For anybody considering a new multiplex facility in Thunder Bay, The Simpsons episode #422 (Marge vs. The Monorail) should be required viewing.
In this episode the town of Springfield comes into some extra money and is determined to spend it fast. The entire town ignores Marge Simpson’s suggestion to use the funds to repair Main Street and is convinced instead to build an expensive and unnecessary monorail. It ends in disaster.
This is what came to mind as I sat through an open house last week concerning the proposed new multipurpose facility in this city. I was there as a concerned citizen and taxpayer looking for information. I ended up feeling Marge’s pain.
A few members of council were in attendance. Mayor Hobbs was there and being a man of few words, when he addressed the meeting he didn’t say much but he certainly set the tone with his opening remarks.
He recycled one plank from last year’s campaign speech when he stated emphatically that Thunder Bay can not afford this project at this time. He is not alone in this opinion.
City Manager Tim Commisso reminded the audience several times that the city will not proceed if the multiplex is unaffordable. This theme was picked up by the attending taxpayers and many of the speakers at the microphone thought we could find better things to do with the money.
One of the suggestions was the $15 million infrastructure shortfall. Main Street needs repairs. Another was the waterfront project that has already gobbled up an unexpected $15 million additional. Isn’t it a coincidence how these two figures match?
But if the affordability question was on everybody’s mind that evening, Mr. Hobbs’ next comment slipped by almost without comment. He, along with several others, suggested that even though money is tight we could still do this thing if we can convince the province and the feds to foot the bill.
Let me see if I have this straight. In spite of huge provincial and federal budget deficits, lingering high unemployment, an ailing U.S. economy, a continuing worldwide recession and the fact that the city already has a large debt and no spare cash, we can still build a multiplex with free magic money from Ottawa and Queens Park. Tell me more.
The meeting was almost over before anybody challenged this cavalier attitude.
Finally one astute lady reminded everyone of that well used political mantra, “There is only one taxpayer.”
Federal and provincial tax dollars come from the same place as municipal tax dollars – our pockets. Once our right pocket has been emptied by three levels of government we don’t need someone to empty our left one to buy a few impulse items.
But even if there is a way to secure the necessary funding one question should be asked. Just because we can spend millions on a multiplex facility, is this a responsible decision and is this the best use of the money, especially right now and in the manner suggested so far?
The crowd at the Italian Cultural Centre appeared to be skeptical.
Without a major tenant (i.e. hockey franchise) in the building this multiplex will never be built. People have been talking about a farm club in Thunder Bay since Alex Delvecchio was a rookie but there is still no prospective tenant. This is part of the “if you build it they will come” syndrome.
One hockey fan in attendance read a long list of AHL franchises that have disappeared over the years. There are several cities like ours on the list that now have an arena without a major tenant. I wonder who is paying all their bills now.
The opinions were many and varied.
Community leaders would be well advised to cool their jets, think this through and proceed only when they can demonstrate broad public support. There was none evident here. Only the good will of taxpayers can make this dream a reality.
Among the suggestions made by the public, by far the two major issues were location and parking.
They seemed to be saying that yes, a multiplex might be a good idea but not here, not right now, and not under the current city leadership.
Plebiscite anyone?
They were telling council and administration in so many words, “Go back to the drawing board and this time get it right.”
When I left I heard the Springfield mantra in my head, “Monorail, monorail, monorail.”
Where’s Marge Simpson when you need her?
In this episode the town of Springfield comes into some extra money and is determined to spend it fast. The entire town ignores Marge Simpson’s suggestion to use the funds to repair Main Street and is convinced instead to build an expensive and unnecessary monorail. It ends in disaster.
This is what came to mind as I sat through an open house last week concerning the proposed new multipurpose facility in this city. I was there as a concerned citizen and taxpayer looking for information. I ended up feeling Marge’s pain.
A few members of council were in attendance. Mayor Hobbs was there and being a man of few words, when he addressed the meeting he didn’t say much but he certainly set the tone with his opening remarks.
He recycled one plank from last year’s campaign speech when he stated emphatically that Thunder Bay can not afford this project at this time. He is not alone in this opinion.
City Manager Tim Commisso reminded the audience several times that the city will not proceed if the multiplex is unaffordable. This theme was picked up by the attending taxpayers and many of the speakers at the microphone thought we could find better things to do with the money.
One of the suggestions was the $15 million infrastructure shortfall. Main Street needs repairs. Another was the waterfront project that has already gobbled up an unexpected $15 million additional. Isn’t it a coincidence how these two figures match?
But if the affordability question was on everybody’s mind that evening, Mr. Hobbs’ next comment slipped by almost without comment. He, along with several others, suggested that even though money is tight we could still do this thing if we can convince the province and the feds to foot the bill.
Let me see if I have this straight. In spite of huge provincial and federal budget deficits, lingering high unemployment, an ailing U.S. economy, a continuing worldwide recession and the fact that the city already has a large debt and no spare cash, we can still build a multiplex with free magic money from Ottawa and Queens Park. Tell me more.
The meeting was almost over before anybody challenged this cavalier attitude.
Finally one astute lady reminded everyone of that well used political mantra, “There is only one taxpayer.”
Federal and provincial tax dollars come from the same place as municipal tax dollars – our pockets. Once our right pocket has been emptied by three levels of government we don’t need someone to empty our left one to buy a few impulse items.
But even if there is a way to secure the necessary funding one question should be asked. Just because we can spend millions on a multiplex facility, is this a responsible decision and is this the best use of the money, especially right now and in the manner suggested so far?
The crowd at the Italian Cultural Centre appeared to be skeptical.
Without a major tenant (i.e. hockey franchise) in the building this multiplex will never be built. People have been talking about a farm club in Thunder Bay since Alex Delvecchio was a rookie but there is still no prospective tenant. This is part of the “if you build it they will come” syndrome.
One hockey fan in attendance read a long list of AHL franchises that have disappeared over the years. There are several cities like ours on the list that now have an arena without a major tenant. I wonder who is paying all their bills now.
The opinions were many and varied.
Community leaders would be well advised to cool their jets, think this through and proceed only when they can demonstrate broad public support. There was none evident here. Only the good will of taxpayers can make this dream a reality.
Among the suggestions made by the public, by far the two major issues were location and parking.
They seemed to be saying that yes, a multiplex might be a good idea but not here, not right now, and not under the current city leadership.
Plebiscite anyone?
They were telling council and administration in so many words, “Go back to the drawing board and this time get it right.”
When I left I heard the Springfield mantra in my head, “Monorail, monorail, monorail.”
Where’s Marge Simpson when you need her?
