Ronayne claps back at Browns in escalating public feud
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Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne speaks on the Mall. File photo: Sam Allard/Axios
Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne sent a blistering letter to the Haslam Sports Group Monday reiterating his commitment to keeping the Browns in downtown Cleveland and protecting Cuyahoga County taxpayers.
Why it matters: Both the Browns and Ronayne are doubling down on their respective positions in what is increasingly becoming a public relations battle.
State of play: The letter was in response to HSG's chief operating officer Dave Jenkins, who last week wrote Ronayne that the Browns planned to build a new stadium in suburban Brook Park with or without county support.
By the numbers: Under the Browns' $2.4 billion proposal, the state of Ohio would contribute $600 million for the stadium.
- The county would provide $600 million in bonds, which the Browns say would be repaid via taxes generated by the project and an increase in county bed and rental car taxes.
What they're saying: Ronayne writes that the Browns' declaration to move forward, even without county support, reveals the team's "greed and opportunism throughout this process."
- "The $600 million in bonds requested from Cuyahoga County was never needed for this project and we now clearly see that you have spent the last two years attempting to bully the public and fleece County taxpayers for HSG's private gain."
The other side: Jenkins had previously called Ronayne's opposition to local and statewide public subsidies for the stadium "disheartening."
- "These are the types of inexplicable decisions that keep the Greater Cleveland region from thriving, while other regions like Columbus and Cincinnati continue to grow and evolve."
The last word: Ronayne countered that Northeast Ohio's future is bright, and said the only thing that could hinder its progress is divisive, "shortsighted" leadership.
- "The truth is simple: You're pushing a costly, risky, and poorly conceived plan that uses public subsidy to diminish our region, our communities, and our businesses."