Re: “Smithgall lists his achievements as mayor; Gray remains silent”
While I can’t disagree too much with the items that were listed; I would hesitate to rank the Convention Center as #4. While it undoubtedly has brought profits to PSP through the Marriott Hotel, I fail to see a significant impact on downtown businesses or the over-all hotel trade. Most days that i drive through center city, albeit there aren’t that many times I have occasion to, the Convention Center and downtown seems as desultory as ever and pretty much bereft of pedestrian traffic.
A good question to pose to both candidates would be what is their respective proposal to address the financial strain that the Convention Center is experiencing; and how would they create a more favorable cash-flow WITHOUT impacting taxpayers or the hoteliers.
Some other good questions to ask…”How much has PSP profited during the 4 years of the Convention Center/Marriott Hotel existance, in comparison to the finanical struggles of the Convention Center itself????”
“Why are taxpayers being forced to subsidize a private enterprise?”,
“How many other privately owned small businesses/hotels have seen their income/profit stream increased because of the presence of the Convention Center?”,
“What plan is in place in case of a Convention Center default?”
“To what degree is PSP being held accountable?”
Questions, questions, questions….does anybody have any answers????????????