[News] Calgary, Alberta, & CSEC agree in principle to $1.223bn Event Centre + infrastructure

[Lanny_McDonald]

What's cool about this is there will be taxpayer facilities for all to take advantage of. For those who are pissed about the tax dollars going to a new entertainment district you have a big wonderful taxpayer funded library to hang out at on game nights! If libraries aren't your bag, there's always the National Music Centre. Or you can always take in one of the Olympic venues. Lot's of taxpayer funded fun to be had!

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

"I'm a socialist! Spend money to improve my city!"

River district and arena project is announced...

"Not like that!"

Now who's being intellectually dishonest.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I don't know, and neither do you. But unless money is suddenly infinite, we both know it's not nothing.

It's hundreds of millions of dollars from the city and the province. There is any number of similar-type projects that could have been completed with that money (again: stadium, concert hall, theatre, etc). They could've poured the whole pot into revitalizing that district without the arena. It could also have a down-the-line impact on our ability to fund things like healthcare, safety, transit, etc. without increasing taxes on individuals or businesses. Hell, they could've taken that money and used it on any of those things right now.

You like it. That's cool. But is it not fair to ask that it be justified in "the bigger picture" with actual facts instead of vague "good deal, just the reality of things, world's not fair, better this than blue rings, oh well!"?

Like, you have to understand that if the city has $500m to spend on this they could spend $500m on anything and they chose this, right? So there should be some sort of strong justification for why this and why not anything else they could have done, right?

I think a pretty glaring one is affordable housing. A 800 million dollar investment in that would be pretty interesting versus an arena spend. I suspect a lot of people would lose their minds though

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by nik-

Now who's being intellectually dishonest.

It's true though, you have to admit it.

You just don't like how the money is being spent. It's still a public project overall, and there is a private interest that is investing as well and willing to risk their investment in the anticipation that they will recoup the investment. The city and province are taking the exact same risk.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

"I'm a socialist! Spend money to improve my city!"

River district and arena project is announced...

"Not like that!"

I think you replied to the wrong person, that doesn't have anything to do with what I said

[Reggie Dunlop]

Isn't the province also going to throw in a pile of money to upgrade the Deerfoot?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

It's true though, you have to admit it.

You just don't like how the money is being spent. It's still a public project overall, and there is a private interest that is investing as well and willing to risk their investment in the anticipation that they will recoup the investment. The city and province are taking the exact same risk.

haha, no I don't have to admit it, because it's an absolutely BS statement and you know it.

This is money to drastically increase the value of a private asset. People can pretend it's not, but that's what it is.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

This is absurd.

My paycheque has already been deposited. I see it right there in my bank account. I can clearly afford a new 80" TV. In fact, I think I'll buy two, as I have enough money in my bank account. There will be absolutely no opportunity cost from me spending 98% of my paycheque on those TVs, since I already have the money, like I said, right there, in my bank account. The money is there. If I don't spend it now, I'll probably just have to spend it later on groceries or Turkish baby tylenol or something. But since I have access to the money, right there in my bank account, already deposited, I will proceed with the TVs with no further consideration.

Danielle Smith will pay for the surrounding infrastructure like HDMI cables and wall mounts.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

It's true though, you have to admit it.

You just don't like how the money is being spent. It's still a public project overall, and there is a private interest that is investing as well and willing to risk their investment in the anticipation that they will recoup the investment. The city and province are taking the exact same risk.

It's not true at all, so nobody "has to admit it."

You either don't understand socialism, don't understand this arena project or both.

You... you don't think that any time the government spends money it's "socialism" do you? Jesus.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Isn't the province also going to throw in a pile of money to upgrade the Deerfoot?

They should, it's their road to maintain. But regardless that project has been walked back so many times it's almost a meme at this point

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

It's true though, you have to admit it.

You just don't like how the money is being spent. It's still a public project overall, and there is a private interest that is investing as well and willing to risk their investment in the anticipation that they will recoup the investment. The city and province are taking the exact same risk.

The private investment is 40 million dollars upfront. The risk is minimal for CSEC.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It's not true at all, so nobody "has to admit it."

You either don't understand socialism, don't understand this arena project or both.

You... you don't think that any time the government spends money it's "socialism" do you? Jesus.

When it extends beyond basic services and city maintenance, then yeah, I think it's socialism.

This is socialism. Call it corporate socialism if you want, but it's still the same idea.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by btimbit

They should, it's their road to maintain. But regardless that project has been walked back so many times it's almost a meme at this point

That's supposed to be their other election goodie.... the week isn't over yet I guess.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

When it extends beyond basic services and city maintenance, then yeah, I think it's socialism.

This is socialism. Call it corporate socialism if you want, but it's still the same idea.

When did the city buy the Flames?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Isn't the province also going to throw in a pile of money to upgrade the Deerfoot?

$200 million I think. Construction has started.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Hopefully the new rink is a lot more visually appealing than what exists in Winnipeg.

What a weird jab. The arena is top notch.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

When it extends beyond basic services and city maintenance, then yeah, I think it's socialism.

This is socialism. Call it corporate socialism if you want, but it's still the same idea.

Yes, "corporate socialism"/corporate welfare, a concept described as:

Variations of the concept, include privatize profits/gains and socialize risks/losses/debts; and markets, free enterprise, private enterprise and capitalism for the poor while state protection and socialism for the rich.

or

Corporate socialism is an economic system where a special relationship between the government and business creates profits and benefits for corporations while transferring risk and loss to the general public. In short, it's a system where big corporations keep their profits, but the entire country suffers losses.

Which no honest person would categorize as "the same idea" as socialism, a philosophy almost entirely its opposite, nor would they say "this is socialism."

I guess "I am a serious person" didn't last long, hey?

[PuckSlap]

Hey Guy, we got some awesome news today, let's stop fighting and just celebrate this victory! This is ####ing awesome!!!!

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Bonded

When did the city buy the Flames?

When the city decided that rather than pick up the garbage and clean the streets its role was to tell you where and how to live.

[zamler]

The personal bitch fest my politics is better than yours thread.

How about we be happy a new arena just might be built and IMO money well spent.