Mariners] jtoole@ mariners.com
On behalf of Chris Brumm, please see the attached letter.
Best regards,
Kayla Baldino
Administrative Assistant, Legal
1271 Avenue of the Americas | New York, NY 10020
kayla.baldino@mlb.com
Download Major League Baseball Everett AquaSox Facilities Follow Up Letter
Source Major League Baseball
Source City of Everett Public Records Request [EXTERNAL] Fwd: MLB PDL Facility Standards Compliance – Deferral Follow Up (Everett Aqua Sox) 5
Cities are held hostage.
Organizations that hold other organizations hostage are often called terrorists.
Is Major League Baseball an economic terrorist?
The Frog Pond PR strategy impacts the Everett Herald and the Carpenter Media Group – – “assemble public relations (PR) strategy” and “Launch PR initiative about Project Frog Pond.”
Carpenter Media Group is the 4th largest news publisher in the United States, owning over 165 publications nationwide. In the Pacific Northwest, they own over 70 local papers such as the Redmond (Ore.) Spokesman, The (Bend, Ore.) Bulletin and The Everett (Wash.) Herald.
Carpenter Media Group’s lofty journalistic standards have little to do with the continued ownership of a newspaper and existance of media outlets.
The Everett Herald was part of the Frog Pond “public relations strategy” and “PR initiative.” The newspaper functioned as a marketing arm for Major League Baseball.
The Everett Herald promoted the new stadium in downtown Everett and dutifully and repeatedly reported low stadium cost “targets” instead of estimates, consciously manipulating the readership.
What the Everett Herald publishes is determined by profitability, stockholder return, and the threat of the newspaper’s existance.
The continued existance of the Everett Herald is determined by the Carpenter Media Group – John Carr, Oregon Washington Executive and it boils down to the money (see John Carr email).
President & Group Publisher – Oregon & North Carolina, 11-15-25
Source email from John Carr – Carpenter Media Group Senior Vice President; 11-15-2025.6
Source The Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild “Who is Carpenter Media Group? Protect your Local Newspaper from Corporate Greed.” Save PNW Local News”7
****
On April 22, 2022, “Project Frog Pond,” was sent by Charlton Volpe, AquaSox President on the Player Development League (PDL) License,
to Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, and cc’d to prominent City of Everett and AquaSox officials.
The “Project Frog Pond” attachment from Charlton Volpe, was CC’d to Pat Filippone, President of the Aquasox and President of 7th Inning Stretch, LLC., and Thomas Volpe, principal owner, 7th Inning Stretch, LLC.
April 22, 2022
Letter
From: Charlton Volpe chadvolpe@ gmail.com
To: Cassie Franklin; Nick Harper; Lori Cummengs; Dan Eernissee
CC: thomas volpe; Pat Filippone
“Mayor Cassie,
I hope all is well with you.
As we discussed during our meeting, please find attached a DRAFT of a timeline and responsibilities document that lays out the next few months for what we are calling “Project Frog Pond”. Please let us know if you or anyone on your team have any comments, questions or additions, and we obviously want to make sure this aligns with how you see the project progressing and the necessary community and political steps.
We are happy to have a call/videoconference to discuss live if that would be easier.
We look forward to continuing to work with you and your team as we pursue this project for the city of Everett.
Thank you,
Chad“
Source City of Everett Public Records Request – EverettAquaSoxDRAFTofTimelineandResponsibilities.eml8
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Project Frog Pond” appeared in an email on April 22, 2022 saying:
“AquaSox to conduct meetings” with select “Council members as chosen by Mayor’s Office”
Part of their monthly “Project Frog Pond” schedule appeared as follows:
April 2022
Community Attributes commences economic impact analysis
Mayor’s Office
May 2022
AquaSox ownership to meet with 2-4 City Council members
(as chosen by Mayor’s Office) Mayor’s Office to facilitate introductions;
AquaSox to conduct meetings
Community Attributes continues economic impact analysis; AquaSox provide information/data as needed
Mayor’s Office and AquaSox
Begin drafting a project working document/presentation which outlines the entire multi-purpose family entertainment venue project to be used in meeting with relevant parties in the community
AquaSox
June 2022
AquaSox ownership to meet with remaining City Council members and other opinion leaders in the community
AquaSox with help/intros from Mayor’s Office
Community Attributes finalizes economic impact analysis
Mayor’s Office
Assemble public relations (PR) strategy
AquaSox in conjunction with Mayor’s Office
Discuss with Seattle Mariners on specifically how/when to get them involved
as Project Frog Pond becomes public (e.g. letters, visits, etc.)
AquaSox
July 2022
Launch PR initiative about Project Frog Pond
AquaSox and Mayor’s Office
Present specific Project Frog Pond proposal to City Council for initial review and approval
AquaSox in conjunction with Mayor’s Office
In ” response to… (an)… email regarding the Stadium Rebate Bill,”
The City of Everett, Washington, Economic Development Director wrote,“… the proposed legislation will not apply in Everett…..”
“…you are incorrect
when you say the Stadium Rebate Bill
… will not apply in Everett.”
was the reply.
newly constructed or majorly renovated professional sports stadiums
to the tune of $3.2 billion federal taxpayer dollars.”
“That amounts to $111,000 dollars for the City of Everett,
$792,000 dollars for the Second Congressional District,
and $7.8 million dollars for the State of Washington per year.”*
The seemingly anxious Economic Development Director
never replied to the federal government subsidy email.
Source email to Dan Eernissee, Everett Economic Development Director 4-7-20259
Youth Activity Facility AccountUnable to just say NO to using money from the Department of Commerce Youth Activity Account, the Everett City Council voted to endorse using Youth Activity Account money for the construction of a new billionaire-benefitting Major League Baseball/Aquasox downtown multi-purpose baseball stadium in Everett, Washington – the Outdoor Event Center.
On December 10, 2025, the Everett City Council passed an embellished politically self serving resolution – – “A Resolution Identifying Priorities for Development of the Outdoor Event Center.” ft.a,b
The history of the funds started with the Seahawks Stadium and Paul Allen. In 1997, Paul Allen deposited an initial $10 million to kick-start an account dedicated to youth athletic fields. The State Legislature robbed the account in 2023.
The Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC asked lawmakers not to raid the Youth Athletic Facility account money.
Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders FC
Letter to the Senate Ways and Means Committee ft.d
The Seattle Times article “WA looks to tap youth athletic funds for minor league stadium upgrades” appeared April 21, 2023 and indicated millions of dollars were earmarked for RENOVATIONS at minor league baseball stadiums across the state. Earmarks authorized RENOVATIONS at the Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium or Funko Field. The law did not include “New Stadiums” until the law was changed in 2024.ft.c
This appears to still be the case.
The bill was amended unanimously in the Washington State House and Senate so money originally intended for RENOVATIONS and the Everett School District was reallocated to a proposed NEW Major League Baseball Stadium in Everett, Washington.
Had the Everett City Council been rational enough to just say NO to taking money from kids and giving it to baseball professionals, the $7.4 million could have been used to fund 25 parks throughout the State of Washington.ft.f
The current Department of Commerce Working Papers indicate the City of Everett is a private-non profit organization. The Department of Commerce Working Papers do not indicate that the City of Everett has any private sector organizations as partners.ft.g 1 This suggests that the City of Everett does not have a private sector investment partner.
The Department of Commerce Working Papers do not confirm the original Department of Enterprise Services design build application which indicates:
“The City of Everett is working with Snohomish County and AquaSox ownership to develop a project financing plan and secure the remaining funding needed from public and private sources.”ft.g2
Department of Enterprise Services design build application also indicates: “We plan to apply for additional grant program funds in the next legislative session.”
The City of Everett can still just say NO.
The contract has not been fully executed by the Washington State Department of Commerce and the City of Everett could still just say NO to the funding, and find other resources of funding as was indicated in their original Design Build application.ft.h1, h2
The question for the Everett City Council was simple.
Take money from kids and give it to Major League Baseball.
Or take money from Major League Baseball and give it back to the kids.
The Everett City Council voted unanimously to take money from kids and give it to Major League Baseball.
Democracy works when people participate.
Say something.
Citizens can file complaints with the State of Washington (https://wa.gov/report-suspected-fraud), at the Department of Commerce (nicole.lutomski@commerce), at the Office of the Washington State Attorney General, (Https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ComplaintForm.aspx) and using the judicial system. Citizens can utilize the role of the courts.
Citizens can also contact the Everett City Council and express their opnion Email: council@everettwa.gov Phone: 425.257.8703
Sources:
ft.a). email to Everett City Council 12-9-2025 Stop using parks money for a New Professional Sports Stadium, and return it to the Recreation and Conservation Office.
“Discuss with Seattle Mariners on specifically
how/when to get them involved as Project Frog Pond becomes public (e.g. letters, visits, etc.)”
On September 26, 2022, John W. Stanton,
chairman of the Seattle Mariners Baseball Club,
publicized a letter supporting a “a new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” study by Snohomish County and the City of Everett and endorsed wealthy Key Principal Thomas Volpe of the 7th Inning Stretch, LLC.
“The Seattle Mariners write today to add our voice in support
of the request before you from the Everett AquaSox
and the Volpe family ownership group to investigate the feasibility
of a new outdoor multi-purpose stadium in the City of Everett.“
Download John Stanton September 26, 2022 letter to the Everett City
Council and Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin supporting “a new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” study.
Download John Stanton September 26, 2022 letter to the Snohomish County
Council and the Snohomish County Executive Gerald Somers supporting “a new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” study.
Download On September 28, 2022, the Snohomish County and the City
of Everett Joint Resolution 22056 was signed, supporting “a new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” study.
In Snohomish County, an economic multiplier is an abstract unproven theory that billionaires use to fool the public and increase their wealth and politicians use to promise economic benefits to constituents, secure loyalty and votes, and get re-elected and stay in office.
joint resolution
Sounds like Bull….frog (click)
and looks like it’s all a part of
Project Frog Pond
The multiplier is incorrectly formulated and fundamentally flawed,
according to Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences winner, Milton Friedman.
The multiplier (click) ignores how governments finance spending
by taxation or debt issues.
The growth of debt becomes a powerful incentive for the government
to raise taxes or inflate the currency to pay it off, thus lowering the purchasing power of each dollar that workers earn.
Source City of Everett Public Records Request, Snohomish County Public Records Request, John Stanton September 26, 2022 Letters10
Source Washington State Office of Financial Management Letter11
Source Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There’s something fishy about the MLB and Mayor Franklin, who, on January 07, 2021, contacted Dr. Saltzman, Superintendent of the Everett Public School District as a special favor to Chris Mefford, President & CEO of Community Attributes Inc. regarding Garry Clark, a candidate for CEO of the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County.
Community Attributes Inc. did the stadium study for the Mariners, the Aquasox, and the City of Everett in 2022. The highly bias, pro Major League Baseball billionaire study was critiqued by Jonathan S Shapiro at the June 11, 2025 Everett City Council meeting and the Community Attributes Inc. study contradicted dozens of other economic stadium studies (click link) done over the past three decades.
Source City of Everett FWGarryClarkandMayorFranklincontactinto.eml 13
It’s total nonsense to rely on the the Community Attributes Inc study done in 2022 for financial guidence.
Tariffs (elasticities) changed the economy. The study is not valid or reliable.
In July, 2025, the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) indicated, ” OFM does not currently have an I-O model that incorporates elasticities for substate regional impact analysis.”
Or in plain talk, the model used by Community Attributes doesn’t work.
It seems a lot fishy that the Community Attributes Inc. study is still being used and was mentioned multiple times as an important part of “Project Frog Pond.”
Partially filled stands at the Aquasox-Emeralds Championship Game September 13, 2025.
Source The Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM)14
There are underlying problems with the The Community Attributes Inc. study and the 2012 Input Output model.In plain talk, they include:
1). The Community Attributes Inc. studies (based on a model released February 11, 2021) are growing less and less accurate.
2). AI is creating growth in labor productivity making the study less accurate.
3). Construction workers and equipment from outside Everett will be used, changing things alot.
4). There are both positive and negative effects that make up a “net” impact.
In a more formal economic discussion:
According to the Office of Financial Management, underlying problems with the 2012 Input Output model include:
(1) The model will better approximate the economy the closer to the year for when the model is constructed. In other words, the farther away from the model year, the less accurate the impact estimation would be.
(2) The model assumes a fixed employment-to-output ratio at the industry level and uses these ratios to calculate employment impact. Moving away from the model year, growth in labor productivity would increasingly reduce the validity of using these fixed ratios to estimate employment impact.
(3) The model assumes local supply is perfectly elastic, meaning there is no capacity problem. For this assumption to be upheld, the projects or activities to be assessed need to be small or marginal relative to the economy’s production input system. Otherwise, the projects will disrupt equilibrium prices, leading to significant factor or import substitution.
(4) I-O analysis estimates total impact from an external change in final demand. For projects that bring into the state investment money or other spending from outside the state and thus result in direct external changes in final demand, using an I-O model to estimate total economic impact caused by these projects is straightforward. When the project’s funding is not external, such as a local government investment activity funded by tax dollars, the impact needs to be evaluated on both the activity (positive effect) and the corresponding funding (taxes’ negative effect on consumption) to derive a “net” impact
https://ofm.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/public/dataresearch/economy/IO_2012_report.pdf
See page 14
See also negative effect – decay multiplier
The Community Attributes Inc. study was based on an outdated Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) Input-Output model that did not take into account tariffs.
In plain talk, the model used by Community Attributes Inc. doesn’t work.
The Community Attributes Inc. study is not valid or reliable.
The Community Attributes Inc. study should not be used or relied upon.
There’s also something fishy about an Everett AquaSox Owner Pat Filippone, the Everett AquaSox General Manager Danny Tetzlaff, and Charlton Volpe, AquaSox PDL License President all congratulating the Mayor and City of Everett staff including, Dan Eernissee and Scott Pattison the Mayor’s Special Projects Manager.
—–Original Message—–
From: Chad Volpe
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2024 12:16 PM
To: Cassie Franklin
Cc: Dan Eernissee
Subject: Thank you!
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Mayor Cassie,
I just wanted to say a big thank you to you and your team after last nights successful vote! We sincerely appreciate all that you have done and your support for this project from day one. It has been great working with you, Dan, Scott and everyone else, and we look forward to continuing that momentum next year and getting this done. In the meantime, please let us know if there’s anything else we can do or how we can be helpful.
Have a very Happy Holidays!
Thanks,
Chad
Source City of Everett Public Records Request – REThankyou.eml 15
It’s mystifying because it took place one day after the Everett Outdoor Multipurpose Facility Downtown Project was chosen over Everett School District owned Funko Field Renovation in the DEIS at an additional cost to taxpayers of $80 to $100 million or more.
There’s something very fishy here.
In September, 2022, Everett Council President Donald Schwab indicated;
“More inclusive facilities foster a better working environment for the players and staff. Unfortunately Funko Field doesn’t fit the bill.”
It appears an outdoor multipurpose stadium was a foregone conclusion in 2022 and the Draft Enviromental Impact Statement was a sham.
No cost estimates were included in the Draft Enviromental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the new Everett Outdoor Multipurpose Facility Downtown Stadium.
The Everett School District owns Funko Field. DEIS cost estimates were $29.4 to $39.3 million to refurbish the existing Everett School District Stadium.
The School District Funko Field renovation cost estimates were over $70 million less than building a New Downtown Stadium cost estimates.
Everett School District Stadium (Funko) costs were estimated at $66.6 million in the Design Build application.
