I love the idea of a community center. As Larry Ringer points out this is basic quality of life stuff that we expect here in College Station. So, why am I PROBABLY going to vote against proposition 5 that sets aside money for a community center? In short, because it is not well thought out or well articulated. Here are just few questions that I have not seen answers to:
Where will it go?
Who will use it?
What currently existing uses would be served by this community center?
What new uses would be served by this community center?
How would the community center be administered?
What are the projected operating costs?
Will this facility be accessible to low income residents?

I am quite familiar with the idea of presenting an idea, to get buy-in, at the concept stage. Unfortunately, this idea has not been developed that far. As far as I can tell this proposal is the remnant of the effort to get a senior center here in College Station. While I would prefer to have a community center that brings together a wide cross section of our community, I would not be opposed to a senior center, if it were brought forth with a good deal more specificity than what we are getting with this proposal.

Again with this discussion, as in the last two City Council elections, we are being confronted by the phantom people who are opposed to growth. I have yet to meet a single person in this community who is opposed to growth. One has to assume that this wide net is being cast for red herring. The seemingly intended implication of such spurious claims is that those of us who want well planned growth, really want to stop growth. That is simply not true. This is the sort of divisive politics that needs to stop and from which we need to heal.

If Mayor White can come forth with five people who have made any effort to stop growth in College Station, I will invite them and Mayor White to my house for dinner so that Mayor White and I, together, can try to convince them of the advantages of growth in our community. Perhaps if those people do not materialize, Mayor White would be willing to host five people at his house for a discussion on why we need to include quality of life as a concept of growth in College Station.