Splish, Splash Taking Taxpayers To The Bath
Correction: Donald B. Canham Natatorium is located the University of Michigan and not Michigan State University as previously stated.
A restful night of sleep is in the immediate future given the current Mayor’s statement in today’s print media.
It is a relief to know this column is not one of those “WINDSOR STAR EXCERPT DELETED BY REQUEST OF POSTMEDIA NETWORK INC. LEGAL DEPT.” (Mayor Francis, August 18, 2010, Windsor Star).
Of course this is in relation to the 50-meter Olympic sized pool that isn’t really needed to host the International Children’s Games in 2012.
In a June column a pool study was referenced which stated that 50 meter pools “consistently lose money” and that “multidimensional facilities” had a greater ability to reduce “the subsidization required” for operations and questioned whether or not “the plan is to consolidate these pools into one multi-purpose facility adjacent to a fitness center – say at the east-end arena?”
The column also suggested, “forming partnerships with municipalities within the region that have such facilities (including with the Donald B. Canham Natatorium at University of Michigan) maybe just the ticket – and greater exposure for the event.”
One month later, a print media columnist presumably on speed-dial from the Mayor Office confirmed the “conspiracy”:
WINDSOR STAR EXCERPT DELETED BY REQUEST OF POSTMEDIA NETWORK INC. LEGAL DEPT.”
Previously referring to such a facility as “a ‘legacy’ project for the games,” the Mayor certainly isn’t appearing to bubble over with the same excitement today:
WINDSOR STAR EXCERPT DELETED BY REQUEST OF POSTMEDIA NETWORK INC. LEGAL DEPT.”
And those who prepared the business case for the east-end arena with promises of over 70 event nights and wads of cash in city coffers, will prepare another business case for the 50-meter pool.
The arena is now attracting only a fraction of the promised non-OHL event nights and just breaking even WINDSOR STAR EXCERPT DELETED BY REQUEST OF POSTMEDIA NETWORK INC. LEGAL DEPT.” (Onorio Collucci, Windsor Star, February 12, 2010).
So now the onus is upon County and City councils to agree on a plan – the same councils who have been barely able to agree on anything during the current Mayor’s tenure.
Should no agreement be reached, there is always the east-end arena – which despite the current Mayor’s new concern over the costs of the pool – has probably always been the plan to begin with.
With shrewd investors waiting in the wings around the new WFCU centre, land values have probably skyrocketed in the area, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if a major land holder in the area gave the city a break ”saving” the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Afterall, as Gord Henderson wrote August 23, 2008:
WINDSOR STAR EXCERPT DELETED BY REQUEST OF POSTMEDIA NETWORK INC. LEGAL DEPT.”
Of course, the argument maybe buying up these lands at a “savings” will offset the operational costs of the pool for years to come; and if all goes to according to plan, these “shrewd investors” will be smiling all the way to the bank.
Conspiracy theory? Time will tell.
But in the meantime a restful night of sleep awaits.
Related posts:
- Kiss Of Electoral Death For Sleiman
- Techie Mayoral Help Needed
- Francis Slams Bloggers
- News Items Of Note
- More Windsor Stories
“WINDSOR STAR EXCERPT DELETED BY REQUEST OF POSTMEDIA NETWORK INC. LEGAL DEPT”
Fictional work is copyrighted?
Adults “over 50 are flocking to online social media” but not at the local fishwrap and chronicles where comments have been disabled because too many people were pointing out all the spin, propaganda and outright lies and redirecting other people to this site. Gee, what a surprise! They won’t even let you quote from published stories?
Haha! How DARE you criticize the perfumed Prince Eddie!
Funny how the city “Will NOT” underscore “Not” enter into any money losing misadventures in vulture capitalism, EXCEPT when it comes to pet legacy projects favoured by the Prince Eddie – like a stupid swimming pool or a moat so people can see water a few steps from the river.
Gordo has given us all the “reasons” in his latest propaganda release…er, I mean, opinion column. It contains exactly ZERO “reasons” other than some guy got an ‘A’ in his architecture project and therefore can claim “expertise” the heckling masses of lowbrow taxpayers lack. I guess we just shut up and build whatever hare brained scheme he dreams up?
Hey! I got ‘A’s at university too! Can I get 40 million for my stupid project?
Jrlo -
Yes. We are too stupid; too uneducated and uninformed to have an opinion. We are to shut up and keep shopping whilst paying over 50% of our incomes to taxes, user fees and utilities.
Jeesh, isn’t there some mindless reality show you can watch Jrlo? Doesn’t a big box store somewhere have a sale on something? Isn’t there a charity you can better devote your time to?
Know your place Jrlo.
All Hail our Majesty, the King!
Where is the audit report on the WFCU center? It must be released before the election or King Eddie must agree to resign if it shows he is responsible for any of the items raised in the audit report.
What I don’t get is why the Children’s games don’t get on the same circuit as the adult games. The infrastructure (Olympic pools and such) are already there. Send them to Vancouver next year.
Failing that, have a councillor gather up their neighbours with their downspouts filling the sewers and flooding their own basements, push all their basements together. Gotta get 50 metres out of that and look at the savings!