[Winona Online Democracy] My concern about an investment such as the Shakespeare Festival being fronted by public funding is the amount of huge money that "leaves" the community. There is talk about the amount of money that it "may" generate, but when you look at the hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to employees who do not live in our community, paying rent out of public and donated funding for a building that is only used 2-3 months out of the year, and paying for services and materials for their productions that could be done or bought in Winona being contracted elsewhere it concerns me. And all of this funding for one month out of the year.
I think of our own Senior High School that recently announced they were cancelling their annual Musical due to lack of funding. The following week an article comes out that says the City will help fund Shakespeare. Where is the support for local activities? Why is there a lesser value placed on these? Because Shakespeare will revise tourism? Who will revive the local talents and the good our school Musical brought to Winona? Maybe Shakespeare will get tourism going, maybe not, I cannot predict this. It just seems a great deal of investment is being paid to a private endevour that is taking lots more money out of the community, much more than we are currently getting back. I am not against Shakespeare, it may be good for the community, but so is other private endevours and businesses and we have not seen the City step forward with public money to support them. There are other great things in Winona that need to be supported as well. New businesses and endevours that keep the money in Winona. These businesses are self-supporting or fail. If they fail, we have not seen the City bail them out. I think Paul Double has raised some interesting concerns over the spending of public funding fora private endevour. Why now? Why Shakespeare? Why not other non-profit groups such as our schools, DAC, ORC, Home and Community Options and others. Why not the many restaurants owners, and small business owners that have gone out of busines over the years. Support our local businesses and non-profits first. The hardworking folks that keep the money flowing in Winona. They are the heart of the City succeeding. Janice Turek Quoting Randy Schenkat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > [Winona Online Democracy] > > thank you Kathy- I think you're doing a great job in some very > challenging circumstances.. > > To the issues that Paul raises. It seems to me that the group of > local individuals(Della Schmidt, Pat Mutter, Judy Bodway, and Darrell > Ehrlick) who toured Ashland,OR to study the unfolding of their hugely > successful Shakespeare Festival came back reporting that it wouldn't > have happened unless there had been some prudent Gov't investing up > front. I'm not that familiar with these Govt and private partnerships > but it would seem there are many that have benefits in the long run. > Would someone more knowledgeable please share examples- perhaps both > successful and unsuccessful? > > > >Paul says "If public investments are to be made who will audit the > >books to insure thatthe jobs created, are not part time or at > >minimum wage, and meet the > criteria for public investment?" I don't understand what you're > getting at here-- it seems the city has has impeccable "books"... > but I don't see how audits of books gets at minimum wages(what are > you talking about here?) How does minimum wage tie to criteria for > public investment? Maybe you've got a novel idea here, please share. > > Paul what's your basis for this speculation?? "Is the real plan > to throw another tax issue on the next election cycle so that any > proposal by the public schools will be shot down?" Didn't the city > seek this legislation in the last session? Couldn't this be a > completely independent act? > > Randy Schenkat > > > > > > > > > > > >[Winona Online Democracy] > > > >Thumbs up for the Council being kind enough to let us vote on a proposed 15 > >year 1/2% added local sales tax plus a vehicle surcharge! > > > >Thumbs down for proposing the new taxes that at best will show why Wal-Mart > >was important in the "master's" plan. Their revenue projections, according > >to the radio, are based on data that is two years old. It has so many > >projects thrown into the proposal on how to spend it they are now looking > >for more ideas. The council wants something for everyone so that it will > >please us or at least enough of us to give them another slush fund to dole > >out the money. > > > >Is the real plan to throw another tax issue on the next election cycle so > >that any proposal by the public schools will be shot down? Will be the > >city's intent to sweeten the number and type of projects so that it will > >pass and allow Winona to not only take money from all township residents > but > >now we get to tap the Wisconsin residents as well. Will the city propose a > >toll bridge next that way Wisconsin employees and shoppers can also add to > >the city treasury? > > > >When will city government understand that if the investments into a > >community can not be drawn from the private sector the reason just may be > >they are bad ideas or serve special interest groups. If they were good > >ideas private investors would welcome the opportunity to be in on the > ground > >floor. > > > >The so called success of Dubuque, IA was explained in an article last week. > >It is called casino gambling. The tourist attractions were money losers > >until the casino was brought to town. > > > >If public investments are to be made who will audit the books to insure > that > >the jobs created, are not part time or at minimum wage, and meet the > >criteria for public investment? Without a checker of the statute required > >targeted expected results the process becomes a shell game and 25 million > >buys a lot of silence from those who want to tap the till for their pet > >projects! > > > > > >Paul Double > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > >All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > >No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > >To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > >http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > >Any problems or suggestions can be directed to > >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the > >Contact page at > > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > > > -- > Randy Schenkat 1358 Skyline Dr. Winona, Mn 55987 507-452-7168 > _______________________________________________ > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page > at > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
