Livermore saves Woodstock $200K

Woodstock residents can thank Livermore, Calif. for taking away the 50/70 Little League World Series. Thankyouverymuch!

The Woodstock City Council was pitched a deal this summer and almost fell for it. The 50/70 League wanted Woodstock to cough up over $200,000 for improvements to a baseball field in Emricson Park. The City Council didn't have the courage to "Just Say No", so they voted 4-2 to keep negotiations open.

There is a huge problem with many of the baseball and soccer fields in Woodstock parks. The problem? They are reserved for league play.

If a bunch of kids (or adults) want to scrape up players, bats and balls and head on over to a City Park, paid for with City funds and maintained by City funds, they are quite likely to find themselves chased away by Woodstock Police or Park District employees.

Just check out the b-i-g signs posted that tell you to keep your grimy little feet off the nice grass.

The $200,000 "investment" (also called "expenditure") almost surely would have cost us more. And for what? So some kids can play baseball? And so the promoters can rake in some serious dough.

When the next you-don't-want-to-miss-this deal comes Woodstock's way, let's hope that, when it doesn't pass the smell test, the City Council will just say "No" and tell them to move along.

By the way, where is that baseball stadium over by the hospital? And where are the promoters with all their flashy promises now?