Open letter to City of North Vancouver mayor and council:
As a person who was a music agent for 10 years, I find it absolutely astounding that you would vote unanimously to pay out $100,000 for entertainment over the summer - especially without any public bidding for this project. I booked the street entertainment at Whistler and the PNE, and the budget was nowhere near that amount. I am especially disgusted when I see the following in the North Shore News:
"Over five summer Saturdays, concert-goers saw free performances from John Mann of Spirit of the West, Jim Byrnes, Vince Vaccaro, Dustin Bentall and Kendel Carson, as well as an Indian dance company, a Chilean navy band and many others. Although the first concert was scheduled on the same weekend as Vancouver's Live 125 celebrations, it still drew about 1,000 people, and attendance had jumped to 2,000 by the end of the series. A variety of other artisans, artists and other entertainers were also on hand."
Does this really mean taxpayers shelled out $20,000 for each of these performances even though the stars played for free? Perhaps the mayor and council can give us a financial breakdown to exactly where the $100,000 went (or will go in the future)? Can people imagine what that $100,000 could do to actually improve the conditions in the city? How about putting that money into our decaying sidewalks? What about putting it toward affordable housing?
I hope this is not the beginning of a mayor and council who are so removed from the costs of goods and the real needs of the people of the City of North Vancouver.
Sue Lakes Cook North Vancouver
