Hi (Mayor) Dan, me again.
I was sitting here, when an old friend came up to me and stated that the city had just very recently purchased the Enterprise Car Rental property, the last holdout, so to speak, for that whole block of land, I might add a nice piece of property. What really got me thinking though was when this person mentioned that he heard, and I really do hate to pass on rumour, but thought this could be important enough, that that piece of property was destined to be for the proposed performing arts centre. What I gasped, not believing my ears. Wow, what an epiphany, it was like a bolt of lightning from above.
To me this sounded a little like dj vu. You must remember, well maybe you don't, so let me remind you. Do you remember Cadillac Fairview of 30 years ago, when council was all for this grandiose, and far too expensive expansion, and renovation, to soothe a few? Well it was almost a done deal, except the public realized they could not afford, nor want it, and gee whiz, Mr. Mayor, and most of council was voted out in the next election.
Dan, again I implore you, we as a city of declining population, cannot afford the dreams of a few. We cannot afford a $30 million to $40-million performing arts centre, we can not afford a new $35 million to $40-million dollar police station. We are a country, and worse yet, a city that is still deeply entrenched in a recessionary period. Yes, we are slowly working out, but we have a long way to go yet.
Have you been to the art gallery lately? I have. Guess what? The two or three times I have been there, the only people I have seen are employees of the gallery.
I know, I know, I was there at the wrong time. The people of Prince George are working people (if possible) and we don't have the incomes of the many $100,000+ salaries working for the city. We can not afford this.
Bill Manders
Prince George