New Downtown Stadium costs were estimated at $137.9 million in the Design Build application.
The School District Funko Field renovation cost estimates were over $40 million less than the New Downtown Stadium cost estimates in the Everett Fiscal Advisory Committee Report.
The Everett Fiscal Advisory Committee estimate: – Funko $76 million
The Everett Fiscal Advisory Committee estimate: – Downtown Stadium $117.5 million
Everett Council President Donald Schwab the
Mayor’s Office Special Projects Manager Scott Pattison were both asked on numerous occations.
Did cost estimates for the Everett Outdoor Multipurpose Facility Downtown Project exist during the DEIS period?
Note: A “Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model” for the Everett Outdoor Multipurpose Facility Downtown Project existed prior to the September 5, 2024 issue date of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Were cost estimates for the Everett Outdoor Multipurpose Facility Downtown Project withheld from the DEIS?
Why were there NO cost estimates in the DEIS for Alternative 2: Downtown Site Action Alternative Everett Outdoor Multipurpose Facility Downtown Project?
Local grass roots media called for transparency, a re-evaluation of Refurbushing Funko Field, and noted that Refurbushing Funko was not given adequate consideration.
The resolution passed in 2022 recommended “a NEW outdoor multi-purpose stadium” study and the President of the Council indicated “Funko Field wpm’t fit the bill.”
The alternative of studying a refurbushed Everett Memorial Stadium (Funko) was never endorsed in a City of Everett Shonomish County resolution as a viable option.
The DEIS process was a sham.
In June, 2025, Scott peterson said he was held to a “code of silence” but according to the Department of Ecology, there is “no code of scilence.”(see Scott Pattison and Department of Ecology emails below)
See email from to Donald Schwab Everett Council President, Project Frog Pond Re $29,431,281 $39,341,332 $137,888,124 $117,500,000 – 8-27-2025 10-13-20225
Download email from to Donald Schwab Everett Council President, Project Frog Pond Re $29,431,281 $39,341,332 $137,888,124 $117,500,000 – 8-27-2025 10-13-20225
Download email to Scott Pattison Everett Mayor’s Office Special Projects Manager 9-8-2025 Reset the Clock on Public Comment
Download email from Meg Bommarito Dept of Ecology NW Regional DIrector 8-28-2025 SEPA Strict Code of Silence RE SEPA 2022404902 EIS Everett Outdoor Stadium
Source The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services City of Everett Design Build application page 16
Source Everett Herald, “City, county studying new outdoor stadium for Everett AquaSox,” September 28, 202217
Source Everett Council President Donald Schwab email18
Money intended for parks and children is being used to subsidize billionaire Major League Baseball owners and Wealthy Minor League Baseball owners.
State funds are being taken from the Washington State Department of Commerce Youth Activity Account and presented by SOJ to the council as “State Contributions” .
The funds come from statewide taxes.
State authorized funds are also being used to finance upfront “design build” costs for the new downtown stadium.
Specifically, state funds are being taken from the Washington State Department of Commerce Youth Activity Account and presented by SOJ to the council as “State Contributions” .
In short, money intended for parks and children is being used to subsidize billionaire Major League Baseball owners and Wealthy Minor League Baseball owners.
These funds may have been inappropriately obtained from the Department of Commerce and complaints are in process with Washington State Public Disclosure Commission and the Office of the Attorney General.
An investment in Funko Field is an investment in the Everett Community, the Everett School District, and the Everett Youth Athletics Programs. Such an investment could possibly keep the AquaSox here in Everett.
The issue is not yet resolved and the Everett City Council must still vote yes or no on the new stadium.
There may also be substantial financial rewards for the Everett School District from The Funko Field Option .
The Everett School Board should proactively consider all opportunities to increase district revenue as part of the long term planning process, while ensuring that any decisions align with the best interests of the students and community.
Refurbishing Funko Field has enormous benefits for community people of all ages and skill levels.
Funko Field has been used by the Everett Community College Trojans, the Cascade High School Bruins, the Everett High School Seagulls, the Jackson High School Timberwolves, the Everett Merchants League (summer collegiate), boys and girls ages 8 to 14, and even the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League (Ages 18-65+ All Skill Levels), which played an All-Star game against the Everett Merchants at Funko Field in July of 2025.
The Funko Field Option adds new ammenities to the Everett School District facility.
These include facilities for female team staff and umpires, Female Staff Lockers, Umpire Lockers, training rooms for the home and visiting teams, new spectator restrooms and a bleacher structures, bathroom access from dugouts, specified location of bullpens, and the opportunity for roof deck fan amenity space.
These ammenity upgrades were presented by AECOM Hunt and SRG + CannonDesign in a feasibility study for the Funko Field Option in April, 2024.
https://www.everettwa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/38294/PUBLIC-Funko-Field-Renovation-Feasibility-Study-Final—April-2024
See AECOM Hunt and SRG + CannonDesign in a feasibility study for the Funko Field Option in April, 2024. (Click)
Costs and Investment
A simplistic accounting mentality denies the value of nurturing the human spirit.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” said Benjamin Franklin.
And it has a multiplier effect.
Franklin viewed education as something that compounds over time, leading to better judgment and increased opportunities.
The Funko Field Option is, far and away, the best investment option.
The exodus of the Mariners farm team, the Aquasox, would probably not cause significant economic disruption in Snohomish County and the City of Everett, especially in light of the experience of other cities.
Bellingham is an example of a city that experienced the exodus of a professional baseball farm team, specifically, the Bellingham Mariners (or “Baby M’s”), who played at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham from 1977 through 1994.
In 1996, the “Baby M’s” were replaced by the Bellingham Bells, West Coast League (WCL).
Between 1995 and 2025 Bellingham (the Bellingham MSA includes Whatcom County) added 36,900 non-farm jobs, increasing 62% from 60,300 to 97,200. During the same period, the State of Washington increased more slowly by 55% and Everett MSA increased by 46%.#
The City of Bellingham population grew from 59,544 in 1995 to 98,340 in 2025 at a rate of population increase that is faster than both the State of Washington and the United States.+
In Whatcom County, median household income increased from $34,893 in 1995 to $78,796 in 2022, with average annual pay rising from $22,357 in 1995 to roughly $69,000 in 2024.++
Clearly, Bellingham, Washington is a city that saw the exodus of a Mariners farm team and did not suffer economically. Rather,
Bellingham grew for a thirty year period after the “Baby M’s” left.
West Coast League (WCL), home of the Bellingham Bells, is a League that could be invited to add a team and play at Funko Field / Everett Memorial Stadium, should the Aquasox leave.
See West Coast League Alumni Page (Click)
Recently passed HB 1109 gives the Everett Public Facilities District
additional power to impose a use tax of up to 0.033 percent to finance
regional centers and a tax of rate up to 0.037 percent should losses be
incurred over 5% due to streamlined sales tax destination sourcing.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1109&Initiative=false&Year=2025
Source Washington State Legislature
“What is the maximum amount of tax the Everett Public Facilities District could collect under HB 1109?” is one way to address the Ben Franz – Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ) “potential revenue” question posed to the Everett Public Facilities District on July 18, 2025 regarding “…new or renewed baseball stadium sports facilities in Everett……”
The Everett Public Facilities District has an increased tax revenue capacity because of HB 1109.
Ironoically, HB 1109 was sponsored by State House Representative Julio Cortes and State House Representative Strom Peterson.
Representative Peterson works for Snohomish County as a member of the Snohomish County Council.
Representative Cortes is an Everett Public Facilities District Board Member.
The Everett Public Facilities District, a taxing authority in HB 1109, owns Angel of the Winds Arena.
Oak View Group, a professional sports and commercial real estate company manages, both the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett and Climate the Pledge Arena in Seattle.
SOJ worked with the Oak View Group on the Climate Pledge Arena project.
The Oak View Group was indited by the US Department of Justice and fined by the Washington State Attorney General and in 2025.
Representative Cortes also works for the City of Everett as a staff member listed as Economic Development & Marketing and as the City of Everett liason to the Everett Public Facilities District.
Although he sponsored HB 1109, State House Representative Mike Volz of Spokane voted against the bill – HB 1109.
The Everett Public Facilities District may have answered the Ben Franz/SOJ “potential revenue” question regarding “…new or renewed baseball stadium sports facilities in Everett……”, but the Everett Public Facilities District did not indicate publically how large the tax revenue increase from HB 1109 could be.
Source email from Michael Swanson Everett Public Facilities District Boardmember There’s something perplexing about Mayor Cassie Franklin writing in June, 2025, that she met with a Major League Baseball and then the Public Records Request City Clerk indicated in October, 2025 :
“Per our Economic Development department, the MLB has not had contact with the City of Everett but worked with the independent third-party company retained by the City of Everett, SOJ.”19
In 2024, Mayor Franklin received a Ticketmaster email from Peter Woodfork, Major League Baseball (MLB) Senior Vice President, Minor League Operations & Development in an email titled, “Accepted: Teams Meet with Peter Woodfork”. 20
In January 2025, Charlton Volpe, AquaSox PDL License President, was faciliting additional “update on our project” meetings between Peter Woodfork, Major League Baseball (MLB) Senior Vice President, Minor League Operations & Development, and Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, Washington. Charlton. Volpe indicated:
“Mayor Franklin, Peter,
I know you two have met before and spoken a few times, but I wanted to send an email re-connecting everyone.
Peter – as I mentioned, the Mayor would like the chance to give you an update on our project, and I will let the two of you find a day/time that works.
Thanks,
Chad”
“Additionally,” wrote mayor Franklin on June 10, 2025, ” I have had direct in person and via zoom meetings and conversations with Major League Baseball where MLB representatives specifically shared that if our stadium does not become compliant, the team will be pulled.
Best regards,
Mayor Cassie Franklin”
The extent to which Project Forg Pond was discussed in those meetings requires additional Public Record Requests and investigations to determine if anti-trust and other violations took place.
Download email from Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin 6-10-2025
Mayor Cassie and her staff and Tom Volpe and his “team” have been in contact for a long long time.
On July 30th 2021, Mayor Cassie Franklin wrote:
“Thank you Pat, Tom, Chad, and Danny!
It was great to meet with you this week and we look forward to working together on next steps. We will be in touch again early next week.
Thank you,
Cassie”
On August 1, 2021, Tom Volpe wrote:
“Mayor Cassie and Dan,
It was a pleasure to meet with you last week and we very much appreciate your time and attention. I’ve just returned from two days of meetings with MLB/MiLB in NYC which were both helpful and informative.
…
You now know all of the key players on our team and we look forward to continuing our dialogue. Feel free to contact me if I can be helpful in any way. Thank you. TSY”
Was there a conspiracy to use public tax dollars to upgrade minor league baseball stadiums resulting in the enrichment of MLB billionaire owners?
Project Frog Pond, which appeared 9 months later and was shared by Tom Volpe and his “team” and mayor Cassie and her staff,
makes it appear that way.
Additional public records requests and investigations are necessary to determine if conspiracy, antitrust, and other violations took place.
Source: Public Records Request – City of Everett.
Source City of Everett Public Records Request – (see attached _EXTERNAL__Re-Connecting_-_Everett_MLB 21
Source Fordham Journal of Corporate and Financial Law – “Back to the Bullpen: Minor League Teams Settle with MLB Over Latest Challenge to Baseball’s Historic Antitrust Exemption”22
Source The Regulatory Review University of Pennsylvania “Baseball’s Antitrust Exemption”23
Source Press Release Senator Ted Cruz -Sens. Cruz, Lee, Hawley, Rubio, Blackburn Introduce Bill to Subject MLB to Antitrust Laws 24
Source email from Mayor Cassie Franklin 6-10-202525
Source Dickens
are both trying to build a new soccer stadium.
The biggest difference is that Everett Washington Mayor Cassie Franklin is involved with Project Frog Pond, and former Everett Massachusetts Mayor Carlo DeMaria is not.
Another big difference is that the Everett Massachusetts stadium is paid for completely with private money, specifically money provided by multi-billionaire Robert Kraft and The Kraft Group.ft.a1, ft.a2
The Everett Washington Stadium is not.
Billionaire John Stanton of the Mariners has enough money to pay for the stadium.
Thomas Volpe, leader of the Aquasox ownership group, has enough money to pay for the stadium.
But John Stanton and Thomas Volpe ARE NOT completely paying for the stadium with private money.
Robert Kraft and The Kraft Group are completely paying for the stadium with private money.
Mayor of Everett Cassie Franklin persists in using City, County and State taxes to pay for the new stadium in downtown Everett, Washington and subsidize the billionaire owners.
Mayor Cassie Franklin of Everett, Washington was made well aware of the fact that soccer stadiums are often exclusively paid for by private sector money. A September 25, 2025 email to Mayor Franklin indicated: “As Major League Soccer Expands, Teams Are Getting New Homes. Seven teams are building privately financed stadiums, a departure from the billions of public dollars spent on new arenas in other sports leagues.” ft.b, ft.c
“Please tell The World Soccer League to build and finance their own stadium, as is being done in seven other cities.” the email noted.
The Everett Massachusetts stadium is described as a privately financed stadium.
The Everett Washington stadium is not.
In Everett Massachusetts, the former mayor of Everett Massachusetts Mayor Carlo DeMaria negotiated with The Kraft Group and reached a community impact agreement valued at $200 million for Everett.
The Kraft Group has committed to assisting the Everett Public Schools Foundation in raising at least $100,000 annually in donations.
In Everett Washington the New Stadium would replace an Everett School District owned stadium -Everett Memorial Stadium – – that has been receiving over $100,000 per year in income from the leasing and naming rights.
With the new downtown stadium proposed by Mayor Franklin, the Everett School District stands to lose about $200,000 per year.
The Kraft Group stadium operations will pay the City of Everett Massachusetts $2.25 for every ticket sold, with all payments reported as revenue to the City’s general fund.
The City of Everett Washington will charge fans a ticket tax for tickets sold in order to pay for the stadium. Where the money goes exactly has not yet been stipulated.
The Everett Massachusetts new stadium cost is estimated at $500 million.ft.d
The Everett Washington new stadium cost is conservatively estimated at $117 million to $137 million.
Everett Massachusetts former Mayor Carlo DeMaria was involved in a scandal in 2025.ft.f
Everett Washington‘s Mayor Cassie Franklin was involved in a scandal in 2023.ft.e
In Everett, billionaires run professional sports and the government.
In Everett Massachusetts, Robert Kraft is worth in excess of $11 billion dollars.
In Everett Washington, John Stanton and Thomas Volpe are worth in excess of $2.4 billion dollars.
The New England Patriots are valued at $9.0 billion dollars.
Rogert Kraft owns the New England Patriots
The Seattle Seahawks are valued at $6.8 billion dollars.
The Paul G. Allen Trust owns the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl – – Seattle Seahawks 29 New England Patriots 13 – – on February 8, 2026.
