How to place blame on everybody but the News & Record, by the Greensboro News & Record Editorial Board

Editorial: Last word on the swim center

 

As was expected and was appropriate, the Guilford County commissioners last week approved using hotel tax revenues in Greensboro to help pay for a new aquatics center at the Greensboro Coliseum.

 

…A group that opposes the swim center had showed at last week's meeting to ask the commissioners to say no. The group also has complained that citizens didn't realize that a parks and recreation bond package that passed in 2008 contained $12 million for a swim center.

 

They have a legitimate beef on both points. The swim center was a questionable use of so much public money. And placing it on the ballot as a parks and recreation initiative was calculated; swim center boosters knew the idea had fallen flat in previous elections when listed separately on the ballot.

 

But the voters, frankly, bear some responsibility for not reading the ballot carefully enough and for not being more informed about an issue covered thoroughly by local media.

 

Further, this full-throated debate already has been had. [GH: Except for a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact study]

 

Greensboro News & Record Editorial Board, January 19, 2010