City of Yuma denies Yuma Little League playing fields.

[wektech]

Organizers trying to start a new Yuma Little League are finding it difficult to find fields in order to get the league started. The City of Yuma has declined to allow the startup league to use their baseball fields on a temporary basis. While Yuma Little League has an offer to use private land, they need to raise funds in order to improve the property so they can actually use it. They can not raise funds until they are officially recognized by the national Little League organization, which can not happen until they have commitment for fields to be used by the startup league.

With over 600 kids already signed up for the future league, there is obviously a lot of community support for Little league in Yuma. It seems that this support does not extend to the City of Yuma who have met with Little League supporters and officials 3 different times, each time denying the request to use the Yuma fields. I guess the City thinks the recreational needs of the kids in Yuma can only be met by building a 60 million dollar ice arena.

[Delimiter]

Although I have not heard of it being mentioned, I wonder if this is retaliation to the voters for voting down the hospitality tax. I can see it now, when this comes up for a vote we will hear "Recently, we had to turn down the request of Little League to use our fields due to lack of funding!" I for one would advocate that any reinstatement by voters to keep a hospitality tax include use for Little League on the baseball fields.

[wektech]

Perhaps the hospitality tax is a factor, I am not sure. Another possibility is that the city is being influenced by the YBBL in order to ensure they have no competition for the fields.

[AlaskanPrincess]

 ???To clarify for those of us who don't keep up with local youth sports, it would be helpful if whoever made original post would clarify what youth baseball programs currently exist in Yuma.  Given that my son is an adult I'm no longer familiar with sports programs available.  However, I DO have a friend with grandchildren - and I recently went to watch one of them play baseball.  Sooooo, we obviously HAVE a youth baseball league.  I, for one, am not able to pass judgment OR offer an opinion on actions of council without knowing the full story.  Is this a NEW organization forming? WHO is starting it - and WHY?  What impact will this have on the current organization?  Will we be weakening the existing organization - or worse, ending their existence?  Or creating a situation where two organizations are (again) vying for the resources?  (Obviously there's already an issue about vying for the same playing field resources.)  Unless it's demonstrated that there's an unfulfilled need - at this point I would tend to chime in on the side of the city.  And let's not lose sight of the fact that it's the TAXPAYERS that support the pars and athletic complexes. A question though - do any of these sports organizations make any financial contribution for use of the facilities?

[wektech]

I am not sure I can answer all your questions but I will try to answer a few. From what I can tell, there was some degree of disatisfaction with the existing leagues in Yuma. I believe that some of the issues were YBBL setting fund raising quotas in order for teams to participate in the playoffs, a governing board whose members were determined by themselves, and a lack of accounting for how the funds being raised were expended.

YBBL is essentially a locally controlled recreational league, while Little League is a competitive league with the backing of national organization where the rules are the same for all players. You would think that that there would be room in Yuma for both organizations to co-exist.

[AlaskanPrincess]

