Never.
Three mayoral candidates are upset at the 2nd quarter figures for the K-Rock Centre. They shouldn't be.
The K-Rock Centre will never break even. It will always be subsidized by local taxpayers.
A few predictions.......
Arcturus SMG will not renew its contract with the city to manage it, and the city will have to take over its operation. Not such a bad idea, but the city will have to spend a lot of $$$ to take over the operation. And there will be whining about that. Arcturus will take all its investments here when it goes.
A survey would tell candidates for council and the mayor's chair that there are few, if any, arenas in this country that break even, never mind make money. It just doesn't happen. It's sort of like trying to find a municipal leisure complex in Canada that makes money. That doesn't happen either. These are viewed as SERVICES for the people of a community. The sooner politicans accept that, the sooner they will rest better at night. And the sooner they will program those facilities for the people.
Support for the centre will continue to decline. Hard-core supporters of the Frontenacs and Memorial Centre are deeply opposed to the management, the cost of events, the lack of parking, the attitude of the place (e.g. the cost of refreshments).
An example of the "attitude" of the K-Rock Centre is the fact that no one can visit the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame, unless they buy an event ticket. Buy a ticket to a Fronts game, and discover that the shooting gallery is in the Hall of Fame? That you slather the mustard on your hot dog in the middle of the KDSHF? The K-Rock Centre management refuses to use the presence of the hall as a drawing card, a tourist attraction, a part of the city's heritage. And council is no better; they have demonstrated little interest in the KDSHF since it moved from the Memorial Centre (they didn't show a lot of interest there either!)
The city's lack of positive attitude about so much of its treasures, lifestyle and events is one of the city's real problems. No one stands up and cheers for the city! That's the job of the mayor!!! He/she should be the number one cheerleader of the city. The current one definitely isn't a positive, upbeat cheerleader. Let's hope we get one on October 25th. And a few councillors with positive attitude and common sense.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Whig Standard Leads the Insensivity Parade
There was a tragic death at Queen's yesterday morning. A first year student apperently jumped to his death from the 6th floor at Victoria Hall. There are no details yet.
The Whig publishes a story on line, and this morning, has big headlines of this death in the print edition, and a photo above the fold.
In contrast, CKWS TV said little about it on the 6pm news last night.
The newspaper should be roundly condemmed for this insensitive headline and article. The article is almost exactly what they put online.
Many locals criticize The Whig for its frequent outrageous stances and reporting, in tabloid fashion.
This is another example of that.
Not surprisingly, subscriptions to The Whig are down from previous years. One can see why.
The Whig publishes a story on line, and this morning, has big headlines of this death in the print edition, and a photo above the fold.
In contrast, CKWS TV said little about it on the 6pm news last night.
The newspaper should be roundly condemmed for this insensitive headline and article. The article is almost exactly what they put online.
Many locals criticize The Whig for its frequent outrageous stances and reporting, in tabloid fashion.
This is another example of that.
Not surprisingly, subscriptions to The Whig are down from previous years. One can see why.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Anyone with Vision?
Nominations have closed for October 25 municipal elections in Ontario.
In all but one district in Kingston, there will be candidates trying to collect votes.
In the one district in which there was acclamation, the sitting councillor indicates that her priorities are traffic lights, calming speed bumps......
Good grief! Are any of these candidates going to look at the big picture? Are they going to talk about Kingston's future as a sustainable city? With a 3rd crossing? With less outrageous spending (remember that Vicki Schmolka was the only councillor who voted against the gigantic expenditure of $$$ on a pool+ at the Memorial Centre, that will be used at most 100 days/year. It is September 13th, and swimming in outdoor pools is pretty well done. I know. I do it! Got to be hardy to be swimming today!) With less development on the sparse waterfront? With less dumping of raw sewage into the Cataraqui River?
In all but one district in Kingston, there will be candidates trying to collect votes.
In the one district in which there was acclamation, the sitting councillor indicates that her priorities are traffic lights, calming speed bumps......
Good grief! Are any of these candidates going to look at the big picture? Are they going to talk about Kingston's future as a sustainable city? With a 3rd crossing? With less outrageous spending (remember that Vicki Schmolka was the only councillor who voted against the gigantic expenditure of $$$ on a pool+ at the Memorial Centre, that will be used at most 100 days/year. It is September 13th, and swimming in outdoor pools is pretty well done. I know. I do it! Got to be hardy to be swimming today!) With less development on the sparse waterfront? With less dumping of raw sewage into the Cataraqui River?
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