The Tale of Two Cities – Everett and Everett –
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way
—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, Book the First, Chapter I.
ft. A1) Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities
ft. A2) Everett Independent, January 8, 2026, Soccer Stadium Project in Everett Getting Closer
Soccer Stadium Project in Everett Getting Closer
Ft. b) September 25, 2025 email to Mayor Franklin
Download email to Cassie Franklin Everett Mayor 09-25-2025 Thank you for taking time to speak with me
ft.c) New Your Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/business/major-league-soccer-stadiums.html
ft.d) Commonwealth Beacon Everett’s new mayor inherits major development projects January 26 2026 https://commonwealthbeacon.org/government/local-government/on-his-way-out-demaria-leaves-major-development-deals-in-the-hands-of-everetts-new-mayor/
ft.e) Everett Herald – After relationship with mayor, Everett deputy mayor quietly resigns – December 13, 2023 https://www.heraldnet.com/news/after-relationship-with-mayor-everett-deputy-mayor-quietly-resigns/
ft.f) Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General OIG Investigation Finds that City Overpaid Everett Mayor $180,000 February 27, 2025
https://www.mass.gov/news/oig-investigation-finds-that-city-overpaid-everett-mayor-180000
Everett Stadium Investigation
Everett Stadium Investigation
No Frogs Downtown
No Frogs Downtown
Say Something
Taxes and Politics
Source City of Everett Council Meeting, June 11, 2025 at 1:08:37 – Ben Franz of SOJ26
Taxes are MANDATORY contributions levied by a government entity on individuals and corporations. The Snohomish County Treasurer’s Office collects both localREET 1 and REET 2 taxes (MANDATORY contributions).
According to Everett Herald Reporter William Getchke, a county staffer and county council member Jared Mead both confirmed to him “… that the $5 million the county set aside for the stadium project was set to come from Snohomish County REET 2 dollars, not state funds.” 27
Download email from William Geschke General Assignment Reporter Everett Herald 12 18 2025Source email from William Geschke General Assignment Reporter Everett Herald Reporter 12-18-2528
According to Snohomish Councilmember Megan Dunn, “The county did not advocate for those funds, we did not lobby for them or include them in our legislative priorities….There is no money allocated in either 2025 or 2026 for the Everett Stadium in the Snohomish County Budget. What was put in was essentially a placeholder in the CIP for future years….The source of these dollars is REET 1 Funds, Fund 191.”29
Download email from Megan Dunn Snohomish County Council RE Snohomish County involvement in the proposed new downtown baseball stadium in Everett 6-13-2025Source email from Snohomish County Council Member Megan Dunn 6-13-202530
Snohomish County“Contributions” on the chart shown above by Ben Franz of SQL, is misleading.
Real estate excise taxes- (REET 1 and REET 2) are misleadingly reported as Snohomish County “Contributions” by Ben Franz of SOJ. The “Contributions” are actually State authorized taxes.Snohomish County staff that collect the excise tax do not usually have involvement in how that excise tax is later accounted for, distributed or spent.
Download email from Julie Hill Dept of Revenue Lead Examiner Real Estate Excise Tax 1-14-2026 What locations in Snohomish County pay Real Estate Excise Taxes REET 1, REET 2 for the New Downtown Stadium in Everett, WashingtonOne courageous Mountlake Terrace City Councilmember, Byran Wahl, brought the following to the attention of the public:
“All REET 1 and 2 funds collected in MLT (totaling .5 percent of the selling price) fund capital projects located in MLT. (So any REET 1 and 2 revenues used to fund Everett’s stadium would be funded by Everett’s local REET revenues collected by the county treasurer on behalf of the city from real estate property sales within the city of Everett.)”
If Councilmember Wahl is correct, the $5 million “contribution” from Snohomish County that Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ) showed to the Everett City Council IS NOT A CONTRIBUTION at all.
The SOJ presentation to the Everett City Council is misleading.
It appears that the Snohomish County government does not have the courage to tell the citizens of the City of Everett that the New Stadium downtown will cost them $5 million in real estate excise tax dollars right out of their pockets.
Snohomish County is accountable and has answered the question, “What locations in Snohomish County pay Real Estate Excise Taxes 1 and/or 2 (REET 1, REET 2) for the New Downtown Stadium in Everett, Washington?”
Download email to Brian Sullivan Treasurer Snohomish Co 2-13-2026 What locations in Snohomish County pay Real Estate Excise Taxes 1 and-or 2 (REET 1, REET 2) for the New Downtown Stadium in Everett, Washington?
A Record Request received September 25, 2026, indicates:
The current County Capital Improvement Plan does not include the stadium project.
Shannon Waggoner | Public Disclosure Specialist
Snohomish County – Public Records Office
Regarding Snohomish County $5 million stadium funding:
City of Everett March 3, 2026, Public Records Request E000143-022326 indicates:
Please be advised that there is not an application for this funding, therefore there is not anything responsive for #1.
Also, we have not received these funds; therefore, there are not any records for #2.
The Snohomish County $5 million stadium funding does not exist.
It appears Scott Pattison and Ben Franz (SOJ) lied to the City Council on June 11, 2025.
See Everett City Council Meeting – June 11, 2025 (Click)
See also https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/02/26/everett-would-need-another-38m-to-build-stadium-documents-show/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Political Maneuvers and Candidates – Under constructionPolitical Maneuvers and Candidates
“Given that stadium subsidies fail cost-benefit analyses, why do state and local policymakers persist in offering substantial tax-financed subsidies to professional sports teams? The answer lies in the basic political motivation to prioritize re-election above other interests, even when those interests are aligned with good governance and sound tax policy.
Sports stadium subsidies are salient political gimmicks designed to appear as if politicians are providing tangible benefits to taxpayers. Elected officials also fear reprisal by voters if a team were to relocate. And recent moves, such as the NFL’s St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles in 2016, the San Diego Chargers to Los Angeles in 2017, and the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas in 2020, demonstrate the threat of relocation is real.”
In Everett, Washngton, some citizens advocate the “Kick The Aquasox Out of Town and Good Riddance!!” approach, citing decay multiiplier costs such as poitical corruption, professional gambling, and domestic violence associated with NFL football.
Tax Foundation
Click Taxpayers Shoulder a Heavy Burden for Sports Stadium Subsidies
In the case of Everett, Washington, the entire Snohomish County Council, the Snohomish County Executive, and Everett City Council endorsed studying a “New Outdoor Multi-Purpose Stadium,” years before Everett Memorial Stadium Renovations were evaluated.
Joint Resolution No. 22-056 was approved on September 28, 2022.
The Everett City Council unanimously passed Resolution No. XXXX-25
(a.k.a.”We are Moral and The New Baseball Stadium is Good for the City of Everett Resolution) on December 10, 2025.
Legislation promoted Major League Baseball at the State level.
–HB 1109 gave Public Facilities Districts – including the PFD that manages T-Moble Park and the Everett PFD, currently involved with the “New Outdoor Multi-Purpose Stadium” in Everett — the authority to increase taxes.
–The 2022 Senate Capital Budget Bill, on Page 396 – passed the Senate 44-0,
(a.k.a.”The Take Money From Parks And Kids And Give It To Major League Baseball” Bill)
–The 2022 Senate Capital Budget Bill Page 396, earmarked millions of dollars for renovations at Minor League Baseball Stadiums across the state.
–The Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5949.
(a.k.a. “Who Tried To Take Money From The School District?”)
ESSB 5949 section 1035 changed the wording of the bill from “School District: Everett Memorial,”
to “New Stadium” interpreted as money for the “New Outdoor Multi-Purpose Stadium.”
ESSB 5949 passed unanimously in both the Washington State House and the Washingon State Senate on March 29, 2024.
Opposition to the “New Outdoor Multi-Purpose Stadium” was not well publicized by the Everett Herald.
BIll Wheeler indicated:
“The idea that Everett taxpayers should even consider spending $100–$130 million to build a new downtown stadium — displacing residents and businesses through eminent domain — is completely detached from reality.
Major League Baseball doesn’t get to hold our city hostage. Option 2 is nothing more than a cash grab disguised as economic development, and the people of Everett shouldn’t be fooled. Let’s be clear: this is not about baseball. This is about special interests trying to raid public funds for private gain.
Refurbishing Funko Field is the common-sense solution. It costs less, preserves what we already have, keeps rent money flowing to our public schools instead of draining city coffers, and avoids displacing our neighbors.
I support keeping the AquaSox at Funko Field. I support maintaining local control over local resources. And I absolutely oppose handing over our city’s future to Major League Baseball or any outside corporate entity.
email from Bill Wheeler Candidate Everett City Council District ONE 5-14 2025 RE Baseball stadium questions ft.a
Bill Wheeler’s positions on the “new downtown stadium” were not published in the Everett Herald.
Mayoral candidate Rich Ryan indicated:
“I want to start off by saying, I’m not against sports. I’ve coached high school football, umpired Little League, and I understand the value of a good game. But I also recognize when a city loses sight of its priorities.
Currently, Everett is moving forward with a stadium project that could cost up to $200 million, for a team that doesn’t fill its current seats, in a city of just over 110,000 people. That’s nearly $2,000 for every man, woman, and child in Everett. And none of us were asked. There was no public vote, no community-wide discussion, just a green light from the City Council without meaningful public input. That’s not transparency; that’s a red flag.
Meanwhile, the city has cut funding for Parks and Recreation. The Early Learning Center, a lifeline for working families, is on the chopping block for a shortfall of just $300,000 (That’s a rounding error in the stadium budget). Mental health services remain chronically underfunded, even as the need in our city grows every day. I believe revitalizing the current stadium, would cost far less, preserve public trust, and keep the team paying rent to our library system, which owns the land. Most importantly, it means we don’t have to use eminent domain to displace residents or businesses. We can invest in what we already have, without forcing anyone out of their home or neighborhood.
This issue isn’t unique to Everett. Recognizing the broader implications, Congress has introduced the No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code to ensure that bonds used to finance professional stadiums are not treated as tax-exempt bonds. The bill’s sponsors argue that wealthy sports franchise owners should not benefit from tax breaks intended for public infrastructure, especially when such subsidies have cost taxpayers an estimated $4.3 billion in lost federal revenue over the past 25 years We need to ask ourselves what kind of city we’re building. One where massive developments get pushed through without community input? Or one where we invest in people, in kids, families, and human dignity?” letter
email from Rich Ryan Candidate for Mayor of Everett 5-26-2025 Response to stadium build! ft.b
Rich Ryans positions on the “new downtown stadium” were not published in the Everett Herald.
According to the Everett Herald:
Rich Ryan said the city needs to build a mental health facility and permanent housing shelter to support people on the street who need assistance. “You keep asking how we’re going to afford it, but how can we afford not to do this stuff?” Ryan said.
Another mayoral candidate, Janice Green, indicated:
“As a candidate for Mayor, I believe Everett must always weigh major capital decisions carefully, ensuring that public investments align with long-term community benefit, fiscal responsibility, and local values. Like many residents, I want to see the AquaSox stay in Everett. They’re a part of our city’s history and an accessible source of family-friendly fun. At the same time, we must remain mindful of budget realities and prioritize public transparency as we assess the best path forward.
You have made a strong case for refurbishing the existing stadium, and I understand the desire to preserve public resources and protect existing partnerships with the Everett School District. As the city continues exploring its options, I believe the public deserves a clear, detailed comparison of costs, funding sources, and community impacts—including the potential effect on essential services like public safety, libraries, and infrastructure.
Should I be elected, I will ensure that any decision regarding the stadium is guided by community input, fiscal discipline, and a broader vision for inclusive economic growth.”
email from Janice Green Candidate for Everett Mayor 5-12-2025 RE Is Major League Baseball running the government? ft.c
The Everett Herald published:
Greene said the city should not spend money on a stadium project as ongoing federal cuts jeopardize social services nationwide. “Given the situation that we’re in right now and the ever-changing situation every day … I think that whole plan for that stadium needs to be rethought because of the systematic changes that are going to happen,” she said.
The Everett Herald did not publish “refurbishing the existing stadium” – Everett Memorial Stadium/Funko Field – as an alternative.
Everett Public Facilities Boardmember PFD board and mayoral Candidate Scott Murphy indicated:
“Thank you for sending me all of the background information and facts related to the stadium. I will review all of it carefully as it will certainly be helpful to me moving forward during this remaining few months of the campaign.
Rest assured, if I am elected, I will be doing a complete deep dive on the stadium, including costs, projections and ability to service the debt, etc., to come up with a game plan that makes sense for the people of Everett and Snohomish County. I do not understand how the city can continue to spend what is I believe so far is at least $7 million without a financial projection, at least at a high-level with certain assumptions plugged in.”
06-28-2025 Scott Murphy For Everett Mayor-Homelessness in Everett continues to increase despite reductions across the rest of the County ft.d1
“To my knowledge, there has been no pro forma financial projection provided to the public that shows whether or not the downtown baseball stadium will pencil out and be able to support the anticipated debt service that mayor Franklin has talked about publicly. She has mentioned issuing bonds for $50 million. I know from experience at Angel of the winds Arena what the debt service requirements are on an annual basis and that is based on interest rates that we locked in several years ago that were quite favorable. Those sorts of rates are no longer available so the debt service on the baseball stadium downtown would be substantially higher.”
9-15-2026 Reset the clock on the public comment.ft.d2
“Thanks for the note. I believe this information is critical to the decision-making as to whether this baseball stadium will pencil out or not, and be able to sustain the debt that undoubtedly is contemplated as part of the proceeds to finish the construction. That being said, this information has been requested already and the answer thus far from the mayor has been that “it is being worked on” and should be available later this year in late November or early December, coincidentally right after the election.
Until then, I will be surprised if we receive the request requested information. That said, good idea to officially ask and keep pushing.”
9-19-2025 Re: “… naming rights …. this is a construction subsidy in disguise.”ft.d3
The Everett Herald published:
Regarding the city’s stadium project, he said it lacked transparency because the city has not released a profit-and-loss statement to show the expenses and revenues of the proposed facility.
“I’m a huge AquaSox fan. I’m not opposed to what we’re doing, but we should get more transparency real quick, real soon, before we go spend any more money,” Murphy said. “Because if it doesn’t work, let’s not go spend another $5 million researching it.”
The Everett Herald seemed to have Project Frog Pond coverage — “assemble public relations (PR) strategy” and “Launch PR initiative about Project Frog Pond.”
Two weeks before the election, Scott Murphy’s postion was attacked in an “Opinion” piece titled “Comment: If Everett candidate can fix budget what would he cut? Three Everett Council members say Scott Murphy’s budget criticisms are mistaken and too broad.”
It didn’t look like opinion. It didn’t look like news.
It looked like pure Major League Baseball stadium marketing as described in Project Frog Pond.
The three councilmembers in the October 18, 2025 Everett Herald article, – Scott Bader, Ben Zarlingo and Don Schwab – all voted on numerous occasions in favor of measures supporting a “new outdoor multi-purpose stadium.”
Donald Schwab and Ben Zarlingo signed Joint Resolution 2056 in 2022, supporting the “new outdoor multi-purpose stadium.”
Donald Schwab and Scott Bader actively supported the “New $137.9 million Stadium” at 2025 Everett City Council meetings.
In the article they indicate “… we have a critical interest in realistic budget discussions.”
Yet nowhere in the article do they “realistically” discuss the budget impacts of a “New $137.9 million Stadium.” Nowhere in the article do they address Scott Murphy’s statements, “… debt service requirements are on an annual basis and that is based on interest rates… Those sorts of rates are no longer available so the debt service on the baseball stadium downtown would be substantially higher.”
Instead, they ignore the absence of new stadium pro forma financial projections, ignore the impacts of a “New $137.9 million Stadium,” yet indicate:
“After the measures we’ve proposed for a balanced 2026 budget, our structural deficit problem shows the city facing in 2027 a deficit at this time of some $7 million.”
These councilmembers failed to face the white elephant in the room.
These three council members failed to face the cost of the “New $137.9 million Stadium” they voted for and supported for years.
What structural deficit problems will the City of Everett face in 2027, 2028, 2029 and beyond, with a “New $137.9 million Stadium?”
The “new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” should at least have been mentioned in the Everett Herald article, “Franklin wins reelection as Everett mayor”
It seems Project Frog Pond prevailed.
