05/10/2024
The Usual Suspects Speak Out
The Sudbury Star in a recent (April 20th) front-page story on the city-endorsed "Event Center" referred to Art Peach, Tom Price, and me, John Lindsay, as the "usual suspects" who have remained steadfastly critical of this multi-million dollar taxpayer debt funded project and the "Culture Hub" library and art gallery proposal for Tom Davies Square also at a cost of millions more.
It is correct that we have been and continue to be outspoken in our concern but also constructive in our criticism by issuing media releases, videos and have held meetings to inform the public of what we consider unnecessary expense and will, in our opinion, result in undesirable outcomes.
The collective age of us three "usual suspects" is over 250 years. We admit that it is unlikely we will be around to see what we describe as the "folly" of recent past and current city councils in creating massive taxpayer debt for "edifice complex" projects for their legacy and supposed, but unsubstantiated benefits, for the community. Unfortunately, we lost the responsible voices of councillors Gerry Montpellier and Michael Vagnini, who questioned these endeavors to little avail.
We three individuals have a wealth of professional experience. We are well qualified to question the decisions of those elected who we feel are neglecting the real requirements of the community, including needed road work, the homeless, and maintenance of the outlying communities in favour of the central downtown area.
Art Peach was a partner for many years in a local architectural firm involved in many excellent projects still standing today. Tom Price was a project manager overseeing multimillion-dollar engineering endeavors locally and abroad. I was a labour market analyst for the Federal Government and currently partner in a locally owned financial planning firm plus member of the Chamber of Commerce.
We are not against development. However, all the money already borrowed and planned plus interest payments are being spent on unnecessary "wants". We already have a fully functional arena with many years left of useful life and the same for our present downtown library and the art gallery which should be located as previously in the historic Bell Mansion with a museum component. Why duplicate these venues at enormous expense and a burden for years on present and future generations of taxpayers?
We "usual suspects" will continue to expose what we consider to be misguided attempts to make Sudbury "great again" and invite others to join us in our efforts. We have issued an open invitation to meet at any time and place with the Mayor and local council members to discuss.
For those interested please visit a website that contains material related to our concerns
New: Millions of dollars of new debt for a controversial new "event" centre to replace the current Sudbury Community Arena. To learn more click here
