[calgarywinning]

I have had extensive dealings with the City of Calgary on many matters requiring fair and equitable issues. While i'm not targeting employee's, it's a management issue coming right from the mayor. They are downright entitled and are even working close with the provincial government to take away your current rights for property tax equitability and rights to control your fair share of property tax. I.e. they will have new rights to tax you very unfairly and this will be tabled very soon with the NDP government. This has an outreaching impact far beyond the arena debate, or "my taxpayer" dollars. It's blindly unchaining government to punish people who choose to own property or live in the City of Calgary. How did my property go up in a down market? Well because it's their number one way to generate revenue.

The mismanagement of this mayoral city government is a travesty. One city employee even bragged they had 90 lawyers on staff (as a threat to steamroll for an error they made). If they litigate they hire the best firm in the city. They are brutal, mean and nasty. This was not the Calgary way and previous regimes of city hall were much more equitable.

When Ken King says they had unproductive meetings, I know he is 100% right on that.

Meanwhile, the City has drastically year in and year account increased operating costs, bureaucratic levels with no end and the end citizen is not really reaping benefit from increased spending. The waste is unfathomable.

The other flip side of the coin is the majority owner. Who, himself, is hardcore and unwilling to bend.

TO me it's very clear what needs to go on in an arena deal. Instead of corrupt olympic bids (isn't it funny corrupt people attract to corrupt people) keep it closer to home. The proposition of 1/3 owner, 1/3 ticket tax and 1/3 city funding is the ultimate hybrid to a solution.

The city recoups in that they can end up with ownership of the building in property in due time, in the re-development of whatever area and the new taxation streams created by it. While boosting the economy, building in an economically fiscal time and producing something which can be enjoyed for decades. These projects have been happening around the City even in down time and have been ill-focused.

So whether you are for taxpayer money funding an arena or not, you need to be very aware that the City of Calgary is wholly fiscally un responsible, is about to punish property owners with unfair taxation policies and probably put up some more crappy art.

Like it or not, the existing Saddledome, in it's current stay of decay and age was a gathering place, a city symbol of pride and has hosted thousands and thousands of events that have enhanced our community. Whether you like hockey, don't like hockey, like music, don't like music, like olympics don't like olympics. The economic benefits of the team, their gifts to foundations and player time towards charity events enhance our community. A modern arena is a continued extension of this for decades and future generations to come.