macphail
01-08-2004, 12:38 AM
One of the issues surrounding the proposed large venue entertainment centre (LVEC) is that of priorities.
Is the development of the new Memorial Centre a priority? It was indeed a campaign promise made by Mr. Rosen and there has been much media hype swirling about it. In a recent edition of the Whig, Councillor Garrison commented that the electing of Rosen was a clear indication that the people of Kingston feel that the construction of a new arena is a priority.
But is it?
Let's briefly list other items that are also priorities:
* A $250-million infrastructure backlog
* The need for the City to increase its revenue base, whether that come from economic growth or other revenue sources
* Waste Management: With only 5 years at the most in terms of capacity at the external dump used by the City, other means to dispose of garbage may quickly find its way to the top of the list if action isn't taken soon.
Clearly, there are other projects that are of equal or greater priority. But who determines what a priority is? Is it the politicians or is it the people?
If you believe it is the politicians, then we should be asking them to justify why it is that a new arena is more important than affordable housing, fixing deteriorating infrastructure that puts people and the environment at risk, and better financing of our police services given our above-average crime rate, just to name but a few.
However, if you believe it is the people who should have a say at what our priorities are, then one must really wonder why Rosen and Council are insistent on pursuing this issue. In the recent City of Kingston Report Card, "arenas" were ranked 21st based on people's perception of its level of importance.
At bigger issue here is not necessarily whether or not the City should be pursuing the development of a new arena, but rather who should be setting the priorities and projects that our Council chooses to pursue.
Based on a survey of citizens, Mayor Rosen and Council would be better meeting the needs of their constituents if they focused on the needs that have already been identified and quantified, not ones such as a new arena that are questionably related to the electing of a Mayor.
Derek
Is the development of the new Memorial Centre a priority? It was indeed a campaign promise made by Mr. Rosen and there has been much media hype swirling about it. In a recent edition of the Whig, Councillor Garrison commented that the electing of Rosen was a clear indication that the people of Kingston feel that the construction of a new arena is a priority.
But is it?
Let's briefly list other items that are also priorities:
* A $250-million infrastructure backlog
* The need for the City to increase its revenue base, whether that come from economic growth or other revenue sources
* Waste Management: With only 5 years at the most in terms of capacity at the external dump used by the City, other means to dispose of garbage may quickly find its way to the top of the list if action isn't taken soon.
Clearly, there are other projects that are of equal or greater priority. But who determines what a priority is? Is it the politicians or is it the people?
If you believe it is the politicians, then we should be asking them to justify why it is that a new arena is more important than affordable housing, fixing deteriorating infrastructure that puts people and the environment at risk, and better financing of our police services given our above-average crime rate, just to name but a few.
However, if you believe it is the people who should have a say at what our priorities are, then one must really wonder why Rosen and Council are insistent on pursuing this issue. In the recent City of Kingston Report Card, "arenas" were ranked 21st based on people's perception of its level of importance.
At bigger issue here is not necessarily whether or not the City should be pursuing the development of a new arena, but rather who should be setting the priorities and projects that our Council chooses to pursue.
Based on a survey of citizens, Mayor Rosen and Council would be better meeting the needs of their constituents if they focused on the needs that have already been identified and quantified, not ones such as a new arena that are questionably related to the electing of a Mayor.
Derek