311 callers hung up on publicly-funded arena
Edmonton’s proposed downtown arena is taking the same kind of drubbing at the city call centre that the Oilers are accustomed to taking on the ice.
Nine of 10 calls to 311 are against the arena going ahead with public money, said Coun. Tony Caterina.
That imbalance is reflected in the calls he’s getting to his office, he said.
Councillors will receive a report from administration Thursday detailing how the $450 million arena will be financed.
Oilers show video to bolster support
The Oilers presented a video between periods of Tuesday's hockey game.
The video makes the case for an "iconic entertainment and sports district" in the "heart of downtown" in a "world class" city.
The Katz Group video opens with "The time is now..."
Fans were then encouraged to call 311.
Many councillors claim they haven't adequate information to make a decision.
Most of the questions surround the city’s commitment of $125 million to be raised from taxation of properties near the arena, known as community revitalization levy or CRL.
Even if councillors buy into the CRL, the financial plan is still $100 million short.
If that isn't enough both Mayor Stephen Mandel and The Katz Group is pushing for a decision soon.
Time to take next step
Council has enough information to take the next step, indicating to The Katz Group the city is willing to move ahead, said Mandel.
"This isn’t about the finality of a decision that we’re
'I'm prepared to vote no and let this project die,' —Coun. Tony Caterina
going to start construction of an arena tomorrow morning."
But Caterina said he’d rather let the arena die than make a bad decision.
"We just don't have enough information at this point to make a decision, so if that's the case someone wants to bring forward a motion, I'm prepared to vote no and let this project die," he said.
Caterina said city administration is undermining councillors because of its active support for the arena.
"Administration's job is to be neutral —- its job is to provide us with the best information possible and the correct information.
"They're trying to justify a downtown arena and that, to me, doesn't wash."