Gary Haas, whom I often disagree with publicly, brought forward some questions in his letter to your paper on July 2 about the Cultural Center.
He talked about a business plan that has never materialized; provision for parking for the anticipated hordes of people utilizing the facility; and not surprisingly, who is going to pay for this edifice which he described as an “unneeded monument to the elected members of our city.”
I take exception to his characterizing this edifice in those terms.
I think the three earlier points have a great of relevance to what was decided in a referendum almost two years ago which was passed on a wave of emotionalism.
I use that term because I talked to a number of people running for city council prior to the referendum, and most of them were not in favour of the Cultural Center, but when the last all-candidate meeting was held at the Performing Arts Centre, they rose in unison and proclaimed their almost unanimous support.
I voted against it then, and I think if it were put to a referendum today, given the job lay-offs; drop in tourism, and depleted tax revenue that can be expected, I think most people would agree with me.
Dean Roosevelt