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Baltimore Residents May Have To Pay To Replant Trees Felled For Grand Prix

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Reporting Pat Warren

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BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Another unpaid bill for the Baltimore Grand Prix and city residents could end up writing the check.

Political Reporter Pat Warren reports, the race organizers have missed the deadline for replacing the trees felled for the race.

The September inaugural of the Baltimore Grand Prix changes the landscape of the city’s role in major international sporting events.

“Great crowd! Such an enthusiastic welcome for indy car here in Baltimore,” Race Car Driver Dario Franchitti said.

But it leaves a scarred city landscape behind.

“I understand people’s concern about trees,” Baltimore Grand Prix Organizer Jay Davidson said. “I love trees. There’s no question in an urban environment to have them is very important.”

But dozens of trees had to go– a decision so painful for David Troy and others, they went to court.

“I posted a picture on my Facebook page and within just a few minutes, I had a whole bunch of people that were just outraged,” Troy said.

The solution was a promise to replant and multiply.

“The net benefit of the race will be three times the number of trees over the whole city,” Davidson said.

Another promise drowned in the Grand Prix sea of red ink.

“My concern was that taxpayers were gonna be the ones that had to pay for this,” Troy said.

And now, they may have to. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was unavailable for comment Friday, but in a news conference immediately after the race she dismissed critics of the race.

“We seem determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory,” she said. “That we’re not gonna be satisfied until we identify every little thing that didn’t go 100 percent right.”

Now there’s $1.5 million owed to the city and a threat to cancel next year’s race if it doesn’t get paid. And no trees.

The cost to replace the tress is estimated at $100,000.

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  • MOLLY COFFMAN

    WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT DO? ALSO, IF, AND THAT’S A BIG IF, WE HAVE ANOTHER GP, WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE TREES ALSO. MY IDEA IS THIS: A) ASK FOR DONATIONS; B) HAVE A TREE SAVER FUNDRAISER; C) IF EVENTS ARE PLANNED THAT CALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF TREES, INCLUDE FUNDING TO REPLACE THEM; D) FINALLY, MARK SOME OF THE MONIES COLLECTED FROM THE PUBLIC TO REPLACE THE TREES. OR ADD A DOLLAR OR TWO TO EACH ADMISSION FEE FOR SUCH THINGS.

  • http://www.city-data.com/forum/baltimore/1418076-bmore-gran-prix-trouble-6.html#post21685626 Bmore Gran Prix in trouble – Page 6 – City-Data Forum

    [...] [...]

  • Jolene

    I saw this coming a mile away! Rawlings-Blake pumped up this race JUST BEFORE the election to hype her re-election. It worked. When I saw the trees being removed, I knew they would NEVER be replaced! Liars! Every one of them!

  • Rose Prevost

    Seems to me the organizers of the race should pay for the trees. Just add it to what they owe the city. If they’re so determined to have the race, they should pay up.

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