There was no mention of the “new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” in the article.
“If Everett candidate can fix budget what would he cut?”
Scott Murphy could have answered, “Cut the “new outdoor multi-purpose ($137 million) stadium.”
But he didn’t. And the Everett Herald didn’t either.
The Everett Public Facilities District was full of politics.
At the Everett Public Facilities District (PFD), two board members were running for public office and one board member, Julio Cortes, was a state legislator while also working as a city of Everett staff member and liason to the PFD.
Everett Public Facilities District Boardmember Scott Murphy ran for mayor of Everett.
Everett Public Facilities District Boardmember Julio Cortes endorsed the mayor – Cassie Franklin.
The president of the Everett Public Facilities District and Boardmember, Ryan Crowther, ran for Everett City Council.
All three were sent emails asking for PFD board member email addresses.
None of the three replied.
Eventually, the Treasurer and Boardmember of the Everett Public Facilities District, Michael Swanson, replied.
Mr. Martin suggested to Everett Public Facilities District Boardmember, Michael Swanson:
“I suggest you contact Julio Cortes to determine to what extent House Bill (HB) 1109 can be used to finance an “Everett Outdoor Event Center” or a “Refurbished Funko Field,” should Everett’s Stadium Fiscal Advisory Committee prove to be overly optimistic in their revenue projections, or if a professional sports team fails to make payments, breaks their lease, or leaves Everett.”
Treasurer and Boardmember of the Everett Public Facilities District, Michael Swanson, replied:
Mr Martin –
Respectfully, that’s not a topic that I’m interested in following up on as it’s outside the scope and purpose of what the Everett PFD was established to do. We exist to protect the public’s investment in the Everett Events Center, oversee sound management and operations, adequately save for maintenance and capital improvements, and pay down the debt associated with this facility.
If you are interested in discussing financing for the proposed baseball stadium, I’d suggest you go straight to the source and follow up with the individuals who are exploring this topic in the Everett mayor’s office.
Michael Swanson
EPFD Treasurer
email from Michael Swanson 11-25-2025 EPFD Treasurer Re: What is the maximum amount of Stadium Tax the Everett Public Facilities District could collect under HB 1109?ft.e
More than a year earlier, on August 9, 2024, Treasurer and Boardmember of the Everett Public Facilities District, Michael Swanson, received ft.f1
a Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model for the Everett Outdoor Multipurpose Facility – Proposed Downtown Site including naming rights projections from Scott Pattison, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin’s Special Projet Manager.ft.f2
The Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model receipents included EPFD Boardmember, Scott Murphy, Attorney Stacey Lewis, bond specialist at Pacifica Law Group, and Ben Franz-Knight of Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ).
Ben Franz-Knight was introduced by Scott Pattison, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin’s Special Projet Manager, and made a presentation to the Everett City Council on June 11, 2025.
Mayor Cassie Franklin nominated Scott Pattison to be a Boardmember of the Everett Public Facilities District.
Scott Pattison, Mayor Cassie Franklins Special Projects Manager, became a Boardmember of the Everett Public Facilities District in 2026.
The Everett Public Facilities District owns Angels of the Winds Arena, managed by Oak View Group.
Now, “All Politics are Global.”
The President of the United States
pardoned
Oak View Group CEO Timothy J. Leiweke
. Oak View Group CEO Timothy J. Leiweke was recently indicted for conspiracy to rig the bidding for the development, management, and use of a multi-purpose arena. Oak View Group Manages the Everett Public Facilities District (PFD) multi-purpose arena – – Angel of the Winds.
Mayor Franklin’s Special Projects Manager, Scott Pattison, is now a Boardmember of the Everett Public Facilities District.
The Everett Public Facilities District owns Angel of the Winds Arena.
Angel of the Winds Arena is managed by the Oak View Group.
Very Fishy.
ft.a) email from Bill Wheeler Candidate Everett City Council District ONE 5-14 2025 RE Baseball stadium questions ft.a
Download email-from-Bill-Wheeler-Candidate-for-Everett-City-Council-District-One-5-14-2025-Baseball-Stadium-Questions.pdf
ft.b) email from Rich Ryan Candidate for Mayor of Everett 5-26-2025 Response to stadium build! ft.b
Download email-from-Rich-Ryan-Candidate-for-Everett-Mayor-5-24-2025-Response-to-stadium-build.pdf
ft.c) email from Janice Green Candidate for Everett Mayor 5-12-2025 RE Is Major League Baseball running the government? ft.c
Download email-from-Janice-Green-Candidate-for-Everett-Mayor-5-12-2025-RE-Is-Major-League-Baseball-running-the-government.pdf
ft.d1)06-28-2025 Scott Murphy For Everett Mayor-Homelessness in Everett continues to increase despite reductions across the rest of the County ft.d1
ft.d2)9-15-2026 Reset the clock on the public comment.ft.d2
Download email-from-Scott-Murphy-Candidate-for-Everett-Mayor-9-15-2025-RE-EXTERNAL-Reset-the-clock-on-the-public-comment.pdf
ft.d3)9-19-2025 Re: “… naming rights …. this is a construction subsidy in disguise.”ft.d3
ft.e)email from Michael Swanson 11-25-2025 EPFD Treasurer Re: What is the maximum amount of Stadium Tax the Everett Public Facilities District could collect under HB 1109?ft.e
Download email-from-Michael-Swanson-Everett-PFD-Boardmember-11-25-2025-RE-What-is-the-maximum-amount-of-Stadium-Tax-the-Everett-PFD-could-collect-under-HB-1109-.pdf
ft.f1)August 9, 2024, Treasurer and Boardmember of the Everett Public Facilities District, Michael Swanson, received ft.f1
Download email-Pattison-Everett-to-Murphy-Swanson-Everett-PFD-Lewis-Pacific-CC-Franz-SOJ-Revenue-Model-8-9-2024-1-1.pdf
ft.f2) Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model for the Everett Outdoor Multipurpose Facility – Proposed Downtown Site including naming rights projections from Scott Pattison, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin’s Special Projet Manager.ft.f2
Download DRAFT-CITY-ONLY_Everett-OMF_Preliminary-Operating-Revenue-and-Expense-Model_72224-version-2-2.xlsx
ft.g) email from Anna Marie Laurence Candidate for Everett School Board 9-2-2025 Re Everett School Board Candidates and Members ft.g
Download email-from-Annamarie-Laurence-Everett-School-Board-Member-9-2-2025-RE-Everett-School-Board-Members-and-Candidates.pdf
ht tps://www.heraldnet.com/news/mill-creek-family-throws-489k-into-everett-school-board-races/
ht tps://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-attack-ads-an-undeserved-slander-of-school-official/
============================================================ Who tried to take money from the School District? Under construction RE: Who tried to take money from the School District?
Good afternoon,
Mr. Martin, thank you for the question. Councilmember Dunn is correct, what you are seeing below is a technical fix. The funding was originally intended for the City but there was an error which the re-allocation edit fixed.
Representative Julio Cortes
Proudly serving the 38th Legislative District – Everett, Marysville & TulalipR>
It was not an error to direct the funding to the Everett School District.
The money was legislatively intended for the Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium, not a “New Stadium.”
Changing the words to “New Stadium” does not appear to be correcting a mistake. It appears to be a consciously planned effort on the part of interested parties to include the words, “New Stadium.”
It was not an error to direct the funding to the Everett School District.
The money was legislatively intended for the Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium, not a “New Stadium.”
Changing the words to “New Stadium” does not appear to be correcting a mistake.
It appears to be a consciously planned effort on the part of interested parties to take the money away from the Everett School District and include the words, “New Stadium.”
This was not “…an error which the re-allocation edit fixed.”
This was not “…a technical fix.”
In total, $18.8 million of the $24 million, or 78% of the 2023 “youth athletic facility account,” is targeted for stadium requirements that are contractually demanded by Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
The Youth Athletic Facility account is inappropriately paying for MLB, MiLB, and MLBPA design costs, pre construction activities, and costs that are not for the express purpose of the Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium grant.
The question, “Who tried to take money from the School District?,” remains.
RCW 43.99N.060 “Stadium and exhibition center account—Youth athletic facility account—Community outdoor athletic facility loans and grants.” indicates:
“(1) The stadium and exhibition center account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the taxes imposed under RCW 82.14.0494 and distributions under RCW 67.70.240(1)(d) shall be deposited into the account. Only the director of the office of financial management or the director’s designee may authorize expenditures from the account.” ft.a
The 2023 Regular Session Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5200, Section 1038 Public Facility Improvement Fund appropriated $24 million of the Youth Athletic Facility account – state appropriation for a list of projects.ft.b
The House and Senate passed this bill unanimously on April 21, 2023 and April 22, 2023, respectively.
The list of projects in Senate Bill 5200 is not solely for baseball stadiums.
For example, the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex (RORC) is a 53-acre outdoor facility for sports, recreation, and education that benefits the Ridgefield School District and the Community. It does include a little league baseball field, but it is not contractually bound by Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
Click Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex
Another example, Yakima County Stadium, is a baseball stadium located in the 120-acre State Fair Park and home to the Yakima Valley Pippins Baseball team. The Yakima Valley Pippins are a collegiate wood bat baseball team, not contractually bound by Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), or the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
Click Yakima County Stadium
The Ridgefield and Yakima County grants total less than 15% of the single $7.4 Million MLB/MiLB “New Stadium” grant proposed in downtown Everett.
Section 1038 indicates:
9 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1038. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
10 Public Facility Improvement Fund (92001367)
11 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following
12 conditions and limitations:
13 (1) $24,000,000 of the youth athletic facility account—state
14 appropriation in this section is provided solely for the following
15 list of projects:
16 Bellingham: Joe Martin Stadium. . . . . . . . . . . . . $700,000
17 Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium. . . $7,400,000
18 Lower Columbia College: David Story Field. . . . . . . $1,300,000
19 Pasco: Gesa Stadium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000,000
20 Port Angeles: Civic Field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600,000
21 Ridgefield: Ridgefield Outdoor Recreational Complex. . . $450,000
22 Spokane County: Avista Stadium. . . . . . . . . . . . $5,800,000
23 Tacoma: Cheney Stadium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000,000
24 Walla Walla: Borleske Stadium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $525,000
25 Wenatchee Valley College: Paul Thomas Sr. Field. . . . . $700,000
26 Yakima County: Yakima County Stadium. . . . . . . . . . $525,000
The April 21, 2023 Proposed Compromise Summary and Project list, includes the Everett School District entry:
17 Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium. . . $7,400,000
Contrary to what was reported in the press, the money was legislatively intended for the “Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium,” not a “New Stadium.” Changing the words to “New Stadium” does not appear to be correcting a mistake. It appears to be a conscientiously planned effort on the part of interested parties to include the words, “New Stadium.”ft.c
“Who tried to take money from the School District?”
It is noteworthy that State of Washington Representatives from Legislative District 38 for the City of Everett include:
Senator June Robinson, Chair, Senate Ways & Means Committee
Representative Julio Cortes, Member, House Appropriations Committee
Senator June Robinson, Chair, Senate Ways & Means Committee, may have influenced Susan Brooks, Senior Staff Coordinator of the Senate Ways & Means Committee
Representative Julio Cortes, Member, House Appropriations Committee, may have influenced Dave Johnson, Fiscal Coordinator, House Appropriations Committee
Lobbyists from Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball may have had a substantial influence in changing the grant from “Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium” on April 21, 2023, to “New Stadium” at a later date.
Although Results of Public Record Requests may shed additional light on the question, the Public Records of legislators are immune from “secrecy” laws and are able to ” …destroy (public) records on a regular basis.” ft.d1, d2
Click WA House adds to list of government transparency assaults
Click Washington’s House allowing email deletions deals yet another blow to government transparency
At this point, the question is unanswered.
“Who tried to take money from the School District?”
————————————————–
ft.a) ht tps://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.99N.060
ft.b) ht tps://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5200-S.PL.pdf
ft.c) ht tps://curtisking.src.wastateleg.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/04/Proposed-Compromise-Summary-and-Project-Lists-Apr-21.pdf See page 63 ft.d1) https://myedmondsnews.com/2025/08/commentary-wa-house-adds-to-list-of-government-transparency-assaults/
ft.d2) ht tps://www.washcog.org/in-the-news/wa-house-allowing-email-deletions-deals-yet-another-blow-to-government-transparency
———————————————–
From: Dunn, Megan
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2025 10:38 AM
To: john martin
Cc: Saltzman, Ian
Subject: RE: Who tried to take money from the School District?
CAUTION:External email.
Hello John,
I can provide some clarifying information, based on my understanding of the project and as a member of the Fiscal Advisory Committee for this project. But the county is not directly involved in this funding or the project.
It’s my understanding that there was a budget allocation for several baseball stadiums across the state in the last state budget. As you know, the current stadium is owned by the Everett School District but the study for a new potential stadium was supposed to be funding directed to the City of Everett. What you are seeing is the correction that was made last year to re-allocate the funding to the City for the study. It was an error to direct the funding to the school district as they were not taking the lead on a new stadium study.
I believe Ian Saltzman with the ESD or Rep Cortez would be the best people to confirm that information. They are both copied.
Best,
Megan Dunn | Snohomish County Councilmember, District 2
O: (425) 388-3494 | megan.dunn@snoco.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers
NOTICE: All emails and attachments sent to and from Snohomish County are public records and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).
From: john martin
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2025 10:30 AM
To: Derek.Stanford@leg.wa.gov; yasmin.trudeau@leg.wa.gov; Noel.Frame@leg.wa.gov; chris.gildon@leg.wa.gov; Nikki.Torres@leg.wa.gov; Mark.Schoesler@leg.wa.gov; Perry.Dozier@leg.wa.gov; matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov; John.Braun@leg.wa.gov; Annette.Cleveland@leg.wa.gov; Steve.Conway@leg.wa.gov; Manka.Dhingra@leg.wa.gov; Drew.Hansen@leg.wa.gov; Bob.Hasegawa@leg.wa.gov; claudia.kauffman@leg.wa.gov; ron.muzzall@leg.wa.gov; jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov; Marcus.Riccelli@leg.wa.gov; Rebecca.Saldana@leg.wa.gov; keith.wagoner@leg.wa.gov; judith.warnick@leg.wa.gov; lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov; claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov
Cc: jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov; leonard.christian@leg.wa.gov; Jeff.Holy@leg.wa.gov; Shelly.Short@leg.wa.gov; keith.goehner@leg.wa.gov; Curtis.King@leg.wa.gov; Paul.Harris@leg.wa.gov; Adrian.Cortes@leg.wa.gov; Jeff.Wilson@leg.wa.gov; jessica.bateman@leg.wa.gov; Mike.Chapman@leg.wa.gov; Deborah.Krishnadasan@leg.wa.gov; T’wina.Nobles@leg.wa.gov; phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov; jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov; Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov; Emily.Alvarado@leg.wa.gov; Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov; keith.wagoner@leg.wa.gov; liz.lovelett@leg.wa.gov; sharon.shewmake@leg.wa.gov; John.Lovick@leg.wa.gov; javier.valdez@leg.wa.gov; Vandana.Slatter@leg.wa.gov
Subject: Who tried to take money from the School District?
Dear Members of The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB),
Who tried to take $7.4 million from the “School District” and give it to the “New Stadium?”
Your reply to this question and/or sending any related information you may have would be greatly appreciated.
Best Regards,
John E. Martin
425-361-2854
jmartinnoj@hotmail.com
Bcc Citizens and various media
Who tried to take money from the School District?
