Why are Englewood Taxpayers funding
the Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield?
For 30 years, the ice rink in Mackay Park operated at no cost to taxpayers
But since July, when the Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield won to run the rink, we've already spent almost $500,000 of taxpayers' money to spruce up the rink. After that money had already been spent, Hurricane Sandy damaged the roof. Insurance and FEMA money will pay for a new one, but in the meantime,our mayor favors a bond issue to cover the roof and an extra $500,000 for a sound system, hot dog stand and other perks on top of last year’s $500,000. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! A report prepared by a city official described well over a million dollars in near-future upgrades. The city intends to pay for all of this with your tax dollars.
Other organizations have offered to run the rink, provide free and low-cost programs to our children at the rink and to make all these improvements and upgrades at no cost to the city or its taxpayers. The city government turned down all of these offers…. WHY?
The Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield claims they will, in exchange for our multi-million-dollar investment, be offering year-round programs for our youth at the rink.What programs? Where? The summertime temperature in the arena often rises above 110°. Is this really a suitable environment for our kids to play? The mayor talks about a “partnership” with the School District. As of now, there have been no meetings with the Board of Education. The contract was signed over FOUR MONTHS ago.
Before the Hurricane struck, the city and the Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield were all set to open. A “Grand Opening” had been planned and the ice was ready to skate.
- Without a new $43,000 snack bar.
- Without a new $12,000 scoreboard,
- without a new $23,000 sound system.
- Without a new $70,000 rubber floor.
 |
More must be done in terms of
day to day upkeep. We see
signs of neglect. |
Why can’t we just fix the roof and return to skating?
The brochure the Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield published in October offers hockey lessons to our children for 50% more than they would pay at the Ice House in Hackensack, and 100% more than they would pay at the Ice Vault in Wayne. Is this really their understanding of our kids’ needs? What could they possibly be thinking?
Sounds complicated? It Is! But one thing is clear: If this is allowed to continue as the city has planned,Englewood taxpayers will be footing some very big bills.
On Monday, February 11 at 6:30 PM at Community Baptist Church 224 FirstStreet
There will be a town hall meeting to discuss spending your money on a "Partnership”with the Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield.
Be there! Ask questions!
· How much do they expect to earn? What is their business plan? (The Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield has said that they will spend all the money they earn at the ice rink on programming.)
· What impact will the Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield programs have on already successful existing programs? Will the Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield take over running our pools and our little league, football and track teams?
· Will Recreation fees go up again?
· What does the Boy$ and Girl$ ¢lub of Garfield intend to do in our schools?
· Why can’t we just fix the roof and return to skating?
The text of this post was taken from an email sent out to residents. I added the photographs. I agree with the text of the post. That is the reason it appears here.
Denning Park needs repair.
Depot Park needs repair.
The storm drain through MacKay Park needs repair.
The Gatehouse in Mackay Park needs repair.
Bridges & gates restricting access to the Park need repair and attention.
Below is a photo of the MacKay Park Gatehouse. The City recently received a monetary award intended to repair this long neglected facility. Notice that the elements of rain, sleet and snow may enter through this uncovered rooftop opening. Animals may also enter for shelter. Is this how we maintain our Municipal facilities while insourcing for fee recreational services?
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