I love O’Brien Field, the Civic Center, and all the Riverfront Development among other things. You know why?!? Because when people from my hometown actually come down here to attend an event or go see a ballgame, they actually realize that Peoria isn’t some dank, evil place. They actually see a thriving city that is an outpost here in South Central Illinois. A place to actually stop in and have a good time, rather than to desperately bypass on the way to somewhere else.

And wouldn’t you know, the more we look all spiffy and shiny to more and more people, the more money might get spent here. And the more amenities and happy people we have here, the more businesses we might attract to get more jobs. And more jobs just make everybody happy! And then . . . maybe . . .if we’re lucky . . . we will be lucy enough to be graced with the presence of Fleetwood Mac!!!!!

So unless you personally are paying the $300,000 all by yourself, just sit back, and relax for a little bit. The city is getting better. Would you rather live in Peoria 1987 or 2007? This city was written off as being unsavable at one point, but I do believe this city is looking pretty damn good right now. And it’s only gonna get better.

And if you really want to see certain acts perform at the Civic Center, they love feedback. Seriously email them a list and they WILL take it under advisement. If your propsed event sells out, then congrats! You did it! Here comes the black ink . . . you’re a hero!

I look at the concerts (performers and frequency) at the Mark in Moline and it just blows Peoria away. I’ve probably been to as many concerts at the Mark than Peoria…Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Counting Crows, Matchbox 20 are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head that PACKED the Mark. These and other bands can’t be drawn to Peoria (when they are in their prime)?

I’m not going to spend countless hours doing research to prove the Civic Center was to make money. But you are probably right: only in Peoria would they build things to lose money.

A-Dumass – Where did I say to close it? I’m not saying close it, I’m asking for fiscal responsibility to the community. My salary is bonus based on performance…maybe THAT pay structure should be initiated at some of Peoria’s money losing tax supported identities. You can’t live off the base, but the closer you get the budget to black, the better your paycheck becomes.

But your right . . . let’s just cut our losses, leave it empty, and sit back and wait for our city to be like East St. Louis or Detroit. It really has helped their housing costs hasn’t it.

To quote Jason Bateman in Dodgeball after the main team forfeits . . .
“It’s a bold strategy Cotton, let’s see how it pays off . . . “

The Zoo, the Park District in general, and every other government run operation is run by the government because, if it were profitable, someone would have stepped up to do it already (or take it over).

So the powers who were 20+ years ago said this: We promised to lose $300K a year for the next 30 years even though we are eventually going to collect HRA tax to help support it and it will STILL lose money. I’m sure that if you look back through old PJS articles you’ll find someone, somewhere claimed the PCC would make money…like several other identities in Peoria were promised to make money.

So it’s an invalid comparison.