The stadium issue

To Michael Baumgartner and allies: Please stop commercializing our children, and listen to parents who are not confused; they know what’s best for their children.

Instead of calling the Albi plan a “30 Year Mistake,” call it “A 30 Year Dream for Spokane”. Replacing Albi with a multi-sports facility lets our youth know we value them enough to provide a safe, easily accessible place where they can participate in sports, team-building, and develop a sense of community as our future citizens. Our youth & families should not have to compete with commercial ventures or tourist interests.

True, Albi is not city center, but it has better functional logistics for families. The city could also create vibrant growth by investing in areas other than downtown, such as the Albi area. Let’s be a city that values physical fitness and family memories by designing a facility that serves both schools and city youth programs for many years into the future. The bond was supported by the community, and so should serve the community.

Looking at the estimates for growth around Spokane, let’s assess the potential feasibility of a multi-sport facility in city center, supported by the businesses that will benefit. By taking time to balance multiple functions and consider funding options, the right facility could energize a dynamic future to serve the larger Spokane area . We can all work together to focus on the heart of this issue, which is the future of our youth, not the financial interests of investors.

Landa Vierra

Spokane