Reader Response: You're Right About Downtown

29/08/2008 06:46
Another Prime Example Of How Things Are Done:

Don,
 
Re:  “Loaded Task Force To Study St. Albert’s Downtown?”
 
First of all, let me say your editorial is spot on.
 
This is just another prime example of how things are done in St. Albert and who is involved in doing them.
 
When push comes to shove, what is the traditional model of problem solving in St. Albert?  Inevitably, our city fathers always throw good money after bad, commissioning some sort of study or task force to examine the issue and come up with recommendations.  Case in point – the $ervu$ Place fiasco.  Did we need to go through a lengthy charade involving five separate task forces, or studies, to tell us what was already the preconceived solution – that taxpayers will be on the hook in perpetuity for all $ervu$ Place operating deficits?  I think not.
 
However, this study is even more flawed.  “The mayor will lead a new task force that will look at ways to improve St. Albert’s charming yet underutilized downtown . . .”  The task force begins with the premise that St. Albert’s downtown is underutilized.  Who says so?
 
And, furthermore, the composition of the focus groups is a joke.  The focus groups are to be comprised of the Downtown Business Association, Chamber of Commerce, Amacon Developers (who are building an urban village on the Grandin Mall site), downtown residents and “certain (other) people who are influential in the downtown.”  There is certainly no bias or vested interests in that group, is there?
 
When I studied Marketing in university, we were taught that focus group participants were to be selected on a random basis from the total population base, so that you would get a representative sample of the population.  This is nothing more or less than the city stacking the deck to ensure the desired, preconceived outcome and, as such, is a complete farce.  However, it will give city council the ammunition they need to justify the expenditure of more taxpayer dollars on yet another downtown “revitalization” to follow all of the previous failed downtown revitalization schemes.  This is just another example of St. Albert’s self-appointed, self-proclaimed “power brokers” dictating to the rest of us the way things are going to be in this city.  I, for one, am just sick of it.
 
Jim Starko

SINC SAYS:

I knew when I wrote that piece that many people share your views.
 

Selecting The Jury Predicts The Outcome:

Don:

Good to see you yesterday.

You are right on with your comments re the Mayor’s task force.  Since he will be selecting the jury, then he can predict the outcome.

If I get a few extra minutes I will send you something on the Grandin Ravine.

Have a good day.

Bob Russell

SINC SAYS:

I enjoyed our conversation yesterday too Bob. Be sure to send along those comments on the Grandin Ravine. There is a lot of interest in how that issue will play out.