"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Wednesday 13 June 2012

I Think You've Got IT...By Jove You've Got It

Tim the Enchanter said.. 
 I know it sounds like I'm raining on the parade here but you'll forgive me if I'm not entirely confident that Aurora council can put together a megabuck project that isn't either a fiscal sinkhole or a plaything for Aurora's "we play,you pay" crowd rather than a thoughtfully considered, financially responsible addition that ALL Aurorans can look on with pride.
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Far from raining on a parade, you are doing exactly  what I hope and expect from residents; I know there is excitement about   "a thoughtfully considered,financially responsible addition that All Aurorans can look on with pride."
While we are planning, the fund is invested and earning interest. 
The  critical time limit is the term of office.
From the end of 2006 until the end of 2011, the fund earned $7 million dollars. We started with $24.million or thereabouts.
We have two  and a half years to advance at least to the point of  commitment to a project.
My resolution is already several weeks old and no sign of  a plan to bring the community together.
It occurred to me today, because I am not a  patient person, there is nothing to hinder an organisation forming  to brain storm a plan. There could be more than one working to the same end.
The first part must be  a collection of ideas.
A political body is not necessarily the best venue for imagination
and verve.
Bureacracy does have a dampening effect. 
It's nobody's fault. It's just the nature of the beast.
Sometimes I feel like the hulk, turning all green and busting out of my shirt.
I   feel strongly the project should be something other than a sports facility.
But some things not identified as a sport  have a competitive edge.
We can always justify another soccer field, baseball diamond , ice surface or swimming facility..
We collect development charges to pay  ninety per cent of the cost.  But we are perfectly capable of screwing up planning for those things as well.And we have.
This is not  a simple challenge.But if we can agree the project should  be something we would never contemplate as a tax burden  that narrows the selection. 
A foundation  might deal with costs of operating the facility to ensure everyone has access.
There's a ton of stuff to think about.
I don't profess expertise in these matters. I just have a sense this is  an opportunity we need to grab else it will vanish.. 
It  could be a turning point for the town.
Every step we take could be exciting. 
I'm sure there are residents in Aurora with a contribution to make  to a project that could be  monumentally satisfying. 
When we consider what Richmond Hill spent on their Performing Arts Centre, $33 million isn't enormous. But by Jove, we have never had it before and there are ways we can add to it if we have the will.  
I'm not thinking about funds from other levels of government. But it is likely if  the project were  considered  an economic stimulus it could very well qualify for grants. Even the  construction  would be considered job creation.
Government doesn't move things along. People do. 
The community doesn't have to wait for staff to find time to devise a plan to bring people together.. 
The community can involve itself,

It can't happen too soon.      

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think those in Aurora have got the idea and are willing to work on it. the Service groups for sure, and let the Center have a costume party for which part of ticket sales go to the town. Not part of ' net ' profits. But then Mayor Dawe rains on the parade with his " if no one is driving the bus, it isn't going to go anywhere". 'S'cuse me but I think we elected him to try and drive the bus. Council was created by Aurora residents. This could be a winner.
And the larger project has been a 'go' for months waiting for some sort of study from Staff. Staff is being slow on a lot of fronts, because they want a chunk of that money for themselves. Get off the pot!
Sorry, didn't mean to be so snarly.

Anonymous said...

What about a Curling Club?

Anonymous said...

What about a Curling Club?

Anonymous said...

I found the article in The Auroran about the 20 year plan to be hilarious.

There is a mandate to improve public transit? How can Aurora improve public transit. Aurora does not have a public transit authority. It used to run a public transit, but it was poorly run. How hard was it to run 2 buses? YRT runs public transit. We can't get our voice heard at York Region council, you think YRT will listen?

The Berkonstock-wearing, tree-hugger all want us to take public transit. However, your can't get anywhere you want to go. Unless you are a high school student - oh, that does not work either - they were on strike forever and I had to drive my high school student.

The Morning Snark