Wait a minute, says fitness alliance
” this alternative proposal is intellectually dishonest. The article presents this “Alliance” as a legitimate alternative to the Y-ballot initiative, which it clearly is not. The article states:
“The alternative plan depends upon the failure of the ballot issue, at which point the alliance will apply for designation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.”
If this plan was first contemplated three years ago, why does it depend on the failure of the Y-ballot initiative? The answer is obvious.
It isn’t viable because the individuals involved have no means of carrying through on their wishful intentions. they claim to have a workable option to build an aquatic center for less. if this was such a realistic plan, why didn’t it happen by now. A good question for these individuals should be how they plan to raise 7 million, and if this is such a good alternative, why hasn’t it been done. The proponents of this newly formed alliance are simply trying to kill a proposal that is viable and good for the community by presenting an alternative they have no means of actually being implementing.
As for the funding methods proposed in the article, they suggest:
1) grants from great Outdoors Colorado
2) capital campaign
3) user fees
4) support from the City
The city has already said they aren’t providing support (or even interested) in a rec center proposal at this time. for 1) to happen we would need to have matching funds from the city which as the city council has stated, isn’t going to happen. 3) won’t happen until their proposed facility was build, and you can’t build without money. so you are left with 2). I seriously doubt this newly formed group has done any studies as their ability to raise 7 million through private sources in this economy, which means this “better” alternative isn’t an alternative at all – just a pipe dream.
If the citizens want more political speak (and no facility) they should vote the Y-initiative down. However if they are past the empty rhetoric, and ready to act, the Y initiative presents the only viable, funded approach to build a Woodland Park rec center now. “
Wait a minute, says fitness alliance