Tom Benson Threatens to Move Entire City of New Orleans to San Antonio

METAIRIE PRACTICE FACILITY — In what has become a familiar off-season rite of passage, today Tom Benson threatened to move the entire city of New Orleans to San Antonio if he does not receive special subsidies from the State and Parish government.

“The population is down, costs are up; investment is down, foreclosures are up,” argued Benson.

“You have to question the long-term economic viability of keeping the City of New Orleans here in this location.”

“That said, I am 100% committed to keeping New Orleans in New Orleans forever,” he added. “I just need help from our partners in Baton Rouge to make it work.”

Benson called on the Governor to appoint a special commission to negotiate a package of tax breaks, parking fee increases, infrastructure improvements, and direct payments to him.

Benson has had success by threatening to move institutions to San Antonio before, most notably the National Football League team The Saints in 2001, 2004, 2005, and 2006. But this is the first time he’s threatened to move a municipality.

Opponents argue that this time he’s overreached. And the political landscape is drastically different from the last time Benson publicly flirted with our Texan neighbor.

First, there’s a new Governor in office who, according to early reports, appears to be more interested in competent governance than pampering a whiny billionaire who tries to exploit the loyalty of fans to make even more money while the community he claims to love struggles economically.

That, and Jindal is also running for Vice-President.

Even more important, Benson’s most important legislative negotiating partner, former Saint Linebacker Pat Swilling (D-New Orleans East, #56) is no longer a State Legislator, leaving him with few natural allies in Baton Rouge.

 

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