From: john martin
Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2025 8:01 AM
Capital Projects Advisory Review Board
Dear Members of The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB),
I received the following email from the Department of Commerce on Friday, May 9, 2025 10:27 AM.
******************
“John, it was good speaking with you, and I believe I understand what you are looking for.
There is no funding name “Minor League Baseball Publicly Owned Stadium Improvement Fund.”, but there is a fund named Public Facility Improvement Fund that was appropriated through the youth athletic facility account.
The 2023 Regular Session Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5200, Section 1038 Public Facility Improvement Fund appropriated $24,000,000.00 of the youth athletic facility account – state appropriation for the following list of projects:
…
City of Everett: Old Name: Everett School District: Everett Memorial Stadium New Stadium (New name approved in ESSB 5949, Section 1035)
Awarded $7,400,000
Funds have been awarded; contract has not been executed”
***************************
The actual ESSB 5949, Section 1035 looks like this:
City of Everett ((School District: Everett Memorial –
The “School District: Everett Memorial is xxx’ed out and in it’s place is the New Stadium)):
New Stadium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,400,000
It appears the New Stadium is taking $7,400,000 from the School District: Everett Memorial account appropriation and re-assigning it to “New Stadium”
I do not know exactly what the “youth athletic facility account” is for, but it seems a bit of a stretch to use the “youth” account to meet stadium requirements that are contractually demanded by Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
p. 75 ESSB 5949.SL continues:
If the department finds the grantee to be out of compliance with provisions of the contract, the grantee shall repay to the state general fund the principal amount of the grant plus interest…
I am guessing the grantee would be the City of Everett.
The “New Stadium” contract is not yet approved.
To the best of my knowledge, it must be approved by you, the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB).
The letter I received from the Department of Commerce concludes:
“The above information is the information I can provide without a PUBLIC DISCLOSURE REQUEST FORM, which I have attached.”
I filed a records request with the Department of Commerce Records Officer by email and the initial reply through their portal was as follows:
“Since we do not maintain these records, we are closing the file on your request.”
I contacted the Records Officer by telephone and told him he was in error and later received:
“Please excuse and ignore the first letter that was sent to you. After more research was conducted it appears that the Washington State Department of Commerce is currently involved with this. …. We estimate an initial installment of records responsive to your request will be made available to you on or before 8/13/2025.”
I request that the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB) disapprove funding for the “New Stadium” and not allow the contract to be executed.
My question to the CPARB is this:
Are funds originally allocated from the “youth athletic facility account” to “School District: Everett Memorial” inappropriately re-allocated to “New Stadium,” a stadium in downtown Everett that meets requirements contractually demanded by MLB, MiLB, and the MLBPA — not exactly a group of “youth” athletes?
Your consideration of these facts, documents, and re-allocation of funds would be greatly appreciated.
Please feel free to contact me if you feel I can provide you with additional information.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
John E. Martin
425-361-2854
jmartinnoj@hotmail.com
BCC: Private citizens and various media outlets
Who tried to take money from the School District?
NOTICE: All emails and attachments sent to and from Snohomish County are public records and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).
Naming Rights
Attached to the August 9, 2024 email was a “Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model” with Naming Rights valued at $1,000,000 per year, split 50/50.
Download email- -Everett-to-Murphy-Swanson-Everett-PFD-Lewis-Pacific-CC-Franz-SOJ-Revenue-Model-8-9-2024-1-1.pdf
Download DRAFT-CITY-ONLY_Everett-OMF_Preliminary-Operating-Revenue-and-Expense-Model_72224-version-2-1.xlsx
Source City of Everett Public Facitities District 8-9-2024 email from Scott Pattison, Everett Special Projects Manager, to Everett Public Facilities District board members Scott Murphy and Michael Swanson, Pacific Law Group bond counsel Stacy Lewis, and CC’d to Ben Franz of SOJ. Subject – Sites and Revenue
“…. naming rights is a large source of Revenue.” — said Scott Pattison of the City of Everett staff at a June 11, 2025 presentation to the Everett City Council.An estimated $6.8 million or more over a 30-year period is the “large source of Revenue.”
That money does not belong to billionaire Major League Baseball owners or Minor League Baseball owners.
That $6.8 million and the name of the stadium belongs to taxpayers.
The City of Everett 2024 “Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model” forecast that naming rights could be worth $ 1 Million per year or what amounts to roughly $30 million over a 30-year period.
Scott Pattison did not include the 2024 $1 million dollars per year naming rights forecast in the June 11, 2025 presentation to the Everett City Council.
Instead, the city staff indicated, “…. naming rights is a large source of Revenue.”
Using the City of Everett 2024 “Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model” and the AECOM Hunt estimates the Funko Field Renovation of $29.4 million, the ‘cost’ of refurbishing Everett Memorial Stadium (Funko Field) would be – Revenue $30 million – cost $29.4 million = $0.6 million excess Revenue — positive revenue.
The Everett City staff did not include the $30 million dollar naming rights revenue or the $29.4 million Funko Field Renovation cost estimate in the June 11, presentation to the Everett City Council.
In a study by Team Services, actual naming rights value was estimated at $227,000 per year, resulting in an estimated $6.8 million or more over a 30-year period.
The cost of refurbishing Everett Memorial Stadium would be $22.6 million ($6.8 million – $29.4 million = $-22.6 million). compared to the $117 cost provided by the the Everett Fiscal Advisory Committee Report.
There are no comparible EIS costs for the multi purpose stadium. There were no cost estimates for the new stadium in the DEIS or the EIS.
The “Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model” existed months before the final EIS. But the time delay or a current Operating Revenue and Expense Model were not disclosed at the Everett City Council meeting.
Instead, the Everett City staff indicated there were no options to the new downtown stadium.
Contrary to the presentation of the Everett City staff, support for Refurbishing Everett Memorial Stadium – Funko Field – in Everett, Washington as a viable option was submitted to all members of the Everett City Council and made part of the public record on May 27, 2025, months after “… the financial feasibility committee …work was completed” (December 5, 2024). The email and pdf file* specifically indicated:
“Refurbish the current stadium — Funko Field — on Everett School District property, have the AquaSox and Major League Baseball continue paying more than $100,000 per year in rent to the Everett Public School District, and after Funko Field is refurbished, establish an increased rental rate to be paid to the Everett Public School District based on the new fair market rental value of Funko Field.”
The $1 million a nonsenceical naming rights figure used by the City of Everett staff could be to bolster revenue forcasts relayed to Everett Councilmembers, or to entice potential leasors – the Aquasox would benefit enormously from a 50/50/ split.
In other cities, for example Las Vegas, it is alleged that naming rights were used as a construction subsidy.
Source Yahoo Sports 10-26-2017 https://sports.yahoo.com/las-vegas-taxpayers-forced-pay-80m-ballpark-naming-rights-170138174.html
Two Everett School Board candidates, Anna Marie Laurence and Tom Clark, had their campaigns disrupted and publicized because of attack ads and campaign contributions.
Both candidates were informed that the current lease for the Everett Memorial Stadium baseball field expires in 2027 and must be renegotiated for 2028.
Everett School Board Candidate Tom Clark indicated:
“I appreciate you bringing this to my attention in a thoughtful and informative manner. I want to increase community engagement to unprecedented levels and it starts with informed, engaged, community members….”
Everett School Board Candidate Anna Marie Laurence indicated:
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your thoughts on the naming rights for Everett Memorial Stadium.
At this time, there are still many unknowns regarding what the situation will look like in 2027 when the current lease expires. While the school board will eventually play a role in reviewing any proposed agreements, there are currently no action items before the board, and therefore the board is not currently involved in conversations regarding potential scenarios for the Everett Memorial Stadium for 2027.
That said, I do believe the board should proactively consider all opportunities to increase district revenue as part of the long term planning, while ensuring any decisions align with the best interests of our students and community. I have shared your thoughts with district administrators.
I will continue to keep students at the center of all decisions that I make. I appreciate your engagement, advocacy, and support for the students of Everett Public Schools.
Best, Anna MArie Laurence
email from Anna Marie Laurence Candidate for Everett School Board 9-2-2025 Re Everett School Board Candidates and Members
One citizen sent an email CC’d to the Everett School District Boardmembers and senior Everett School District staff members indicating:
“I think the School District should consider not renewing the AquaSox Lease for this coming season.
The City Council, Cassie Franklin with the guidance of MLB and 7th Inning, SOJ consulting have crafted anarrative to undermine this process attack small local businesses for forcing property owners into concessions and trying to force less than market value offers for private property for the soul benefit of a financially albatross around the city’s neck – knowing full well they will be long gone in 2030 when the bill hits.
They don’t have the money – they are displacing businesses with no way to actually compensate them for the moves (you can’t buy 16 commercial properties and move 23 businesses for 20 million dollars which is what is approved).
These are tax paying commercial properties being replaced by one massive place that is tax exempt and is actually a cost – stadiums do not pay for themselves.
They have in the financial plan light rail as early 2035 adding to the revenue – they aren’t even building this link or starting until at least 2043 and require 1.6 billion dollars to do it.
This is simply political ego, corruption and lies for the benefit of one old billionaire sitting in Dubai who thinks he’s entitled to anything he wants – and doesn’t think he should pay.
To my first point – there is no benefit for keeping the AquaSox at Memorial stadium. The school district should consider renting the field to other people or charging MLB 3 X the current rent for a short-term lease.
Capitalism goes both ways.”
——-
The Everett School District should consider renting Everett Memorial Stadium to other people and organizations.
The Aquasox may be forced to leave because they do not have a stadium to play in.
Eugene Oregon voters rejected a $15 million bond measure for a new stadium.
Minor League Baseball states, “While the effort to find a new facility is ongoing, the Emeralds will remain in Eugene at least through the 2027 season.”
Download email-from-Jeremy-Reed-12-12-2025-The-Outdoor-Event-Center-Resolution-is-based-on-no-Fiscal-Summary-Statement-and-no-public-or-fiscal-projection.pdf
Built on donated land in 1947, the current baseball stadium is owned by Everett School District #2. It was dedicated in memory of Everett citizens who died during military service in World War II – Everett Memorial Stadium.
The current lease with 7th inning streatch (the AquaSox) for the Everett Memorial Stadium baseball field expires in 2027 and must be renegotiated for 2028. Funko Inc., a billion dollar company, has a contractual relationship with the MILB union for likness images and has entered into a naming rights agreement.
Abusive – – the small amount of money the Aquasox/Major League Baseball currently pay the Everett School District for naming rights is financially abusive.
Currently, the school district recieves $34,500 per year in naming rights from the Aquasox.
The current naming rights rate for Everett Memorial Stadium (Funco Field) is $138,000
$227,000 per year was the market rate estimate for Minor League Baseball Stadium (Milb) naming rights in 2013.
The Everett School District is being financially abused by the Aquasox/Major League Baseball.
Proposed renegotiation terms insure that 100% of the market rate for naming rights is paid to the Everett School District.
Amendment 1 paragraph 3 of the AquaSox License Agreement indicates, “…the District will receive (25) twenty-five percent of the net proceeds of the naming rights agreement.”
For the years 2025-2027 the naming rights amount is $138,000. 25% of 138,000 amounts to $34,500 less expenses.
$34,500 is the Everett School District’s share of naming rights revenue.
The lease expires in 2027 and must be renegotiated for 2028.
A 2013 study by Team Services for the City of Fredrick Maryland found the average total value for naming rights deals in MiLB to be around $3.193 million over 13.82 years, with an average annual value of $227,000.
The current naming rights rate of $138,000 paid is $89,000 below the average annual value of $227,000.
School District No. 2 will renegotiate terms and amounts for the 2028 season.
Renegotiation recommendateions were made to the Everett School Board.
“Specifically:
1). The AquaSox License Agreement (2018-2020) Section 7. Exclusive Use; shall be renegotiated to read:
The Everett School District shall retain and be entitled to an exclusive license during each Season to: (sections a through d).
Amendment 1 The AquaSox License Agreement (2018-2020) Section 3; shall be renegotiated to read:
During the term of the lease, The Everett School District will retain and have the right to sell naming rights to the field. The Everett School District will receive (100) one hundred percent of the net proceeds of the naming rights agreement.
2). The naming rights fee schedule of the renegotiated naming rights agreement between the Everett School District No. 2 and the licensee (currently Funko, LLC) will be $227,000 in 2028 and include upgrades (see section 6.2 of the current agreement). An annual escalator clause will be included in the agreement.
Over a 9-year period, this amounts to over $2,043,000 gross.
Over a 30-year period, this amounts to at least $6.8 million.”
Download email from Anna Marie Laurence Candidate for Everett School Board 9-2-2025 Re Everett School Board Candidates and Members
Download email-to-Annamarie-Laurence-Everett-School-Board-Member-7-20-2025-The-name-of-the-Everett-Memorial-baseball-stadium-field.pdf
There is No Benefit to Keeping the AquaSox at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Contray to the “Keep the Aquasox At All Costs” mentality of some media outlets, politicians and citizens,
Kick The Aquasox Out of Town and Good Riddance!! is the approach other citizens take.
On June 11, 2025, Ben Franz of Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ) made a presentation to the Everett City Council:
“And we’re pleased to bring forward a recommendation to you tonight, to select public facilities group PFG.
They’ve been doing what’s known as 6320 financing.
Although, this will be slightly different because these will not be tax-exempt bonds.”31
This is simply not true. The City of Redmond used Limited Tax General Obligation (LTGO) bonds in 2013 and 2021.
According to the Deputy Finance Director, the City of Redmond “.. does not currently use 63-20 financing. In the past, a city-related nonprofit (the Redmond Public Corporation), used a 63-20-type structure to issue LTGO bonds in 2013.In 2021, LTGO debt was issued to advance refund and defease a portion of the 2013 bonds, which were originally used to construct City Hall, a parking garage, and other enhancements to the City campus. While those bonds remain outstanding, the city is not using the 63-20 financing method for new debt.”
The City of Redmond’s 2021 Limited Tax General Obligation Refunding Bonds were issued as taxable bonds, meaning the interest is not exempt from federal income tax. They are specifically labeled as “Limited Tax General Obligation Refunding Bonds, 2021 (Taxable).” These bonds were issued as part of an advance refunding of certain 2013 bonds.
The entire Ben Franz SOJ presentation is questionable.What Ben Franz fails to highlight is that the 63-20 method is not likely to be used. 32
PFG 6320 financing refers to using the IRS Revenue Ruling 63-20 structure, .33 the foundation of PFG Seattle’s 6320 financing is using tax-exempt debt (bonds), 34 and 6320 financing may require lease appoveal.35
The SOJ statement “..financing will not be tax-exempt bonds…” is highly misleading.
It appears the SOJ presentation is to sway political opnions rather than present viable financing options.
This is NOT a promising option to explore through SOJ . It may involve the City of Everett with the recently investigated and fined Oak View Group.
On July 18th 2024, Ben Franz of SOJ referenced the Oak View Group in an email sent to City of Everett staff member Scott Pattison as follows:
“If the PFD were to expand would that mean additional potential revenue and potential increased bonding capacity? If so, what are potential and/or reasonable ranges that might be considered?”
SOJ received a copy of a a “Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model” on August 9, 2024 from City of Everett staff member Scott Pattison.
Ten months later, SOJ did not present revenue forcasts at the June 11, 2025 Council meeting and indicated a they had started proformas for the facility
A Councilmember asked:
“Okay so that proforma, will you share that with the council?”
“Yes,” said Ben Franz/SOJ.
“Okay. When?” replied Councilmember Touhy. “I’ve been waiting for that for a long time. Know when? We don’t know when?”
