Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
The model has already been torn asunder
Unbelievably, Brett Wilson refers to the $500 million shortfall in funding as 'found money.
Found money?! According to the Flames own presentation, there's a $500 million budget shortfall that doesn't even address any of the infrastructure improvements the city will have to make should the project go through.
He's also blatantly incorrect about the city having budgeted $200 million for a field house. In fact, quite the opposite, the city has expressed their desire for a field house but haven't built one because they haven't been able to budget the money.
So, while Brett Wilson can say the city has 'emotionally' budgeted for that $200 million, the city has said repeatedly that they don't have the money for it.
That video shovels more bull#### in a minute than I can shovel in an hour.
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Again with the misdirection on funding. The money comes from a ticket tax (user pay) and CRL funding which has been used in numerous other construction projects . With the area development the tax base increases and covers the CRL funding (same as East Village which never would have started without the CRL funding). Once the "loaned" money is returned to the city, then the additional tax income reverts to the CITY (as the City puts zero dollars from operating income into the project). Without a project driving the area development (as Wilson states) nothing gets done in the West Village.
The only money that the City contributes is the field house $200M, which they have stated for years is needed but will never get built without a project like this. The city has studied for years about rerouting traffic in the area and knows it will be done but have committed no funds or plans to actually performing the upgrades, maybe this project will spur the 3 levels of government to get their infrastructure spending prioritized. The infrastructure spending is not the responsibility of the Flames to address, maybe talk to City Council about this one. The biggest drawback to getting anything done in the West Village is the Creosote cleanup, again not the Flames issue, and again nothing will be done in the area until it is finished.
This is not the Flames asking for a handout from the City or tax payers. It is the second largest construction project in downtown Calgary (after the Bow) ever and our city leaders need to take it more seriously.