Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Heart
And Soul":
"I find the suggestion that people who do pay attention
to municipal affairs should be discounted entirely because so many do
not."
No such suggestion was made; you must have misunderstood the
contention being refuted. A commenter who obviously pays "attention to municipal
affairs" would hardly discount those that do.
************
Sorry but that's how it read.You said " only a tiny fraction of the people calling for change and those responding to it"
In that statement "those calling for change'' are dismissed as insignificant because they are " a tiny fraction"
There's no room for misunderstanding.
Error perhaps. But not misunderstanding.
This weekend , I heard of a concern I suspected must be there
but not hearing it, meant I could not speak of it.
Rib Fest is very popular. It's American.
People come from miles around. It's on for three days. Thousands hunker down at picnic tables to feast on ribs and other delicacies.
Others carry it off in stacked clam shells to enjoy at home.
No fees are paid for use of the park.
No local taxes are derived. No jobs are created.
What about people in the restaurant business, who do pay taxes to and provide employment?
Who can't speak out for themselves because of the absolute imperative of good relations with potential customers.
The same people who enjoy Rib Fest.
Well this week-end I did hear about it. In a round about way.
The impact is devastating.Restaurants might as well close their doors.
Should that concern Aurora Council?
I think so.
Because we have created the problem.
We did not create Rib Fest
We provide the free venue that allows it to flourish and for three days, wipe out a segment of our local business.
It's competition you say.
Well no, it is not.
Not when one group pays nothing and scoops up and carries away hundreds of thousands of available dollars courtesy of the local municipality.
ALL organizations benefiting from Aurora's largesse should be required to contribute the the town coffers. That is the job for a Council that evidences significant spine. Which we appear to be lacking.
ReplyDeleteThe Ribfest is a community event put on for the town by the Town. What 'organization'?!
ReplyDeleteThe 2 that spring to mind are the Centre and the Jazz outfit. There is money flowing from the town rather than any sort of balance. Perhaps that draft agreement with the Centre will seek to redress the balance. But, me, I'm not too hopeful. The mere existence of the Hydro Fund has made Council a bit silly. Public money just looks too easy. Weird as Council members, pretty well all of them, pledged to stop wasteful spending at that pre-election event held by the Sports people. I did believe them at the time.
ReplyDeleteTo 5:12 PM:
ReplyDeleteThe blog post referenced the Ribfest, which prompted the 'organization' comment. The Ribfest is not an organization (the Cultural Centre is a facility, and the St Kitts "outfit" is *fill in the blank*).
And didn't you tell us that town staff get free rib dinners? So what does the Ribfest cost the town if no revenue is generated?
ReplyDelete