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Letter: Downtown is no place for a new arena

'On my way to the Rainbow Centre, I passed the bus depot and had to dodge panhandlers, vagrants, and other individuals who were in an altered state because of substance abuse'
Downtown Sudbury
(Supplied)

I am disappointed that Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc has abandoned his proposal to prevent the Sudbury BIA from suing the City of Greater Sudbury. 

This BIA group advocates for the downtown and disapproves of the KED because its members have a vested interest as business owners to “feather their nest.” 

I would like to share some information with the BIA whose mission it is to improve the downtown area. Recently, I included the downtown as part of my daily walk and my experience was very disturbing. 

On my way to the Rainbow Centre, I passed the bus depot and had to dodge panhandlers, vagrants, and other individuals who were in an altered state because of substance abuse.

Once I crossed the street and was inside the mall, I visited the restroom before going to the food court.

As I entered, I witnessed an individual using a syringe in the bathroom stall with the door open. 

Quickly exiting the mall onto Notre Dame, I vowed never again to run the gauntlet of the downtown area. 

Perhaps the Sudbury Business Improvement Area should get its own house in order before criticizing the KED as the site of Sudbury’s future. 

If my experience is typical for most downtown visitors, the future will be bleak.

Jim Young
Sudbury