Time to End Jimmy Haslam’s Scheme to Use Public Money for Browns Stadium

Time to end Jimmy Haslam’s scheme to use public money for Browns stadium

It was gladdening to see the comments of Brent Larkin deriding Jimmy Haslam’s scheme to use public money to enrich himself. (Even Gov. DeWine says where the Browns play should be a local decision. So how did we get here?) It’s well past the time for ending the sweetheart deals these sports franchise-owning billionaires receive from our elected officials.

Browns stadium and Cleveland's era of bad feelings

Who wants to get along?  The Browns’ pursuit of a roofed suburban stadium has scratched away the gloss of teamwork that Cleveland’s government and business leaders typically try to maintain.  In 2021, local officials and Guardians’ ownership united to unveil a deal that they had already hammered out in private. By contrast, the Browns’ deal has ridden a wave of lawsuits, crabby letters and public shows of disappointment.  Browns executive David …