There's a new opponent to the downtown arena project, former mayor Cecil Purves is calling the current arena deal is a rip off for Edmontonians.
Purves was mayor of Edmonton from 1977 to 1983, but returned to city hall Monday to voice his concerns and opposition for the $450 million arena.
“The thing does not feel right, sound right or smell right.”
He calls it the city’s gift to Daryl Katz and a burden on future Edmontonians.
“For Pete’s sake - I have a 14 year old granddaughter. She's going to be paying on that building until she's 49.”
He says the funding model is broken and the belief that the province is going to kick in any money is naïve.
"I look at them and think - ever seen a bunch of ostriches with their heads in the sand? Those aldermen pushing this thing through and mayor pushing this through, full, no stop, man, that's not right."
That comment upset some on council.
“For him to make an allegation like that is actually ridiculous and insulting to this council,” says Dave Loken, “We didn’t just make that decision the day it came before us.”
Purves was also upset that Northlands has been excluded from the debate.
“Northlands has the expertise,” says Purves, “130 years background, 37 years of running an arena and because they wouldn’t roll over and play dead with regard to the don’t compete clause…they have been cut out from all negotiations.”
Purves says he is coming forward now because of his passion for Edmonton.
“You can see that I’m passionate. I’m passionate because it’s my city. I’m passionate because I’m proud of my city. But I’m not passionate when I see a deal that will make this city the laughingstock of the country, like this one is set up right now.”
Current mayor Stephen Mandel says much of Purves’ report is inaccurate.
“He made an assumption that we would have income. We don’t get income from Northlands and we wouldn’t get income from this,” says Mandel “So I mean there’s all sorts of assumptions, he’s making, that are not valid, but he’s entitled to make them. So we respect Mr. Purves’ passion for this, but I’m not sure that I would think there’s a lot of substance to the presentation.”
with files from Laurel Clark
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