Letter: We don’t need The Link, just better management

The citizens of Kennewick have spoken three times. The problem isn’t that the people don’t want an improved Toyota Center we have thousands of hockey fans, another ice rink for recreation and youth hockey nor a sorely needed performing arts center. The problem is mismanagement!

The Nov. 10 article, “Tri-City Americans speak up on hockey’s future at Toyota Center,” states that the city budgets $350,000 a year for upgrades and maintenance. Well, if the center is in such disrepair, then obviously $350,000 a year isn’t enough. The city’s responsibility is to budget sufficient funds to maintain the facility and to keep it from falling into disrepair. This would be good stewardship of public property; anything less is criminal.

The excuse will be that the center doesn’t generate sufficient revenue to support more than $350,000 in repairs. If the rents, fees and ticket sales aren’t enough, raise them. The article states that the hockey team alone has generated $10 million in economic impact. That is in addition to all the other events the center hosts.

What is the city doing with its portion of these funds?

We can’t take care of what we have; why should the citizens build more facilities that will in turn fall into disrepair?

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Letter: We don’t need The Link, just better management."