To the Editor,
Re: Mayor says view plan critically, Nov. 24.
Coun. Jerry Hong asks what is the difference between a multiplex and a water-treatment plant?
I suggest he take (another) look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Water is a basic need, and I don’t see multiplexes or portable ice rinks anywhere on that pyramid. With one in five children living in poverty in Nanaimo, I would suggest the council get back to basics.
Fred AdkinsNanaimo
To the Editor,
Re: Polling gauges multiplex support, Dec. 6.
Every time I open the Bulletin there are more articles explaining why city council is hiring more ‘experts’ and consultants regarding the proposed new events centre downtown and council’s dubious attempts to gain support from the community.
Multiple data sources do not produce valid results of the community’s wishes. The criteria and wording of each survey is different. Hence, the city is comparing apples and oranges.
A referendum is needed with property ownership revealed. Otherwise, renters and transients will vote for rising property taxes in which they have no stake.
We need a new city council. One that focuses on its job: maintaining the roads, sidewalks and meridians and maintaining Beban Park pool. It is asinine to suggest that our budget limitations preclude regular maintenance while embarking on a new capital, even PPP, project.
We need to investigate this council’s spending, proposals and agenda that Nanaimo doesn’t want.
Linda KeaysNanaimo
To the Editor,
Re: Multiplex won’t benefit economy, Letters, Nov. 29.
If the letter hadn’t been about something as important as a multiplex I would have found it totally laughable. Our former mayor saddled us with the expensive and still-costly pale pachyderm called a conference centre. Now he tells us that “taxpayers need to hold onto their wallets tightly.”
I’ve been impressed attending hockey games and other events in Prince George, Vernon and Kelowna. Rather than pay attention to anyone who would waste tax dollars on a conference centre, I suggest our elected representatives consult with people in those cities as well as Penticton, Chilliwack and any others who have good facilities. Nanaimo is being left behind.
Jim CorderNanaimo
To the Editor,
Re: Multiplex won’t benefit economy, Letters, Nov. 29.
Some councillors keep mentioning how transparency is important to the taxpayers. Well, they are asking for our views regarding a 5,000-seat multiplex for Nanaimo.
My first thought is that we should know how much money is owing on the conference centre, Port Theatre and the cruise ship terminal, also how much do taxpayers pay each year to keep these afloat? Secondly, how much is in the Nanaimo coffers? This is about the same size of expenditure as we voted on in a referendum for the conference centre.
Abbotsford went through this a few years ago and the AHL hockey team they had pulled out and now they have a large amount of debt. Could we make the same mistake?
Jim WildNanaimo
