All council aspirants must state positions on asset sales
So, again we have noise about selling city assets to fund the stadium from some in the business community. Can those proposing this ‘‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater approach’’ explain how selling assets that return a dividend that keeps rates down, in return for spending $500 million on building it and another $500m over 20 years to maintain it, helps ratepayers?
The only winners would be those that get their greedy hands on OUR assets.
It is now time for all aspiring councillors and mayors to declare their position on asset sales and the aforementioned ‘‘billion-dollar blunder’’ so we ratepayers can make informed decisions at the upcoming elections on matters that will affect us for generations to come. This is a closed question, you are either for or against and no time for weasel words, declare your position.
Phil Yarrall and Amanda Stephens Our Eiffel Equivalent
In our increasingly secular and multicultural city, building a monument to the past in its central, dominating position seems a nonsense. We must look to the future, to the centuries ahead. Mayoral candidate Darryll Park has hit the nail on the head, as Sam Neill did earlier.
A monument for a religion based on a 16th century English king’s perceived need for a divorce so he could keep trying for a male to succeed him is an irrelevancy, unsuited to a city which has the opportunity and the architectural and engineering creativity and skills to build something for all faiths and none, something which can dazzle and inspire our community for centuries to come. Our Eiffel Tower equivalent. Let’s have leadership which does this.
The central square should belong to everyone. Anglicans have a perfect site in Latimer Square, where, incidentally, my parents were married and I was christened. Kerry Burke, Merivale
Back to Basics
Great to see ‘‘Back to Basics’’ making the headlines in today’s Letters page (Sept 6), a wonderful catchphrase to bombard the council with. I have used it several times in my previous letters.
Well done, Lyndon Telfer of Riccarton – Back to Basics to cut rates. Your letter should be framed and placed on the desk of the new city CEO, Dawn Baxendale, and the new mayor’s desk. I’m sure Darryll Park would be happy to see a Back to Basics catchphrase on his mayoral desk.
Your letter should also be handed to all of the newly elected city councillors as they take their seats at their first council meeting after the elections. I look forward to more of your letters, Lyndon. Brian Sowman, Belfast