Thanks for the add'l info. Now that YBBL has been mentioned, the memory banks are functioning a bit.  (That, and a little research....)  Yes, YBBL is 'co-sponsored' by the City.  I'm not finding any details as to who the other co-sponsor/s are.  Unless 'co-sponsor' refers to the corporate team sponsors. For what it's worth,  believe YBBL (and other local baseball) teams are members of Az. Amateur Softball Assn and Amateur Softball Assn of America - which assert that they establish consistent rules. It doesseem (from my limited perspective) that all these organizations are in a constant fund-raising mode.  But, the purpose of fund-raisers is to defray the costs - which reduces the amount the parents pay. And...anyteam participating in tourneys, especially out of town, is going to incur additional costs.  Catch 22 - if the parents had to pony up all the funds to totally support the teams - well, that wouldn't go over well either, would it?In reality, the city - and the taxpayers - seem to be subsidizing the teams. (Although by how much would probably be difficult to find out.) Yes, parents do have some expense. (I have recollections of registration fees - $45? - photos, etc.)
  Little League, on the other hand - they also have fees - annual and other. Charter fee: $16/team/year. Accident insurance: $18 - $48/team/year. Liability insurance: $101/league or $30.30/team/year. Possibility of making it to series - add'l expenses.  Uniforms - guesstimate of $70 - $100 each; caps; equipment (bats, balls, bags.)  Training for managers, coaches, umpires....that can't be 'free.'  Organizers have said they have '600 signed up' - ok, at 25/team that's 24 teams. Fees/insurance - $1879. Uniforms - $60,000 (unfortunately not a one time expense, on-going as they need to be replaced.)  Or - $1301 per player.  That's with NO eqpt. and no expense for fields - or scorekeepers, umpires, training, etc.
  So - I'm undecided.  I'm not advocating forYBBL or the City, nor am I againstLittle League. But with YBBL (and other teams) virtually being run by the Cityit's logical to conclude they will notsupport Little League in Yuma!
  My mainissue is this is yet another example of the City having a strangehold on everything that goes on in this City...from sports to the arts.....to controlling what new businesses they choose for us (by donating property or giving enticements.)  We're back to the age old question of what the functions of government should be.  More and more, as people want the government to provide 'everything' (thinking they won't have to pay it) we continue to move further toward lack of personal responsibility or accountability - and increase our reliance on government to provide and do everything.  This is yet another example of government gaining a stranglehold, in an area it probably legitimately should not be providing services for, and now that an independent (and NOT tax subsidized) organization wants to come in - they can't. And if they do succeed, how long will it be before the parents decide they don't want to foot the entire bill for it?

[riverdunesrat]

The city wants to charge YLL around $10,000 for the use of their fields for the first season.  They also want us to register our players at the same time as YBBL at a location chosen by them.  Additionally, they want documentation of all registered players provided to them.  These are demands that are unacceptable to the board and to LL National.  It is unfortunate that the donated land cannot be ready to play for the 2009 season.  We are only asking for fields for the first season.

We are a group of grassroots organizers who believe in LL baseball along with parents of YBBL players who were fed up with underhanded operations that went on in that league.  As wek said, LL treats everyone and every team the same, no favortism or stacking of teams.

Yes, P&R has a stranglehold on YBBL.  It is entirely possible that YLL would end the existence of YBBL.  However, that is not the intent of the YLL organizers.  We believe that both leagues can exist in unison. 

Co-sponsoring, is how P&R refers to the leagues who are under their umbrella.  There are a couple others along with YBBL, such as YYFTL and the Fall Ball league.  These leagues are not affiliated with any national programs they are city wide only and govern themselves.

We are still in negotations with other entities to try to gain the use of fields that are not controlled by the city.

Half of our board thinks we should not pay the city one thin dime and the other half just wants to field teams in 2009.  It is getting crunch time for us to come up with solutions to the dilemma.

In order to pay the city the $10k we would have to do some creative fund raising.  But this is what bothers some board members about that scenario - How does it look that the city has put these unreasonable demands onto YLL and we now have to go out and ask businesses, charities and foundations for funding because the city is charging us $10k.  Some of these businesses, charities and foundations are supported by the city and they want us to pay them $10k?

Additionally, funds spent paying the city takes away from the youth of Yuma.  That is totally unacceptable as well.  YLL is about the kids and the kids only.

Please be aware that what I have posted here is my opinion only and not the general concensus of YLL or its board.

[riverdunesrat]

Is there anyone still out there?

The board is having a meeting on Dec 12th @ 6:30 pm at Inca Lanes conference room.  If anyone can attend to show support that would be great.  It looks like the league will be moving forward but support is ALWAYS needed.

Stay tuned for further updates.

[desertgirl_3190]

Just to make it clear no matter if the 2% hospitality tax went through or not Yuma Little League will not even be a factor. 
The only league it may affect is YBBL, YYFTL and Babe Ruth.  Those organizations pay $2/player per season.  600 players = $1200.  Thats it!  Nothing else.
On the other hand Yuma Little League is being charged for the use of Joe Henry/Shaw field on Saturday ONLY!! 
Yuma Little League will not only be charged the $2/player but $300/Saturday for the lights, $42.00 to chalk the fields and they even have the nerve to say how many times they have to be chalked, pay for a site supervisor at $11/hr and NOT ALLOWED to use the concession stand.  If Yuma Little League would like to bring a concession cart on site it would then have to pay a $250 fee to the City of Yuma.

