Bernstein sounds off on Related Midwest's renewed public pitch regarding White Sox's stadium pursuit

(670 The Score) As the White Sox continue to pursue a new stadium in the South Loop, 670 The Score midday host Dan Bernstein sounded off on how developer Related Midwest is now framing the conversation about the project and the pursuit of public funding for it.

Bernstein pointed out that the parcel of land known as The 78, which Midwest Related owns and which would be the site for the stadium, has been undeveloped for years, and he believes Midwest Related is using the allure of a professional sports team to get “that sweet, sweet sugar drip of public money.”

Related Midwest president Curt Bailey recently indicated there's $7.5 billion in private investment to be made in the surrounding development over the next decade if the White Sox became an anchor tenant, according to a recent Sun-Times article . Bailey also explained that the $1 billion that was requested in public financing for the stadium isn't existing tax-increment financing money waiting to be used but rather that the "dollars that will be used on the site are dollars driven by the development on the site."

Even so, Bernstein isn't buying the idea that Midwest Related is selling.

“Don’t fall for it,” Bernstein said. “Don’t fall for the okey-doke. This is lipstick on a pig of bad public policy, no matter what. Get down to the nuts and bolts. Don’t look at the renderings. Don’t listen to Curt Bailey. Just go and look at the studies that have been done by professors of economics all over the country in markets large and small.

“Everybody falls for this. Don’t be a sucker. These deals are bad for municipalities. They’re bad for states. They’re bad for people.”

You can watch Bernstein's full argument in the YouTube video at the top of this page.