SOJ is exploring “potential increased bonding” capacity with the Everett Public Facilities District and Angel of the Winds, managed by the Oak View Group.
It seems a conflict of interest that City of Everett staff member Scott Pattison is now also a PFD Boardmember.
In 2025, Oak View Group agreed to pay $477,917 in penalties and refunds for charging hidden fees as a result of an investegation by the Washington State Attorney General.Also in 2025, the CEO of Oak View Group was indited by the US Department of Justice.
Timothy J. Leiweke, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oak View Group (OVG), was recently charged with orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process for an arena at a public university – US Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.
Oak View Group manages Angel of the Winds in Everett, Washington, and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Oak View Group provides a variety of services to live entertainment venues nationwide.
“A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against Timothy J. Leiweke, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oak View Group (OVG)…”
“The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleges that, from approximately February 2018 through at least June 2024, Leiweke conspired with the Chief Executive Officer of a competitor to rig the bidding for the development, management, and use of a multi-purpose arena that was to be located on the campus of a public university …”
“Note: The defendant in this case, Timothy J. Leiweke, received a pardon from the President of the United States for the offenses alleged in the indictment described in the press release above.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/live-entertainment-ceo-indicted-orchestrating-conspiracy-rig-bidding-process-public
https://komonews.com/news/local/ceo-of-oak-view-group-indicted-for-alleged-bid-rigging-in-texas-university-arena-project
Oak View Group, the operator of the Climate Pledge Arena, was investigated by the Washington State Attorney General’s office and ordered to pay a settlement of over $477,000 for charging undisclosed fees to customers.
https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/briefs/2024/09/climate-pledge-arena-pay-over-477k-settle-hidden-fees-case/#
https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/climate-pledge-arena-pay-477k-penalties-refunds-result-ag-ferguson-s-hidden-fee
Timothy J. Leiweke, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oak View Group, resigned as CEO and continues as Vice Chairman of Oak View Group’s Board of Directors. It is unknown how active he is in current management of Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown Everett or if he was active in 2024.
https://www.oakviewgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/OAK-VIEW-GROUP-ANNOUNCES-CEO-TRANSITION.pdf
Source Everett Public Facitities District Public Records Request email Pattison Everett to Murphy, Swanson Everett PFD, Stacy Lewis of Pacifica Law, CC Franz SOJ Revenue Model 8-9-2024
Source Everett Public Facitities District Public Records Request DRAFT CITY ONLY_Everett OMF_Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model_72224 (version 2) .xlsx
“-could significantly reduce the City’s
up front capital contribution”
is on the Ben Franz SOJ presentation screen.
The City of Everett needs short term financing because, according to three councilmembers, “After the measures we’ve proposed for a balanced 2026 budget, our structural deficit problem shows the city facing in 2027 a deficit at this time of some $7 million.“36 The City of Everett is short on cash, especially for stadium construction.
SOJ is encouraging the City of Everett to borrow money to make a down payment on a new stadium so they can go further into debt with taxable bonds to pay for the stadium . That doesn’t make any sense at all.It’s like borrowing on your credit card to pay off your credit card.
The June 11, 2025 City Council Agenda indicates: “If it is decided to proceed with the 63-20 method, certain agreements with PFG, such as a financing lease, will be brought to the City Council for approval.” 32
What’s not on the agenda is that the negotiating posture of the MLB/Aquasox and negotiating a financing lease may be difficult, especially with naming rights involved.
Previously, the Everett School District had some difficulty negotiating a financing lease.Aquasox President Pat Filippone sought to negotiate a Confidentiality & Non Disclosure Agreement (Major League Baseball and PDL Facility Standards).
The agreement proposed the Everett School District agree to have the governing law and jurisdiction be the State of New York and not the State if Washington.
Conveniently for the Aquasox, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) main headquarters are located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, specifically at 1271 Avenue of the Americas.
The Aquasox also wanted the Everett School District to atypically agree to have
***arbitration to resolve disputes over an agreement.
***indemnification clauses signed.
***Having the School District agree to attorney’s fees clauses.
Source Everett School District Download email from Everett School District General Counsel Sarah Shaw to Mike T. Gunn and Pat Filippone RE MLB PDL NDA May 27, 2021.
Ben Franz continues by indicating that other public entities “….entered into a private partnership where the private partner delivers the facility for you. Takes 100% of the risk for the funding actually issues the debt takes 100% of the risk for delivery of the facility itself. And when it’s completed, you would be in a position to lease that facility back.”
What Ben Franz fails to mention in his presentation is that 6320 as presented is highly unlikely, the City of Everett will take on 100% of the risk when the project is completed, and the City of Everett will have to finance and pay for the facility.
Future long-term bonds issued by the City of Everett to fund the stadium will almost certainly be issued as long term tax exempt bonds,
possibly Limited Tax General Obligation (LTGO) bonds as were used in the City of Redmond.
Source Angel of the Winds/Oak View Group Everett PFD Public Record Request- Gmail Fwd_ Sites and Revenue5.pdf
Source Angel of the Winds/Oak View Group Everett PFD Public Record Request DRAFT CITY ONLY_Everett OMF_Preliminary Operating Revenue and Expense Model_72224 (version 2).xlsx
Decay Multiplier
There are Decay Multiplier Costs associated with Professional Gambling, Political Corruption, Professional Cheating, Domestic Violence, and Super Bowl Sunday.
The Cost of professional sports has not been adequately addressed by the City of Everett, Snohomish County, or the State of Washington.
Costs associated with professional sports are not included or quantified in the Everett Fiscal Advisory Committee Report, DEIS and EIS, or the Community Attributes Inc study.
These are Costs associated with Professional Gambling, Political Corruption, Professional Cheating, Domestic Violence, and Super Bowl Sunday.
Super Bowl Sunday
Domestic abuse is a pervasive issue, not necessarily tied to one day, but Super Bowl Sunday, and professional sports in general, involve alcohol and heightened emotions.
Domestic violence incidents rise by about 10% on days when NFL “upset losses” games are played, usually occurring in family homes and most of the time affecting women.
While it is difficult to assess the degree prostitution, sex trafficing, and domestic violence occuring on Super Bowl Sunday, it is very clear that factors like alcohol and heightened emotions contribute to domestic violence generally.
Increased domestic violence, and possibly prostitution and sex trafficing, are costs associated with professional sports.
Source National Organization for Women 12-10-2024 After The Whistle: How NFL Games Affect Domestic Violence Rates ht tps://now.org/blog/after-the-whistle-how-nfl-games-affect-domestic-violence-rates/
Source National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine (NLM) 7-16-2013 Family Violence and Football: The Effect of Unexpected Emotional Cues on Violent Behavior ht tps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3712874/
Political CorruptionHarry Sidhu, former mayor of Anaheim, California, was sentenced to federal prison in 2025 regarding a scandal over the proposed $325 million sale of Angel Stadium and the surrounding city-owned land to the Los Angeles Angels baseball team.
Sidhu was accused of passing confidential, inside information about the city’s negotiation position to the Angels in hopes of securing a $1 million campaign contribution from them.
In August 2023, Sidhu agreed to plead guilty to obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and making false statements to the FBI. In March 2025, he was sentenced to two months in federal prison, fined $55,000, and ordered to serve one year of supervised probation.
The FBI investigation resulted in the city of Anaheim canceling the deal to sell Angel Stadium to the team.
Elected officials, instead of allocating time for addressing property tax, sales tax, income tax, police and fire protection, domestic violence, sex trafficing, housing, equality, social needs such has hunger, homelessness, and health, allocate time to build professional sports stadiums for billionaire professional sports owners.
Professional sports are clearly a cost to elected officials and the democratic system.
=====================================================================================
Professional Gambling
Gambling is deeply associated with professional sports today.
Major leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA) partner with betting companies (sportsbooks) for sponsorships, advertising, and data licensing, generating millions in revenue.
In the media coverage, sports broadcasts and networks extensively feature betting lines, odds, and expert picks, making gambling a core part of the professional sports fan experience.
In October, 2025 former National Basketball Association Players were Charged in a Widespread Sports Betting and Money Laundering Conspiracy. New York United States Attorney stated. “… the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, using private locker room and medical information to enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks. This was a sophisticated conspiracy involving athletes, coaches, and intermediaries who exploited confidential information for profit. Insider betting schemes erode the integrity of American sports,…”
Source US Department of Justice United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York Press Release 10-23-2025 Current and Former National Basketball Association Players and Four Other Individuals Charged in Widespread Sports Betting and Money Laundering Conspiracy
The crimes and behavior of professional athletes have a multiplier effect, spreading to college athletes.
A federal indictment recently charged more than 20 people, including at least a dozen current and former college basketball players, with fixing games for gamblers from 2022-25.
Former LSU star and Chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney is the most prominent athlete indicted. The NCAA already stripped eligibility from 11 athletes at seven schools and continues investigating nearly 40 more for alleged sports betting violations.
Source Los Angeles Times 01-25-2026 “Dozens of players and gamblers indicted on charges of fixing college basketball games”
https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2026-01-15/players-indicted-fixing-ncaa-chinese-basketball-games-scandal-antonio-blakeney-shane-hennen
The criminal activity and moral decay of college and professional athletes multiplies, spreading to high school and junior high sports ehtics and behaviors.
These value decay multiplier effects are clearly a cost associated with professional sports and professional sports stadium construction efforts by billionaire professional sports owners.
Professional sports have transformed from shunning gambling to embracing it as a massive revenue stream, creating a complex environment where commercial interests clash with the need to maintain fair play and protect athletes from addiction.
Professional sports and gambling have costs to a society. Those costs and made greater when professional sport billionaires seek to build more and more professional sports stadiums.
===========================================
Professional Cheating
The game of baseball itself glorifies cheaters and made them World Champions!!
The team that cheated is the Houston Astros. The Houston Astros used a video camera and trash can to steal baseball signals for the other team,, leading to a $5 million fine, loss of draft picks, and suspensions for their general manager and manager.
The players themselves weren’t punished and kept their title.
Houston Astro players used an illegal video camera system to decode opponents’ signs and then relayed them to hitters by banging on a trash can in the dugout. They wern’t punished and kept their title.
Major League Baseball (MLB), a legal monopoly, fined the Astros $5 million.
In 2020, the Houston Astros were valued at roughly $2.25 billion. $5 million is less than 1/3 of 1% of the value of the Houston Astros and $5 million is less than 1/5th of their highest paid player in 2017, Justin Verlander ($25.7 million).
That’s like telling Little Leaguers, that after they steal candy from a store, just keep playing and only eat a small part of the candy.
Like Professional Sports Gambling, Professional Sports Cheating has a moral decay multiplier effect. The moral decay multiplier must be included when evaluating the Everett Fiscal Advisory Committee Report, the DEIS and EIS, and added as an additional economic (moral decay) multiplier in the Community Attributes Inc study evaluation.
These moral decay multiplier effects are clearly a cost associated with professional sports and professional sports stadium construction efforts by billionaire professional sports owners.
The largest tax break has not been addressed by the Everett City Council, Snohomish County, or the State of Washington.
And I’ll tell you what they do
Take their Capital Deductions
While the rest of us get skewed
From the song ‘No Frogs Downtown Blues’
Billionaire owners can utilize capital depreciation laws to effectively write off a portion of their players’ salaries.
Team owners can take 100% amortization deductions of the adjusted tax basis for certain intangibles (like player contracts, goodwill, media rights) over 15 years.
But unlike billionaire professional sports team owners, a small business owner can’t amortize employee salaries and get a tax deduction for it.
To see how owners like Steve Ballmer pay lower tax rates than even stadium employees, watch the following video.
Alternatively, call the IRS and ask about Section 197 of the amortization laws.
how sports-owners use their teams to avoid millions in taxeshow the one big beautiful bill tax act hits the sports industry
Side Notes
President & Group Publisher – Oregon & North Carolina, 11-15-25
Download email from Annie Pennucci, Director Forecasting & Research Division, Washington State Office of Financial Management July 11, 2025
Download email to Dan Eernissee Everett Director Economic Development 4-7-2025
Download email from Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin 6-10-2025
Download email from to Donald Schwab Everett Council President, Project Frog Pond Re $29,431,281 $39,341,332 $137,888,124 $117,500,000 – 8-27-2025 10-13-20225
Download email from William Geschke General Assignment Reporter Everett Herald 12 18 2025
Download email from Megan Dunn Snohomish County Council RE Snohomish County involvement in the proposed new downtown baseball stadium in Everett 6-13-2025
Download John Stanton September 26, 2022 letter to the Everett City
Council and Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin supporting “a new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” study.
Download John Stanton September 26, 2022 letter to the Snohomish County
Council and the Snohomish County Executive Gerald Somers supporting “a new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” study.
Download On September 28, 2022, the Snohomish County and the City
of Everett Joint Resolution 22056 was signed, promoting “a new outdoor multi-purpose stadium” study.
Stadium Taxes And Economic Research
“Given that stadium subsidies fail cost-benefit analyses, why do state and local policymakers persist in offering substantial tax-financed subsidies to professional sports teams? The answer lies in the basic political motivation to prioritize re-election above other interests, even when those interests are aligned with good governance and sound tax policy.
Sports stadium subsidies are salient political gimmicks designed to appear as if politicians are providing tangible benefits to taxpayers. Elected officials also fear reprisal by voters if a team were to relocate. And recent moves, such as the NFL’s St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles in 2016, the San Diego Chargers to Los Angeles in 2017, and the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas in 2020, demonstrate the threat of relocation is real.”
In Everett, Washngton, some citizens advocate the “Kick The Aquasox Out of Town and Good Riddance!!” approach, citing decay multiiplier costs such as poitical corruption, professional gambling, and domestic violence associated with NFL football.
“Keep the team in town wars” between cities is a decades old professional sports divide and conquer strategy. Federal legislation prohibiting tax-exempt bonds, while beneficial to taxpayers, will not quell the friction.
Tax Foundation
Taxpayers Shoulder a Heavy Burden for Sports Stadium Subsidies
Field of Schemes
Field of Schemes is a great source of information and provides answers to the question, “How much are taxpayers spending on stadiums and arenas, really?”
Field of Schemes contains numerous cost-benefit studies that contradict the rosy Community Attributes Inc. study.
The Community Attributes Inc. study was done for the City of Everett, the Mariners, and the Aquasox.
The fiscal and economic outlook study was adopted by the Everett Fiscal Advisory Committee and, based on optomistic projections, was misleadingly presented it to the Everett City Council.
Data – Field of Schemes
Data
Journalists Resource
Public funding for sports stadiums: A primer and research roundup
Congressional Concerns & Findings:
• Economic Impact: Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports and Brookings Institution analyses consistently find little evidence that new stadiums generate significant local economic development, jobs, or income growth, shifting spending rather than creating new economic activity.
https://www.taxnotes.com/research/federal/legislative-documents/congressional-research-service-reports/crs-reports-on-tax-exempt-bonds-used-to-finance-sports/12r4l, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/sports-jobs-taxes-are-new-stadiums-worth-the-cost/
• Federal Subsidies: Tax-exempt municipal bonds used for stadiums are seen as an unfair federal subsidy, as residents in states without teams benefit from federal tax revenue funding stadiums elsewhere, reports Tax Notes and the Brookings Institution. Proposed Legislation & Action:
• No Tax Subsidies Act: Bills like the “No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act”, introduced by figures like Senators Lankford & Booker and Rep. Blumenauer, aim to eliminate the tax exemption for bonds funding pro sports facilities.