SO you see whether that tax goes through or not it will not benefit Yuma Little League and Yuma Little League was also told that they would not be considered in the new budget talks which means for the 2010 season if they were to ALLOWED to use any fields if needed again they would have to pay again.

We are all tax payers and should benefit but as you can see we will not!
For the record Little League is a non profit organization 501(c) are the other leagues?
2 of the 3 leagues are not even in good standing with the Arizona State Commission.  According to the ASC they have been dissolved.  I guess that is the kinds of organizations the City is proud to stand by. 

The City said they were not sure that LL was viable!  What a joke!  LL is a world wide program.  Are the others? 

I cannot help promote a tax that will not help my cause or over 600 children!!

If I can straighten anything else out as far as Yuma Little League is concerned please ask...I started the Little League program here and a handful of others backed and helped along the way!
 

[desertgirl_3190]

A quick correction on the Co-sponsors...they are YBBL, YYFTL & Babe Ruth.  Fall ball is actually run by the City, it is a city league period.

YBBL is baseball coach pitch through majors.  YYFTL is T-ball and softball.  Babe Ruth is baseball 13 and up.

YBBL have their own rules.  They changed every game that was played.  there rules are a couple of pages only.  How could the game of baseball only have a couple pages of rules? 

There is no opening day or closing day ceremonies.  Not every child win or lose is acknowledged for participating.  The fee that is charged a $2 hat and $5 shirt is provided.  The board is self elected and never has any type of elections for the people who pay to have a say in who they may want to run the league.

If you are as the City calls it a co-sponsor that means that they are in their budget and do not have to pay for anything with exception to $2/player for the season.

YBBL or Babe Ruth are both not is good standing with the Arizona State Commission.  YBBL submitted financial paperwork 2 years in a row that was identical right down to the penny for everything.  Nothing stays the same price every year!  Nothing!  It all can be verified by going to the ASC website.

AlasPrincess if you have any direct questions I am the one who started Little League and a handful of parents have been right there helping the whole time.  I did not start this for my children.  My children are grown.

I started this because while I was sitting at YBBL games (my husband was coaching) I heard so many parents that were griping and upset about so many different things.  When I asked about going to the board for answers they laughed.  After I found out why I guess the next question was...Why is there no LITTLE LEAGUE in Yuma. 

YBBL and others went on to say LITTLE LEAGUE did not want to come to YUMA!!  NOT TRUE!!  They knew if someone got it started they would stand the chance of losing many players because of the many complaints.

The first season will tell some of the tale but until Yuma Little League can open the gates to its own fields the real TALE will NOT BE TOLD!!!

[riverdunesrat]

A quick correction on the Co-sponsors...they are YBBL, YYFTL & Babe Ruth.  Fall ball is actually run by the City, it is a city league period.

Thx for that clarification.  Even though I was incorrect in that who cares, the city still sucks when it comes to their support.

[desertgirl_3190]

 I totally agree with you on the support!!!!!!!!!!  and have found that out from experience!!

[marshaW]

I thought the City of Yuma wanted to support their kids, are they afraid that Yuma Little League would take away from "YBBL".
Yuma Little League doesn't turn away any child because they don't have the money up front, they actually let the parents pay a little at a time, this is important especially when there are two or more kids in the family., no child is turned away for not being able to pay!  So the City is punishing the kids by not allowing Yuma Little League use the playing fields. 
My 5 year old son had the opportunity to participate in a "clinic" for kids 5-8 year olds interested in baseball, at no charge, it was a great idea and a lot of kids participated, I am pretty sure the City of Yuma would not have sponsored any thing like that without charging for each child.
City of Yuma, how is it you can sponsor senior Olympics and allow them to "play" and not accommodate the Yuma Little League!