Little Havana Stadium Moves Forward

"The Florida Marlins took a major stride Tuesday in their lengthy quest for a permanent South Florida home, when a judge ruled that a new ballpark funded primarily through tax dollars serves the public good.

With Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Jeri Beth Cohen's ruling, the county and Marlins said they will move ahead with construction of the $515 million, 37,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium in Little Havana.

'This is the one we've been waiting for,' said Marlins President David Samson. 'It's a complete victory. It took a long time.'

County Mayor Carlos Alvarez on Tuesday restated what he told the court during his deposition: Building the ballpark will revitalize the neighborhood and create much-needed jobs.

'When the economy is hurting, it means thousands of jobs -- good-paying construction jobs -- for people who need them now,' he said.