Stanford
Stanford has several articles.
Stanford: https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/7201901
Wiley Online Library
Public policy toward professional sports stadiums: A review – Bradbury – 2024 – Journal of Policy Analysis and Management – Wiley Online Library https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pam.22534
Bloomberg (tons on this investor site, if you have a subscription) https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-07-16/four-reasons-taxpayers-should-never-subsidize-stadiums
One more resource that media outlets in the area should be looking into is the
Harvard Kennedy School’s Journalist’s Resource.
The Harvard Kennedy School’s Journalist’s Resource article, “… four tips for journalists covering stadium deals” provides a good starting point for the local media.
It’s a “must read in detail” for the Urbanist, which seemingly supports subsidizing the stadium, foolishly prints city inaccurate press release figures as the truth, and functions as a cheerleader for the $150 billion unpaid for transit system that isn’t projected to be be finished in Everett downtown stadium area until 2045.
It’s also a “must read” for the Everett Herald, which seemingly functions as the marketing arm for Major League Baseball, other newspapers and media outlets in the area.
Was there a conspiracy to use public tax dollars to upgrade minor league baseball stadiums resulting in the enrichment of Major League Baseball billionaire owners?
(Under construction)
Mayor Cassie and her staff and Tom Volpe and his “team” have been in contact for a long long time.
On July 30th 2021, Mayor Cassie Franklin wrote:
“Thank you Pat, Tom, Chad, and Danny!
It was great to meet with you this week and we look forward to working together on next steps. We will be in touch again early next week.
Thank you,
Cassie”
On August 1, 2021, Tom Volpe wrote:
“Mayor Cassie and Dan,
It was a pleasure to meet with you last week and we very much appreciate your time and attention. I’ve just returned from two days of meetings with MLB/MiLB in NYC which were both helpful and informative.
…
You now know all of the key players on our team and we look forward to continuing our dialogue. Feel free to contact me if I can be helpful in any way. Thank you. TSY”
Was there a conspiracy to use public tax dollars to upgrade minor league baseball stadiums resulting in the enrichment of Major League Baseball billionaire owners?
Project Frog Pond, which appeared 9 months later and was shared by Tom Volpe and his “team” and mayor Cassie and her staff,
makes it appear that way.
Additional public records requests and investigations are necessary to determine if conspiracy, antitrust, and other violations took place.
Source: Public Records Request – City of Everett.
The Funko Field Option – The Everett School District
The Funko Field Option
Funko Field has been used by the Everett Community College Trojans, the Cascade High School Bruins, the Everett High School Seagulls, the Jackson High School Timberwolves, the Everett Merchants League (summer collegiate), boys and girls ages 8 to 14, and even the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League (Ages 18-65+ All Skill Levels), which played an All-Star game against the Everett Merchants at Funko Field in July of 2025.
The Funko Field Option adds new amenities to the Everett School District facility.
These include facilities for female team staff and umpires, Female Staff Lockers, Umpire Lockers, training rooms for the home and visiting teams, new spectator restrooms and a bleacher structures, bathroom access from dugouts, specified location of bullpens, and the opportunity for roof deck fan amenity space.
These amenity upgrades were presented in April, 2024, by AECOM Hunt in a feasibility study for the Funko Field Option.
https://www.everettwa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/38294/PUBLIC-Funko-Field-Renovation-Feasibility-Study-Final—April-2024
See AECOM Hunt Funko Field Renovation Feasibility Study (Click)
The issue is not yet resolved and the Everett City Council must still vote yes or no on the new stadium.
There may also be substantial financial rewards for the Everett School District from The Funko Field Option.
The Everett School Board should proactively consider all opportunities to increase district revenue as part of the long term planning process, while ensuring that any decisions align with the best interests of the students and community.
The exodus of the Mariners farm team, the Aquasox, would probably not cause significant economic disruption in Snohomish County and the City of Everett, especially in light of the experience of other cities.
Bellingham is an example of a city that experienced the exodus of a professional baseball farm team, specifically, the Bellingham Mariners (or “Baby M’s”), who played at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham from 1977 through 1994.
Between 1995 and 2025 Bellingham and Whatcom County added 36,900 non-farm jobs, increasing 62% from 60,300 to 97,200, faster than both the State of Washington and Everett, Washington.
In Whatcom County, median household income increased from $34,893 in 1995 to $78,796 in 2022, with average annual pay rising from $22,357 in 1995 to roughly $69,000 in 2024.++
Bellingham grew for a thirty year period after the “Baby M’s” left.
Clearly, Bellingham, Washington is a city that saw the exodus of a Mariners farm team and did not suffer economically.
The Funko Field Option is, far and away, the best investment option.
You are encouraged you to look at the following links and, as a citizen, share your ideas about
https://martinmusic.biz/contact/everett-stadium-investigation/#YOUTH
https://martinmusic.biz/contact/everett-stadium-investigation/#NAME
It appears Scott Pattison and Ben Franz (SOJ) lied to the City Council on June 11, 2025.
See Everett City Council Meeting – June 11, 2025 (Click)
Source City of Everett Council Meeting, June 11, 2025 at 1:08:37 – Ben Franz of SOJ
Regarding Snohomish County $5 million stadium funding:
City of Everett March 3, 2026, Public Records Request E000143-022326 indicates:
Please be advised that there is not an application for this funding, therefore there is not anything responsive for #1.
Also, we have not received these funds; therefore, there are not any records for #2.
The Snohomish County $5 million stadium funding does not exist.
General City Records :: E000143-022326
Everett WA Public Records Center
March 3, 2026 142 pm
Specifically requested:
1). Applications submitted by the City of Everett to Snohomish County from January 1, 2022 through February 23, 2026 for the “Snohomish County Contribution – – $5,000,000” that was presented to the Everett city council on June 11, 2025* by Ben Franz of Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ)
2). All expense reports, budget reports, and invoices from January 1, 2022 through February 23, 2026 that included or made reference to the “Snohomish County Contribution – – $5,000,000” that was presented to the Everett city council on June 11, 2025.
After a diligent search, the City of Everett has located no records which are responsive to your request.
Please be advised that there is not an application for this funding, therefore there is not anything responsive for #1.
Also, we have not received these funds; therefore, there are not any records for #2.
Thank you for your patience in awaiting this information, your request is now closed.
Sincerely,
City Clerk’s Office
See also Taxes and Politics
The current County Capital Improvement Plan does not include the stadium project.
The current County Capital Improvement Plan does not include the stadium project. However, the County does make plans beyond the Capital Improvement Plan for how REET funds may be spent in the longer-term.
The current REET 6-year plan which has NOT been adopted by the County Council includes a total of $5 million in Snohomish County REET funds spread over four years that could be used towards eligible costs for the stadium project should County policy makers decide. To date, that money has not been appropriated, obligated, or spent.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Nathan Kennedy, Finance Director directly at (425) 388-3120 or Nathan.Kennedy@co.snohomish.wa.us
Sincerely,
Shannon Waggoner | Public Disclosure Specialist
Snohomish County – Public Records Office
See also Taxes and Politics
One courageous Mountlake Terrace City Councilmember, Byran Wahl, brought the following to the attention of the public:
“All REET 1 and 2 funds collected in MLT (totaling .5 percent of the selling price) fund capital projects located in MLT. (So any REET 1 and 2 revenues used to fund Everett’s stadium would be funded by Everett’s local REET revenues collected by the county treasurer on behalf of the city from real estate property sales within the city of Everett.)”
If Councilmember Wahl is correct, the $5 million “contribution” from Snohomish County that Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ) showed to the Everett City Council IS NOT A CONTRIBUTION at all.
The SOJ presentation to the Everett City Council is misleading.
It appears that the Snohomish County government does not have the courage to tell the citizens of the City of Everett that the New Stadium downtown will cost them $5 million in real estate excise tax dollars right out of their pockets.
See also Taxes and Politics
Snohomish County has not yet been accountable and has not yet answered the question, “What locations in Snohomish County pay Real Estate Excise Taxes 1 and/or 2 (REET 1, REET 2) for the New Downtown Stadium in Everett, Washington?”
Thomas Volpe
Thomas Volpe, 7th Inning Stretch LLC Key principle, lived in Dubai, has past associations in that country, and was also Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Group.
7th Inning Stretch LLC owns the Everett Aquasox.
The MiLB noted that Tom Volpe was Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Group (Arabic: مجموعة دبي), an Emirati investment company based in the United Arab Emirates, and a subsidiary of Dubai Holding.
With strategic investments, Dubai is positioning itself as a major football (soccer) hub, not just in the Dubai region, but also on the global stage.
Is the new proposed Downtown Frog Stadium in Everett just a small part of Dubai positioning itself on the global stage? Unknown.
Tom Volpe, the Dubai Group, and Dubai Holding have enough assets to buy not only both Funko Field and the new proposed Downtown Frog Stadium, but also the entire City of Everett and perhaps the entire State of Washington. The current assets of Dubai Holding are listed at $130 billion.
***
Tom Volpe lived in Dubai and has past associations in that country.
Ports owner Volpe follows team from half a world away
Ports owner Volpe follows team from half a world awayTom Volpe awakens every morning in his Dubai home and tries to listen to a few innings of a Stockton Ports game on the Internet….www.recordnet.com
Click here Thomas Volpe living in Dubai
https://www.recordnet.com/story/sports/pro/2007/08/12/ports-owner-volpe-follows-team/52822230007/
***
MiLB said:
7th Inning Stretch, LLC is a baseball ownership group based out of Stockton, Calif. and is headed by Tom Volpe, who is the Founder and Managing Partner of Volpe Investments, LLC and is also Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Group.
7th Inning Stretch headed by Tom Volpe – Founder Volpe Investments, LLC – Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Group (click)
https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-477739
AquaSox under new ownership | MiLB.com STOCKTON, Calif. — CEO of 7th Inning Stretch, LLC Tom Volpe and President, Pat Filippone have announced the purchase of the Everett AquaSox, Class-A Short Season affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. www.milb.com
***
Thomas Volpe was Board Member at Egyptian Financial Group Hermes Holding since 2011 and Board Member at Dubai Investment Group. He is Managing Partner…
https://uat.decypha.com/en/people-list/Thomas%20Volpe-74572
Thomas Volpe | Egypt | Decypha Thomas Volpe-Egypt,Board Member-Egyptian Financial Group Hermes Holding,Independent Director-Linear Technology,Board Member-Dubai Investment Group,Palm Hills Development Co SAE,Dubai Investment Group,Linear Technology,Egyptian Financial Group Hermes Holding,Commercial International Investment Co SAE uat.decypha.com
With a clear vision and strategic investments, Dubai is positioning itself as a major football hub, not just regionally but on the global stage.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dubais-strategic-investments-football-aiming-rival-saudi-ali-el-jishi-7tn4e#:~:text=Dubai’s%20football%20vision%20is%20clear,investment%2C%20development%2C%20and%20innovation.
Football Academy Dubai, Investment in football – LinkedIn The Middle East has become a powerhouse in global football, with Saudi Arabia leading the charge through high-profile investments and player acquisitions. But Dubai is not one to be left behind. www.linkedin.com
7th Inning Stretch LLC 404 W Fremont St Stockton, CA, 95203-2806 United States Key Principal: Thomas Volpe
https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.7th_inning_stretch_llc.06dcca0d340ad2e65577cb3e379ba7b8.html
7th Inning Stretch LLC Company Profile – Dun & Bradstreet Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for 7th Inning Stretch LLC of Stockton, CA. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. www.dnb.com
The current assets of Dubai Holding are listed at $130 billion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_Holding
Dubai Holding – Wikipedia Dubai Holding was established in 2004. [7]2004: Madinat Jumeirah opened as a themed Arabian resort. [8]2005: Dubai Studio City was announced. [9]2005: du, a telecom provider company, was launched. [10]2005: Dubai International Academic City opened. [11]2006: Emirates International Communications (EIT) launched, and invested in communication organizations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa … en.wikipedia.org
No Frogs Downtown
Footnotes
“I’m Jane Hague, Chairperson of the Metropolitan King County Council and
a hostage of professional sports.”
Is Major League Baseball an economic terrorist?
This is not an academic exerice.
This is and investigation.
The extensive footnoting is designed to assist current and future investigators.
This investigation seeks to answer numerous questions including,
“Is Major League Baseball Running the Government?”
- Source MyMLTNews Letter to the editor: It’s tiny Everett vs. global Major League Baseball 7-12-2025 https://mymltnews.com/letter-to-the-editor-its-tiny-everett-vs-global-major-league-baseball/ ↩︎
- Source United States Department of Justice Press Release 7-9-2025 https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/live-entertainment-ceo-indicted-orchestrating-conspiracy-rig-bidding-process-public ↩︎
- Source Washington State Attorney General Press Release 9-20-2024 https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/climate-pledge-arena-pay-477k-penalties-refunds-result-ag-ferguson-s-hidden-fee ↩︎
- Source Cascade PBS,”Climate Pledge Arena to pay over $477K to settle hidden fees case” 9-20-2024 https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/briefs/2024/09/climate-pledge-arena-pay-over-477k-settle-hidden-fees-case/# ↩︎
- Source City of Everett Public Records Request [EXTERNAL] Fwd: MLB PDL Facility Standards Compliance – Deferral Follow Up (Everett Aqua Sox)
08-03-2023 753am
Chad Volpechadvolpe@gmail.com
Cassie Franklin;Dan Eernissee
Pat Filippone
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Mayor Cassie and Dan,
As discussed with Dan on Tuesday, attached is the “warning letter” we received from MLB. This was unexpected, and we have until September 30 to respond.
We’re happy to discuss with you at any time, and hopefully our meeting on the 23rd lays the groundwork and timeline for us to respond appropriately to them.
Thanks,
Chad
Begin forwarded message:
From: “Meginniss, Briana” Briana.Meginniss@mlb.com
Date: July 28, 2023 at 3:53:37 PM EDT
To: Chad Volpe chadvolpe@gmail.com
Cc: “Sword, Morgan” morgan.sword@mlb.com, “Brumm, Chris” chris.brumm@mlb.com, “Woodfork, Peter” peter.woodfork@mlb.com, “Seymour, Fred” fred.seymour@mlb.com, “LaCassa, Mike” mike.lacassa@mlb.com, “Warren, Sabrina” sabrina.warren@mlb.com, “Justin Toole [Seattle Mariners]” jtoole@mariners.com
Subject: MLB PDL Facility Standards Compliance – Deferral Follow Up (Everett Aqua Sox)
Chad,
Please see the attached letter from Chris Brumm.
Thank you,
Briana
Briana Rose Meginniss
Assistant Secretary
MLB Professional Development Leagues, LLC
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Tel: (646) 931-8678 | Cell: (914) 426-2594
Email: briana.meginniss@mlb.com ↩︎ - Source email from John Carr – Carpenter Media Group Senior Vice President; 11-15-2025. ↩︎
- Source The Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild “Who is Carpenter Media Group? Protect your local newspaper from corporate greed.” Save PNW Local News” https://www.pnwguild.org/save-pnw-news ↩︎
- Source City of Everett Public Records Request Project Frog Pond DRAFT AND Email Charlton VolpeTOCassie Franklin10022025a
Charlton VolpeTOCassie Franklin04222022a
[EXTERNAL] Everett AquaSox – DRAFT of Timeline and Responsibilities
Charlton Volpechadvolpe@gmail.com
Cassie Franklin;Nick Harper;Lori Cummings;Dan Eernissee
thomas volpe;Pat Filippone
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Mayor Cassie,
I hope all is well with you.
