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Doesn't hold water?

It may be just me, but I still don't understand the enthusiasm for a city-owned aquatic center at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Six City Council members voted this week for placing the $9 million center on the ballot as part of a November bond package.

At the same time, they're still debating over whether or when to add 32 new police officers because the expense of it spooks some of them.

The center is projected to lose money every year on top of the other annual coliseum deficits.

Someone help me. What's to like here?

Comments (6)

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jaycee said:

Aquatic center? Cool!
What kinda fish they gonna stock it with??

Allen Johnson said:

Jaycee:
I can't tell whether you're joking or you've been on vacation, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
As I understand it, the center would be stocked with human beings, young and old, for competitions and community activities.

Joe Guarino said:

I agree, Allen. This is a high-cost item that is inherently going to benefit only a small slice of the population-- a bad idea. But if the City Council wants to make this happen, they should not allow it to be financed by debt. It is not even remotely a necessity. They should take political responsibility and vote on it, up or down, as a stand-alone budget item.

jaycee said:

It was a sarcastic way to say what Joes said---it will benefit a small group.
I'd bet there's more fishermen around these parts than water polo players or synchronized swimming teams.

The problem with the vote on police officer funding was that it was knocked out of contention early in discussions. Then after the special interest folk got what they wanted for pet projects they said give us the cops too. I think those who voted against the increase for cops actually wanted more funding for officers.
So, with this issue you get the high-priced items that only benefit few along with the cops. You should read my blog and Sandy Carmany's blog on this issue.

Brenda Bowers said:

And mine too. I am so disgusted with both the Greensboro City Council and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. These, our elected officials never take into consideration the entire city and what is best for the city and county. Raising the taxes year after year to give money by handfuls to wealthy businessmen, cater to small groups luxuries ( $200,000 yearly to Bryan Park golf course, closing Whitestreet landfill, $750,000 to street scape around a PRIVATELY OWNED downtown park, and on and on) and fund groups that should never be a city/county’s priority is angering the tax payers and I hope angering them enough to force some changes in how these people spend our money. E-mail or call them about your feeling concerning the budget it is not too late to make some very necessary cuts.

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