I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark Connolly and Tracy Region Alliance for a Quality Community for all your hard work concerning the lawsuit and stopping Surland from building the aquatics park.
What has it been, seven years now? My how time flies when you are having fun and making money by filing lawsuits.
Thank you for making sure our teenagers have no place to safely hang out and enjoy themselves this summer. Why, with having the aquatic park up and running, they could have earned money by lifeguarding, or working at the park, thereby earning money for school and clothes and all that stuff teenagers need.
Thank you for making sure swim lessons are only given over a short period. Why, all those parents who take their kids into Livermore for lessons are just so happy!
Thank you for making sure our high school and middle school swimmers and water polo players have a difficult time trying to get scholarships for their sports. With the high school pools going down so often, it makes it hard to practice the sports they love. Just ask the parents how they love to drive into Stockton or Livermore, or even Oakdale. Well, it does let them shop in those other towns and spend their money eating outside of Tracy.
Thank you for making sure the recreational team in town, the Tritons, has the highest fees for any team in the mid-valley swim league.
Thank you for helping Ellis Aquatics Swim Team East, be known as the team without a regular pool. They are the biggest U.S.A. swim team in the Central Valley, yet when they go to meets, people ask where they practice, since Tracy does not have a pool.
Thank you for making sure our senior swimmers have no chance of making the Olympic trials this summer. When we have to cancel practice or shorten practice due to pool space, it really puts our swimmers at a disadvantage.
Thanks for making sure no one in the country knows a positive thing about Tracy.
And I am sure the whole town will be thanking you when it is 110 degrees this summer and the West High pool is only open for two or three hours per day and there is nowhere to cool off.
It is so nice to have a few people know what is best for the majority of citizens. I guess all those surveys that were taken stating residents have wanted a complete facility since 1982 are just wrong. Or that the national average for a town this size is four swimming pools. And what does Tracy have? Pinkie Phillips Aquatic Center, which equals 90 days worth of a pool.
Thank you!
I think it's very alteuistic, but would require very deep pockets. Let's say Surland gave the property for free. Who would pay to run new water, sewage, utilities, etc?
When that person sets up a fund the bank and IRS will ask them where is this money coming from. I assume it will be millions. Budget for Holly is over $10 million.
And a competition pool for the community was asked for. I think some folks have a false notion this is a Marine World and afraid it will bankrupt the city, like Stockton.
I suspect their complaint is a little unfounded and that this is probably somewhere less akin to Valejo, but more than buying a doughboy pool at Cosco.
And if the voters turned it down they would'nt have to pay this new special tax, that they alteady don't have to pay?
I'm just trying to understand what problem it solves.
Do you recommend financing the swim center?
I recall that Manteca closed because of rising cost. So that is a factor, but I honestly feel if this is a community ammenity, rather than a Valejo; then it will add value to the community, that would exceed the cost of maintenance.
Another question you may have that the newspaper shies away from discussing is this? Why are we financing a swim center when Stockton is going bankrupt.
The answer is the bank will not own the swim center. And the developer is giving the deed to the property. The only reason I can see for opposition is for those who are still harboring a political grudge.
And I sincerly believe that is what this is all about. And why the newspaper does not speak out.
Just my two cents. Good question.
It's actually a good question. One that I thought of myself and I conclude that I honestly feel the newspaper has done a horrible job of asking that question themselves. Especially since they explicitly and exhuberantly self-proclaimed themselves as Tracy's "watchdog", with little or nothing to show for that title. Meaning, the "watchdog" has been asleep for over 20 years, or the "watchdog" has secret desire for opposition. I'm sure it does sell newspapers.
And I am not on the planning comission or get paid for my commentary, but I feel the swim center is a community center, not a Valejo. In that regard, it seems like more of a park. Meaning, like the parks we already have.
Therefore this ammenity will not and should not be expected to break even. Many people in other communities would like their children to learn to swim. Therefore I feel it would be a boon to any community.
The research on the cost of a pool. Probably the state paid schools would have done some studies although that will certainly not include cost of therapy pool or lazy river, but certainly would include cost if competition pool.
Has there been a 'recent' study showing that an aquatic facility could operate at a 'break-even' level financially?
Opposition to an aquatic park would likely grow if taxpayers heard Mr. Churchill or Mr. Johnston say, we need more taxes to 'subsidize this waterpark.'
Honest question. Not trying to pee in anyones cheerios this morning.
BM
The pool opposition has been going on for 20 years. One candidate tried to justify it by pushing "joint use".
I can also sense a certain amount of frustration from your comments, regarding the delays, but still I doubt anyone will sponsor a referendum, let alone get enough signatures. And delays are innevitable because that's what they do. You cannot get around it. They did the same thing to the lab and Carnegie Park.
About the only good news is that they lost the Carnegie Park lawsuit. You see, they're not gods after all.
behonestguys and walkingtall cannot blame the city. When the second deal goes through if the opposition forces are down there fighting hating and doing all they can to obstruct a swimming pool. Open your eyes.
There was one deal they hated that one. Now the city changed it to fix what they complained about and those morons do not even live in Tracy and they still are looking to keep a swim center out of Tracy.
The city I give credit to them for bringing two deals because when the people fight both deals we are about to see the true colors of what kind of trash exists. And the local paper is starting to look like the will not lift a finger to put a stop to these bozos.
My guess is that the newspaper must have some connection to these nimrods.
All you have to do in order to stop the lawsuits is pull the plug on the airpirt. And poof. It automagically goes away.