To the Editor,
Re: Actions would speak louder than grumbling on downtown revitalization, Letters, Jan. 20.
A recent letter writer referred to readers’ suggestions concerning the future of the convention centre as “nonsense.” Unfortunately he never got around to offering any constructive suggestions of his own.
Let’s look at the situation from a business angle. A corporation (think City of Nanaimo) finds that one of its branches (think convention centre) is losing money at a prodigious rate, (about $1 million a year). The president (think mayor) immediately calls a meeting of his board of directors (think city council) to find ways to cut losses and protect their shareholders (think Nanaimo taxpayers).
Realizing there is no immediate solution, the controlling group immediately reduces the outflow of funds any way it can to protect shareholders. While long-term debt must still be serviced, other expenditures can be stopped. The decision then has to be made to mothball the operation until a solution can be found.
Maybe the day will come when a use will eventually be found or, with a bit of luck, a buyer might appear with an entirely new use for the property.
Nanaimo is a beautiful city to live in, with every amenity and service the average family and age group can want. But there is not enough here to tempt convention planners to choose Nanaimo over Victoria or Vancouver.
Joe IvesNanaimo