As we discussed during our meeting, please find attached a DRAFT of a timeline and responsibilities document that lays out the next few months for what we are calling “Project Frog Pond”. Please let us know if you or anyone on your team have any comments, questions or additions, and we obviously want to make sure this aligns with how you see the project progressing and the necessary community and political steps. We are happy to have a call/videoconference to discuss live if that would be easier.
We look forward to continuing to work with you and your team as we pursue this project for the city of Everett.
Thank you,
Chad
==============================================
DRAFT
Project Frog Pond
Proposed Timeline and Responsibilities
April
Finalize site survey analysis by Crossroads/Populous; provide to Community
Attributes -> Everett AquaSox
Community Attributes commences economic impact analysis -> Mayor’s Office
May
AquaSox ownership to meet with 2-4 City Council members (as chosen by Mayor’s
Office) -> Mayor’s Office to facilitate introductions; AquaSox to conduct meetings
Community Attributes continues economic impact analysis; AquaSox provide
information/data as needed -> Mayor’s Office and AquaSox
Begin drafting a project working document/presentation which outlines the entire
multi-purpose family entertainment venue project (including site surveys, economic
impact for Everett, benefits of new multi-purpose family entertainment venue in the
community and development, etc.) to be used in meeting with relevant parties in the
community -> AquaSox
June
AquaSox ownership to meet with remaining City Council members and other opinion
leaders in the community -> AquaSox with help/intros from Mayor’s Office
Community Attributes finalizes economic impact analysis -> Mayor’s Office
Discuss with Seattle Mariners on specifically how/when to get them involved as
Project Frog Pond becomes public (e.g. letters, visits, etc.) -> AquaSox
Identify one or two sites to fully pursue based on further review and economic
impact analysis -> Mayor’s Office in conjunction with AquaSox
page 1
DRAFT
Determine necessary site-specific scope of work, documents/filings, and approvals
based on final sites (including whether on public vs private land) -> Mayor’s Office
and AquaSox
Assemble/finalize working document/presentation which outlines the entire multipurpose family entertainment venue project -> AquaSox to prepare the document
with Mayor’s Office providing input and comments
City Council approves ballot initiative for November elections -> Mayor’s Office
Meet again with all City Council members to discuss Project Frog Pond proposal ->
Mayor’s Office & AquaSox
AquaSox continue to meet with relevant community groups and business leaders to
discuss Project Frog Pond proposal -> Mayor’s Office and AquaSox
Review and begin work on necessary City Council (or other entities) reviews and/or
votes and how to draft necessary paperwork/filings -> Mayor’s Office and AquaSox
Begin discussions regarding potential financing – sources of funds and potential
scale of funds -> AquaSox and Mayor’s Office, plus other parties as relevant
Assemble public relations (PR) strategy -> AquaSox in conjunction with Mayor’s
Office
AquaSox conduct quarterly facility review with MLB and the Mariners to present
progress made to date -> AquaSox
DRAFT
July
Launch PR initiative about Project Frog Pond -> AquaSox and Mayor’s Office
Present specific Project Frog Pond proposal to City Council for initial review and
approval -> AquaSox in conjunction with Mayor’s Office
Present specific Project Frog Pond proposal to any other entities, groups or boards
for initial review and approval -> AquaSox in conjunction with Mayor’s Office
Depending on progress with new venue in Everett, meet with County Executive and
other County Leaders to discuss and review Project Frog Pond idea and potential
alternative locations -> Mayor’s Office and AquaSox
DRAFT
August
Assemble any needed working groups or other entities to continue Project Frog
Pond process pending the votes and approvals from City Council or other entities/
boards -> AquaSox and Mayor’s Office
Pursue follow-up work streams from initial reviews and approvals (whether City
Council or other boards/groups) to move ahead with site specific work –
infrastructure, environmental, initial design, etc., as well as any subsequent reviews,
approvals, or votes -> AquaSox and Mayor’s Office
Determine whether or not Project Frog Pond is viable in Everett -> AquaSox and
Mayor’s Office ↩︎ - Source email to Dan Eernissee, Everett Economic Development Director 4-7-2025 ↩︎
- Source City of Everett Public Records Request, Snohomish County Public Records Request, John Stanton September 26, 2022 Letters. ↩︎
- Washington State Office of Financial Management Letter, Annie Pennucci, Director, OFM Forecasting & Research Division July 11, 2025. The following is included in the letter. “As you also know, Input-Output models are portraits of national or regional economies that are widely used to calculate economic impacts, such as the impact of the Boeing Company on the Washington State economy, or the economic impact of arts and cultural organizations on the Central Puget Sound regional economy. They measure economic impacts through estimates of sales (output) by industry, labor income, and jobs created. They were developed in the 1930’s by Wassily Leontief, a Harvard University professor who won the Nobel Prize in Economics for his pioneering work on these models for national economies.
In February 1936, a similar time period, John Maynard Keynes published “The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money,” and formally introduced the concept of the multiplier effect.
Milton Friedman, a leading figure of the Chicago School of Economics who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1976, argued that the Keynesian multiplier was incorrectly formulated and fundamentally flawed. The theory ignores how governments finance spending by taxation or debt issues. Raising taxes takes the same or more out of the economy as saving, while raising funds by bonds causes the government to go into debt. The growth of debt becomes a powerful incentive for the government to raise taxes or inflate the currency to pay it off, thus lowering the purchasing power of each dollar that workers earn. ↩︎ - Source Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis,Paulina Restrepo-Echavarría
Senior Economic Policy Advisor, “Meet The Multiplier Effect” https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2020/february/meet-multiplier-effect “The overall takeaway from my research is that government spending does not seem to be a very cost-effective way to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Dupor, Bill; and Guerrero, Rodrigo. Local and Aggregate Fiscal Policy Multipliers. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Working Paper 2016-004C, June 2017.n ↩︎ - RE: Garry Clark and Mayor Franklin contact into
01-07-2021 1:39 pm
RE: Garry Clark and Mayor Franklin contact into
Cassie Franklin
Saltzman, Ian
Kovacs, Debra D.
Thank you!
Cassie Franklin
Mayor
425.257.7119 | 2930 Wetmore Ave., Everett, WA 98201
everettwa.gov | Facebook | Twitter
Note: Emails and attachments sent to and from the City of Everett are public records and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act.
From: Saltzman, Ian ISaltzman@everettsd.org
Sent: Thursday, January 7, 2021 1:39 PM
To: Cassie Franklin CFranklin@everettwa.gov
Cc: Kovacs, Debra D. DKovacs@everettsd.org
Subject: RE: Garry Clark and Mayor Franklin contact into
My pleasure
My team will reach out, whatever you need.
From: Cassie Franklin CFranklin@everettwa.gov
Sent: Thursday, January 7, 2021 1:24 PM
To: Saltzman, Ian ISaltzman@everettsd.org; maravich81@gmail.com
Cc: Chris Mefford chris@communityattributes.com
Subject: FW: Garry Clark and Mayor Franklin contact into
Dr. Saltzman,
Thank you for your time the other day when we spoke. As I mentioned, we are looking forward to Mr. Garry Clark being our next CEO for the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County. He and his wife are hoping to learn more about our outstanding Everett School District, not only because they have children who may be future EPS students, but Mrs. Clark is a teacher.
I’ve copied him on this email along with EASC’s current interim CEO, Chris, in hopes to make a connection.
Thank you as always for your leadership and partnership!
Warmly,
Cassie
Cassie Franklin
Mayor
425.257.7119 | 2930 Wetmore Ave., Everett, WA 98201
everettwa.gov | Facebook | Twitter
Note: Emails and attachments sent to and from the City of Everett are public records and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act.
From: Chris Mefford chris@communityattributes.com
Sent: Friday, January 1, 2021 9:11 AM
To: maravich81@gmail.com; Cassie Franklin CFranklin@everettwa.gov
Subject: Garry Clark and Mayor Franklin contact into
Hi Garry and Cassie, Wanted to connect you two by email here. Cassie, I believe Garry arrives this evening and is touring tomorrow. Emails above, Garry’s cell is 402-380-7196.
I extolled the virtues of Everett to Garry, but I’m not empowered to offer him a key to the city …. 😊
CHRIS MEFFORD
President & CEO | Community Attributes Inc.
communityattributes.com
office: 206.523.6683
mobile: 206.617.9576
From: maravich81@gmail.com maravich81@gmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 11:24 AM
To: Chris Mefford chris@communityattributes.com
Subject: RE: EASC follow up
Hi Chris,
Thanks again. Yes. Totally fine with the contact share for Mayor Cassie Franklin. I did find one home in North Everett that’s listed, and looks pretty cool to us. I will keep that area in mind. Thanks again for your guidance and support.
Most appreciated. Happy New Year!
Garry Clark
Econ. Developer. Speaker. Author. Poet.
Garry.ClarkSpeaks@gmail.com
Maravich81@gmail.com ↩︎ - Washington State Office of Financial Management Letter, Annie Pennucci, Director, OFM Forecasting & Research Division July 11, 2025 ↩︎
- Source City of Everett Public Records Request [EXTERNAL] RE: Thank you!
12-19-2024
[EXTERNAL] RE: Thank you!
Danny Tetzlaffdannyt@aquasox.com
Pat Filippone;Chad Volpe;Cassie Franklin
Dan Eernissee;Scott Pattison
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Mayor Cassie –
Way to go!
It was quite a journey to get to this point – thanks to everyone for all their efforts! Great to see a unanimous vote too!
Looking forward to hitting it out of the park with a facility that is a showcase for the PNW! And the pride of Everett!
Thanks again for everything!
Danny Tetzlaff
Everett AquaSox | General Manager
High Single-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners
FUNKO FIELD
P: (425) 258-3673
E: dannyt@aquasox.com
—–Original Message—–
From: Pat Filippone PFilippone@stocktonports.com
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2024 12:21 PM
To: Chad Volpe chadvolpe@gmail.com; Cassie Franklin CFranklin@everettwa.gov
Cc: Dan Eernissee DEernissee@everettwa.gov; Scott Pattison SPattison@everettwa.gov; Danny Tetzlaff dannyt@aquasox.com
Subject: RE: Thank you!
Second that from here as well. Thanks everyone – greatly appreciated and have a great holiday season.
Pat Filippone
President
Seventh Inning Stretch
Stockton Ports/Delmarva Shorebirds/Everett AquaSox
209-644-1900
—–Original Message—–
From: Chad Volpe chadvolpe@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2024 12:16 PM
To: Cassie Franklin CFranklin@everettwa.gov
Cc: Dan Eernissee DEernissee@everettwa.gov; Scott Pattison SPattison@everettwa.gov; Pat Filippone pfilippone@stocktonports.com; Danny Tetzlaff dannyt@aquasox.com
Subject: Thank you!
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Mayor Cassie,
I just wanted to say a big thank you to you and your team after last nights successful vote! We sincerely appreciate all that you have done and your support for this project from day one. It has been great working with you, Dan, Scott and everyone else, and we look forward to continuing that momentum next year and getting this done.
In the meantime, please let us know if there’s anything else we can do or how we can be helpful.
Have a very Happy Holidays!
Thanks,
Chad ↩︎ - The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, CityOfEverett_OutdoorMPStadium_DB_App_250525_214345.pdf ↩︎
- Source Everett Herald, “City, county studying new outdoor stadium for Everett AquaSox,” September 28, 2022, https://www.heraldnet.com/news/city-county-studying-new-outdoor-stadium-for-everett-aquasox/ ↩︎
- Everett Council President Donald Schwab email, August 27, 2025 ↩︎
- Source City of Everett Public Records Request On 10/20/2025 7:49:00 AM, Everett WA Public Records Center wrote:
Subject: General City Records :: E000691-092225; “Per our Economic Development Department, the MLB has not had contact with the City of Everett but worked with the independent third-party company retained by the City of Everett, SOJ.” ↩︎ - Source City of Everett Public Records Requestn ↩︎
- Source City of Everett Public Records Request EXTERNAL__Re-Connecting-_Everett_MLB
01-14-2025 4:25 pm
[EXTERNAL] Re-Connecting – Everett/MLB
Charlton Volpechadvolpe@gmail.com
Cassie Franklin;Woodfork, Peter
Scott Pattison;Pat Filippone
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Mayor Franklin, Peter,
I know you two have met before and spoken a few times, but I wanted to send an email re-connecting everyone.
Peter – as I mentioned, the Mayor would like the chance to give you an update on our project, and I will let the two of you find a day/time that works.
Thanks,
Chad ↩︎ - Source Fordham Journal of Corporate and Financial Law – “Back to the Bullpen: Minor League Teams Settle with MLB Over Latest Challenge to Baseball’s Historic Antitrust Exemption” https://news.law.fordham.edu/jcfl/2024/01/05/back-to-the-bullpen-minor-league-teams-settle-with-mlb-over-latest-challenge-to-baseballs-historic-antitrust-exemption/n ↩︎
- Source The Regulatory Review University of Pennsylvania “Baseball’s Antitrust Exemption” 6-26-2024 https://www.theregreview.org/2024/06/26/hoguet-baseballs-antitrust-exemption/ ↩︎
- Source Press Release Senator Ted Cruz -“Sens. Cruz, Lee, Hawley, Rubio, Blackburn Introduce Bill to Subject MLB to Antitrust Laws” https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-lee-hawley-rubio-blackburn-introduce-bill-to-subject-mlb-to-antitrust-laws n ↩︎
- Source email from Mayor Cassie Franklin 6-10-2025 ↩︎
- Source City of Everett Council Meeting, June 11, 2025 at 1:08:37 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wikAKcNuvAs ↩︎
- Source email from William Geschke Everett Herald Reporter 12-18-2025 ↩︎
- Source email from William Geschke General Assignment Reporter Everett Herald Reporter 12-18-25 ↩︎
- Source email from Council Member Megan Dunn 6-13-2025 RE: Snohomish County involvement in the proposed new downtown baseball stadium in Everett. ↩︎
- Source email from Snohomish County Council Member Megan Dunn 6-13-2025 ↩︎
- Source City of Everett Council Meeting, June 11, 2025 at 1:09;30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wikAKcNuvAs ↩︎
- Source City of Everett June 11, 2025 Agenda Item Cover Sheet https://www.everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/18338?fileID=102135 ↩︎
- Source National Law Review https://natlawreview.com/article/alternative-structure-certain-p3-projects-63-20-financing ↩︎
- Source PFG Facilities Group, Seattle, WA 98101 https://publicfacilitiesgroup.org/our-approach/ ↩︎
- Source Washington State Treasurer, State Finance Committee https://tre.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/2024.06.13_sfc_briefing_book_vfinal.pdf ↩︎
- Source Everett Herald October 18, 2025 https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-if-everett-candidate-can-fix-budget-what-would-he-cut/ ↩︎
- Source City of Everett June 11, 2025 Agenda Item Cover Sheet https://www.everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/18338?fileID=102135 ↩︎
Baseball … the soul of baseball … the game … is played by young children in parks and on streets with sticks, bats, balls and leather and, anymore, on computer monitors as youngsters manipulate the actions of baseball icons. The soul of baseball survived through the last century and the Buy it for a Song Baseball Stadium Fund forecasts it will live on well through the turn of the next century and maybe forever. The Buy it for a Song Baseball Stadium Fund supports baseball. Baseball is a feeling.
by Simon Frishkoff
Recorded at Icebird Intergalactic Recording Studios and Washateria, Lakebay, Washington. Engineer: Steve Nebel
Copyright © 1995 Simon Frishkoff
Buy it for a Song Baseball Stadium Fund