Things are much clearer to me now.
Over the past while leading up to this monumental arena decision, both sides of the debate have shown their extreme passion, but twisted inside of this passion some ugliness has been revealed.
Downtown to TNS: You don't care about our city!
TNS to downtown: You only care about yourselves!
Personally, as a True North Strong project supporter and lover of our downtown, I think we can have the best of both worlds. Some disagree and I see where the majority of this is coming from now.
The passionate downtown event center supporters — from what I can tell — feel their livelihoods are at stake. They fear for their jobs, how this decision will affect their families, how they're going to pay their bills and employees.
And if we could all take a step back and see things from that point of view, I think it is very reasonable to understand how terrifying this whole experience may be. They aren't just fighting to keep the arena downtown; they're fighting for their lives as they know it.
Maybe I'm too optimistic, maybe I'm just ignorant, but I truly feel like both areas can thrive, especially with the announcement and votes of support for the Synergy Centre, Place des Arts, and the library/Art Gallery of Sudbury relocation. I attended that council meeting and it’s a vision I support without hesitation.
To the ones that say downtown is dead, you're ridiculous.
Downtown is in a better place today than it has been in 50 years, and it's the passionate people of our downtown community that can — and should — be thanked for making it what it is.
True North Strong will bring an amazing opportunity to our city. I firmly believe that. But I will never stop supporting my beautiful downtown, and the people who make it that way.
And neither should you.
Jim Stefanko
Greater Sudbury
